Lorraine (Cote) Brunelle, age 94, Our beloved Mother and Grandmother, was called to be with the lord on Friday the 12th of November in Amherst, MA. Lorraine was born in Holyoke, MA, on September 9th, 1927, before settling in Amherst, MA, on her family farm in 1957. She was married to Jean Paul Brunelle on Thanksgiving Day in 1947, and they shared 57 wonderful years together. She was a devout Catholic who attended Saint Brigid’s church for many years. She was most connected to St. Francis as she always surrounded herself and loved animals, including her cats Tipper and Annie, who stayed by her until the end. She loved trips to Cape Cod to visit family and the ocean. Grandma Nell, or GG as she was affectionately known by her Grandchildren, was always there to slide a $5 bill in your hand and grab an ice cream cone. She was a true matriarch and gave everyone in her family her full attention and support. She is survived by her five children, Paul Brunelle and wife Roxanne, Cynthia Rhodes and Husband Leslie, David Brunelle and Wife Darlene, Kenneth Brunelle and wife Kathleen, and Alan Brunelle and wife Donna, her brother Norman Cote and his wife, Phyllis. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Wendy Calderon, Damon, Dustin, and Ron Brunelle, Lauren Scharf, Pamela Powers, Jennifer and Matthew Rhodes, Amanda and Johnathan Brunelle, Joshua and Hannah Brunelle, and Emily Foy. As well as 19 great-grandchildren She was predeceased by her parents Louis Cote and Germaine Matte as well as her husband Jean Paul Brunelle in 2004, her son Raymond Brunelle in 2017, as well as her Brothers Raymond, Roger, and Sister Marlene. There will be a celebration of life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Saint Brigid’s Church in Amherst, Ma, or Dakin Humane Society in Springfield, Ma. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

David Michael Bacon of Amherst, MA passed away on Tuesday, November 23 after a long illness. David, 63, was the son of Carl (Roger) and Jane Bacon. He leaves his loving and devoted wife Linda (Liro) Bacon. A lifelong resident of Amherst, David was a master electrician.  He worked throughout the area and then for the UMASS Physical Plant for over thirty years first as an electrician and then as an estimator for campus renovation projects. David enjoyed vegetable gardening and Harley Davidson motorcycles.  You may have noticed David driving through town in his bright orange 1966 Chevy truck.

David also leaves his sister Mary Jane, brothers Earl and Roger Bacon (Barbara), and niece Amy Goldberg (Jonathan) and grandniece Elliotte Jane and nephew Aaron Bacon (Beth).

Calling hours will be Tuesday, December 7, 2021, from 4:00-6:00 P.M. at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst with a brief burial ceremony on Saturday, December 11 at 11:00 A.M. at the Wildwood Cemetery on Strong St. in Amherst. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

Mario S. De Pillis, Sr. passed away from cancer and complications incident to old age In
Amherst on November 18, 2021.

He was pre-deceased in 2013 by his first wife, Freda Rustemeyer. He is survived by his second
wife, Constance M. McGovern.

Mario was the second of three sons of Vincent Carmine De Pillis and Giacinta Angelucci De
Pillis. He was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 22, 1926, and baptized in
May of that year at the old English-Irish church of Saint Rita on Broad Street.

Just before the Crash of 1929 his father bought a house in West Philadelphia on the edge of
the city. Around 1937 his father was admitted to one of Pennsylvania’s tuberculosis
sanatoriums, where he died in 1940.

He attended St. Callistus Elementary School (long defunct along with its associated parish
church). From there he went to one of the tuition-free Catholic high schools, St. Thomas More
(closed in 1977).

During World War II he joined the Army Air Corps, training as an airplane and engine mechanic
for B-24 bombers and C-46 transport planes at Keesler Field, Mississippi, and Buffalo, New
York. In December 1945 the Air Corps sent him to serve in the occupation of Germany. He left
Boston on a Liberty Ship and arrived in Le Havre, France, traveling thence by box car to
Bavaria, where he began training as a counter-intelligence agent (partly because of his
knowledge of German). He was assigned to the 970th Counter-intelligence Corps covering the
Frankfurt area. There he received a direct appointment to warrant Officer JG.

Returning to the United States in 1948, he attended the College of the University of Chicago
(BA 1952, MA in history 1954). There he met Freda, whom he married on June 21, 1952. In
1955-56 he matriculated at Yale University, taking a second MA and a Ph. D. in American
history. His dissertation won the George Washington Egleston Prize.

Coming to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1958, when it was still strongly
agricultural, he rose slowly through the ranks, having put “service” before publication. He
served on the first Board of Trustees (1960) of the Hancock Shaker Village, which was saved
from becoming a race track. In 1965 he joined a group headed by the art historian David. C.
Huntington in preserving Olana, the architectural masterpiece of Frederic Edwin Church.

His major scholarly work concerned the extension of the story of Mormon communalism into
the 20th century. From 1994 to 1995 he served as the 30th President of the Mormon History
Association, only the second non-Mormon to do so. He was the founder of three scholarly
journals still leading their fields: the Journal of Social History (with Peter Stearns); the Journal of
Mormon History (assisting Jan Shipps and Leonard Arrington and others); and Communal
Societies. He was the founder and editor of Communal Societies, proud of specifying the
typeface and design and using the last linotype printer in Massachusetts.

An activist in town matters, Mario founded the West Downtown Association in 1997 to deal
with the loss of families from that area and unsupervised rentals. But he devoted most of his
energy to fighting the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church since 2002, working with
Ann W. Turner, Joan Smola, and others to found the Voice of the Faithful. This group was
instrumental in removing the Bishop of the diocese of Springfield.

In 1964, President John Lederle appointed him to a committee for the establishment of a
branch of the University of Massachusetts—now the thriving University of Massachusetts at
Boston. In the 1970s Mario and two other faculty members revised the constitution of the
Faculty Senate to give the faculty a greater voice in governance. Mario, also with Michael P.
Sullivan, was instrumental in the expansion of the UMass 5 College Credit Union from one
room in Draper Hall to the various off-campus locations of today. He assisted fellow History
Department members Howard H. Quint and Louis Greenbaum in establishing the first Honors
Program and for ten years he taught the first History Honors course. His most distinguished
student was Kenneth R. Feinberg. The Honors Program recently became a vast new
Commonwealth Honors College with its own building and almost four thousand students.

In 2017, he married Constance M. McGovern, an historian in her own right. They spent their
twilight years pursuing their mutual interests in historical research and writing. Returning to
Europe for the last time, they traveled to Rome to visit Mario’s only living cousin, Roberto
Campitelli. They traveled as well to the sites of Mario’s international lecture stints in Munich
and Constance, Germany, reuniting with old friends and colleagues. At home they welcomed
visitors, family and friends from afar.

He is survived by his wife Constance M. McGovern; his three sons: Vincent and his wife Kristin
Bedell of Seattle; Mario, Jr., and his wife Annie Walton of Amherst; and Alexander and his wife
Debra Ann Pinsof-De Pillis of Montpelier. He leaves five grandchildren: Lydia De Pillis of
Washington D.C., Sophie De Pillis and her husband Tom Winterbottom of Oakland, California,
Alexander and Rafael De Pillis of Amherst, Gabriel Nathaniel Pinsof De Pillis of Montpellier, and
one great grandson Frederick Fane De Pillis of Oakland. His brother Vincent J. De Pillis of
Philadelphia survives him as well.

Funeral arrangements will be handled by Douglass Funeral Service of Amherst. A memorial
service will be held at the funeral home on December 4, 2021, beginning at 11:00 a.m. A
reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hancock Shaker Village,
1843 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield 01201 (hancockshakervillage.org) or Voice of the
Faithful, P.O. Box 423, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 (votf.org). The town of Amherst requires
masks for all indoor gatherings. The family assumes attendees will be vaccinated

When reflecting on Herbert “Herb” Hoyack, people immediately smile. His irreverent humor and movie-worthy life stories made every moment in his presence a joy. He was an unbelievably devoted husband, father and grandfather. As a man enamored with the cosmos, it’s apropos to say that familial love was the North Star by which he guided his life. So, when Herb passed away unexpectedly on November 13, 2021 at the age of 77, he left a great hole in the lives of all who knew him.

Raised in a hill-side community on the Monongahela River, in La Belle, Pennsylvania, alongside close-knit family, including his sister Paula, and friends, he made mountains of memories. His grandchildren would be the first to say that they only wish they were allowed to do half of the things he did when spinning tales. Herb’s unending energy, limitless curiosity, and verbal acuity led to fantastical experiences as a youth and made him a natural-born teacher as an adult. He graduated from California State University and started a life-long career as a secondary school science teacher.

It was during this post-grad era that Herb was introduced to Connie, in a fairy-tale Christmas hayride blind date. For Herb, she was everything. He snapped beautiful photographs of Connie, wrote her loving notes, and ultimately, the two were married on May 20, 1972. His wife’s love was also profound and only deepened over time. When his children came, Herb was a committed, involved and loving father. They all made innumerable memories on cross-country trips, fishing, canoeing, watching favorite movies, and sharing deep thoughts before saying goodnight.

Herb was predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth and Herbert, Sr. He is survived by his wife, Connie; his daughter Heather, her husband Chris, and children, Isabelle and Matthew; his son Michael, his wife Karen, and children, Andrew, Ben and Claire; his sister Paula, her husband Ernie, and their children.

Family and friends will be received at Douglass Funeral Home, in Amherst, MA, on November 23, with visitation hour from 4-5 and a funeral service immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://www.lls.org/, whose research directly benefits people suffering from blood disorders, a cause that meant a lot to him.

Rabbi Joyce M. Olum-Galaski of Florence, MA passed away peacefully on November 14, 2021 after a long illness. She was 72.

 

Joyce was born in Princeton, NJ on March 14, 1949, the daughter of Paul and Vivian (Goldstein) Olum. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Judith Lightfoote. She is survived by her loving husband, Philippe Galaski, brother Ken Olum of Sharon, MA, and her three daughters and their families: Rebecca Ó Murchadha, Aongus Ó Murchadha, Úna (9) and Conall (6) of Arlington, MA; Deborah Barer, Rabbi Benjamin Barer, Mira (2) and Adin (3 months) of Washington DC; and Aviva Galaski of Holyoke, MA.

 

After growing up in Ithaca, NY, Joyce attended Swarthmore College and got her Masters in Education at UMass Amherst before eventually deciding to pursue the rabbinate and attending the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Throughout her life, Rabbi Joyce was a committed advocate for justice, working with Interns for Peace in Jerusalem, taking on a leading role in Jews Against Genocide in Bosnia, helping to found T’ruah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and working with the Physicians for Social Responsibility campaign for nuclear disarmament “Back from the Brink”.

 

She was the Rabbi for Congregation Achavas Achim in Westfield MA and the WSU Jewish Chaplain until her retirement. She was a member of the JCA and CBI congregations and of Havurat HaEmek. Joyce was an avid hiker and outdoor adventurer who loved poetry, traditional Irish music, and Appalachian folk ballads. The funeral will be held at the JCA Cemetery on Wednesday, November 17 at 10AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joyce’s honor to T’ruah (https://truah.org).

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

Beth Jean Cook, of 1 East Hadley Road, Hadley, MA died at home surrounded by her loving family on October 28^th, 2021. 

Beth was born October 20^th, 1950, in Greenfield, MA to Elaine (Sullivan) and Philip Hepburn Jr. She graduated from Frontier Regional High School in 1968 where she was voted, to no one’s surprise, most sociable.  After graduation, she moved to Boston with friends to gain her independence and live life the way she would continue to — genuine, curious and brave. 

In Boston, she worked at the shoe company Joan and David until she was called back home to Puffer Construction Company, where she met Gordon Cook. They were married on November 16^th, 1974, and moved to eastern Massachusetts where they began their life together.

In 1983, they moved back to the Connecticut River Valley with their four children to Cook Farm in Hadley, MA where Gordon’s family has operated a dairy farm with Cook Farm Registered Holsteins since 1909.  For the next 15 years, Beth (“Jonesy”) displayed her legendary work ethic by working side-by-side on the farm with Gordon, while also working part-time jobs, including at the Hadley Post Office. Beth’s busy daily schedule honed her 20-minute gourmet chef abilities with a home-cooked meal for her family and anyone else who walked through the door.  In that time, her unending love for her children and ability to bring a smile to their faces never wavered.   

Beth had long envisioned having an ice cream stand on the farm. In 1998 – after spending many months doing the necessary leg work to make that dream a reality – she opened Flayvors of Cook Farm. Beth’s infectious enthusiasm and love of all people – whether she knew them for years or had just met them – quickly made Flayvors a community gathering place where everyone felt welcome. She endeared herself to all those who entered and wowed connoisseurs with homemade ice cream “flayvors” like the now nationally known “Hadley Grass”.  Beth’s legacy of joy will live on in the smiles Flayvors brings, whether it’s celebrating the end of school or just pausing life long enough to enjoy an ice cream cone while watching the sunset.   

Beth worked hard and asked for little in return, except perhaps a hot bath and a good book. She was never so busy though that she couldn’t stop for a coffee or to help a friend. For Beth, love was at the center of everything in life; she embodied the belief that ‘there are no strangers, just friends you haven’t met yet’.  

For years, Beth bravely managed Multiple Sclerosis, and then in 2017, she was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Beth refused to allow any diagnosis to change the way she lived her life. She continued to accompany Gordon on his Holstein travels and to delight her grandchildren with her smile, her stories, and her beautiful singing voice.  

Beth leaves behind her husband Gordon Cook and their loving children and grandchildren: Kara Cook; Hank and Debby Cook (Mary, Kirsten, Juliette, Annalise, and Gordie); Kimberlee Cook and Jordie Hannum (Hadley and Graham); and Nathan and Lee Ann Cook (Dean, Wyatt, Josephine, and Lane). Beth also leaves behind her three sisters, Lois Domina, Suzanne Hepburn, Kathy Peabody (Tom), and their families; many cousins, in-laws, nieces, and nephews as well as countless friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Gordon’s parents Marjorie and Gordon Cook Sr., sister-in-law Judith Loebel, nephew Kenny Cook and brother-in-law Bob Domina.

Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral home at 87 North Pleasant St. in Amherst, MA on November 19^th from 4:30 – 7:30 pm. A funeral service is scheduled at the First Congregational Church at 102 Middle Street, Hadley, MA on Saturday, November 20^th at 10:30 am.  Per Beth’s wishes, there will be an Ice Cream Social in her honor when the warm weather returns. 

In lieu of flowers, the Cook Family asks for donations to be sent to Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002; The First Congregational Church of Hadley, 102 Middle Street, Hadley, MA 01035; or The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), 912 Killian Hill Road Southwest, Lilburn, GA 30047. Beth chose to make a contribution to scientific research by donating her brain to help better understand neurological diseases. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

                                                                          

       Alice Louise (Ward) Campbell passed away peacefully at home on October 29th, 2021, just twelve days after the death of her beloved husband, Roland. The third child of Eugene and Dorothy (Page) Ward, she was born on April 6th, 1926, the much loved and greatly admired mother of Brenda O’Gara and Gene Campbell.

      She attended the Pelham City and Rhodes Schools in Pelham, graduated from Amherst High School in 1944, and attended Northampton Commercial College.  She worked at the University of Massachusetts for a short time before she and Roland began their family, and later in life, she worked at the Amherst Savings and Northampton Cooperative Banks.

     Alice and Roland grew up, experiencing a bond through family and church gatherings, and always maintaining a connection. Long walks on Pelham back roads, and swimming in the Orient Springs were favorite times. Following Roland’s honorable discharge from the Army, they became engaged on April 6th, 1946, and were married on June 8th, 1946. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with their family on June 8th, 2021.

     Alice’s slice of heaven was the home that Roland and the family built on Campbell land in Pelham. Above all vacation spots, this would remain her favorite place.

     She was a creative and devoted mom, always involved in school and church functions, and ready to lend a capable, yet humble, hand. Her appreciation of the world around her was displayed in all of her hundreds of pieces of artwork, including paintings, baskets and quilts. She was never without a project!

     Alice loved the local church, and until its closure, supported it with suppers, craft fairs, and any fundraiser that would keep it open. In the 1980’s/90’s she resurrected the Sunday School, gathering interest and support from local families. She continued a town connection by holding basket classes for seniors.

     As she grew physically frail, Alice continued to admire every feather of the birds at the feeder, every petal of each flower in the garden, and every hue of a sunset. She shared stories of outdoor games and family gatherings, along with the magic of experiencing indoor plumbing and electricity. She often spoke of the awe that she experienced when she first flipped a light switch!

     Ever a bright, creative and adaptive woman, Alice gracefully shifted from kerosene lamps, outhouses, horses and wagons, coal cook stoves and wash tubs, to indoor plumbing, light bulbs, automobiles, electrical appliances, and eventually communicating via her iPad. One of her favorite stories was of the time when she was able to flip a switch to illuminate a room! She created a path of faith, knowledge, creativity, sensitivity, and general appreciation of life. Rest in peace, beautiful woman; we will love and admire you always!

     Alice was predeceased by her parents, siblings Donald, Jean, and Norman, and her son-in-law, Paul O’Gara. She will be forever missed by her children, Brenda O’Gara, and Gene (Rita) Campbell, her adoring grandchildren, Jonathan (Sarah) O’Gara, Abigail (Evan) Jobst, and Scott (Paige) Campbell, her sweet great grandson, Teddy Campbell, and her loving nieces and nephews.

     Alice and Roland have been blessed with loving caregivers who have become part of our family. Jean, Sherri, Kelly, Dora, Elida, Lucilia, Becca, Amber, Lori, Hidaya, Deb, Kathleen, we honor you!

     A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, November 6th, at the Pelham Community Hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Pelham Community Hall Table and Chair Fund, ℅ Treasurer, 351 Amherst Road, Pelham, MA 01002, or to Cooley Dickinson Hospital VNA and Hospice, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Marcia Goldman, 80, of Amherst, Massachusetts, died October 29, 2021, at her home, following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Marcia was a graduate of Brooklyn College and Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she earned a Master of Education degree.  She taught first and second grade in the New York City public schools.  She worked for two years in the Boston public schools.  She subsequently worked for a year as a Master Teacher at The Smith College Day School.  She left this position to start her family.  When her youngest child was in elementary school, Marcia returned to the teaching profession, first as a substitute teacher and then as a paraprofessional in special education.  She worked at the Fort River Elementary School in Amherst for more than 25 years.

Marcia was a founding member of the Jewish Community of Amherst, where she had been active for many years.  In her younger years she took up pottery and exhibited locally.  Later, she started knitting, and enjoyed making various items, including hats, mittens and blankets for her family and friends.  She also enjoyed reading and taking long walks with friends and family.  She enjoyed travel and family vacations to Cape Cod. 

Marcia was a devoted mother.  She lead by example and taught her children the skills needed to study and learn.  She challenged them to be the best they can and instilled in them her strong work ethic and determination.  She was always there for them, offering her support and guidance.  Marcia also took great joy in helping care for her grandchildren.

Marcia is survived by her loving husband, Sheldon, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage.  She is also survived by their three children, Ellen, Jeremy and his wife Valerie, and Sara and her husband Eddie; three grandchildren, Raymond, William and Judah, many nieces, nephews and cousins and their families; and friends.

Marcia will be remembered for her love, kindness, caring and devotion to her family and friends.  She will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure and opportunity to know her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Gertrude, and her beloved sister, Florence.

The funeral took place at the JCA cemetery in Shutesbury, on Monday, November 1^st.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Marcia’s name to one of: Hospice of the Fisher Home (1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA  01002); the Jewish Community of Amherst (742 Main St, Amherst, MA 01002); or Brooklyn College Foundation (2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889). Obituary and memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

On Monday, October 25th, 2021, Frank William Lastowski, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at the age of 66. Geezopeezo!

 

Frank was born February 21, 1955 in Northampton, MA and was the sixth child of Edward and Bernice (née Pedruczny) Lastowski. He attended Hadley schools and graduated from Hopkins Academy in 1972.

 

Those who knew Frank best will remember him by his one-of-a-kind sense of humor. Frank had a knack for finding the funny in any situation and will be widely remembered for cracking jokes to anyone who would listen. Frank was also known for his unwavering generosity. He was fiercely loyal, a great listener, and was quick to lend a hand wherever he was needed.

 

Frank enjoyed several hobbies including woodworking, fishing, and golf. He was a talented craftsman and spent countless hours in his woodshop. Woodworking was one of his greatest creative outlets, but when he wasn’t in his shop he could often be found by a body of water with a rod and reel. From trolling up and down the Connecticut river to deep sea fishing in the Atlantic, Frank scared fish away all over New England. His favorite fishing adventures, however, were with his wife during their annual trip to Lake Champlain.

 

It took a lot of balls to golf the way Frank did. No seriously, the man lost a lot of golf balls. Despite that, he thoroughly enjoyed playing the game and spending time outdoors with friends. In fact, he enjoyed golfing so much that he even taught his wife and son how to play and they have been losing golf balls ever since.

 

Frank spent the bulk of his professional life at Amherst College where he held multiple positions prior to becoming the College’s Athletic Equipment Manager; a role he enjoyed for nearly 20 years. During that time he was a fixture at the fields, courts, and rink, cheering Amherst’s teams on. He worked diligently behind the scenes and made lasting connections with staff, faculty, and students alike.

 

Frank is survived by the love of his life and the apple in his eye, his wife, Patricia Connelly; his favorite (and only) son, James and his wife, the daughter he never had, Emileigh; the only person he felt could do no wrong, his grandson, Mason; four brothers, Edward Jr, Michael, Ronald, and Richard; three sisters, Marie Ansaldo, Barbara Landry, and Irene Anderson; and 11 nieces and nephews.

 

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 4th from 5-7 pm at Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com