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PostHeaderIcon FRANK GEORGE REHORKA of AMHESRT, MASS, August 29, 1930 – October 30, 2020

Frank G. Rehorka, “Bumpa,” beloved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, age 90, passed away on Friday, October 30, 2020. He was born in New York City and spent many happy childhood years at his wonderful family farm in Shutesbury, MA before living in Amherst for most of his life. He proudly served his country in the National Guard at the end of the Korean War. He loved fishing the Swift River, the Quabbin, and many other rivers and ponds. He worked at Florence Tool and Die and later at Wilderness Mold where he was an exceptional machinist up until his retirement. Frank was described by many people as a one-of-a-kind man. He was kind and generous, and had a loving old soul.  He had the highest integrity, and was a person who always had your back. Frank was a deep listener for anyone who needed his support. He knew how to fix just about anything, and he passed that talent and along to his sons. Frank was humble, loyal, and had an intense work ethic.  Along with his loving wife Barbara, the two spent many years taking care of their grandchildren while their parents worked.  Prior to Barbara’s passing in May 2019, the couple was inseparable. They loved taking day trips with family and friends and nothing made Frank happier than being with his family.  He was a diehard Patriots fan, never wanting to miss a game.  “Bumpa” will be very deeply missed by his family. Frank leaves behind two sons, Gary Rehorka and his wife, Rachel Schwab Rehorka and their son, Benjamin of Shutesbury and David Rehorka and his wife, Michelle Rehorka, and their twin children, Devon and Kelly of Montague. Due to Covid-19, there will be a private burial service for both Frank and Barbara. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give  or 1-800-AHA-USA-1   For more information, please go to the website of: https://douglassfuneral.com/

PostHeaderIcon DONALD FRANCIS FENNESSEY of PORTSMOUTH, RI, May 7, 1920 – October 28, 2020

Donald F. Fennessey, of Portsmouth RI, passed away peacefully at the age of 100 on October 28th at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, RI.  He was born on May 7, 1920, the son of James F. and Anna (Mulholland) Fennessey, in Northampton MA, before becoming a longtime Pelham MA resident.

He graduated from Northampton High School in 1939.  For him, growing up in Depression-era Northampton was a boy’s dream, full of pranks, sledding, fishing, exasperated storekeepers, and tolerant police officers.  He vividly recalled the flood of ’36 and paddling the streets to do rescues by canoe, and as a Boy Scout escorting Grace Coolidge, wife of President Calvin Coolidge, to an official function.

A member of The Greatest Generation, he hitch-hiked cross country and studied aeronautical engineering at Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute in Glendale, CA, but wanted to serve more directly in the war, and transferred to the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.  He survived three days in a lifeboat after being torpedoed off the coast of Brazil on his cadet cruise.  He was commissioned as an engineering officer in January 1944.  He served on tankers and Liberty ships, sailing around the world for the remainder of the war and beyond until 1946, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander and title of Chief Engineer, accumulating adventure tales for a lifetime.  Always quick to deflect praise for his wartime service, he would say that the true heroes could be found at the bottom of the sea.

After the war, his engineering expertise took him first to Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company and then as a field engineer for the E.I. du Pont Company’s Engineering Division.  He relished every day on the job which took him all over the northeast and overseas.  He retired from the company in 1985, rich in accomplishments, devoted colleagues, and friends at vendor companies he had visited.   

In January 1948 he married Louise “Pat” Macpherson of Lee, MA, and they proceeded to fill their home in Pelham with children: Donald B. Fennessey of Portsmouth, RI, Neil M. Fennessey South Dartmouth, MA, the late Deborah J. Fennessey and Joanne F. Cole of New Gloucester, ME. He was loudly and boundlessly proud of them, his six grandchildren and one great granddaughter.  Widowed in 1978, he led a full and active life at the top of Pelham Hill for almost 40 more years before moving to Rhode Island in 2014, where being close to family and the sea was a gift late in life.

He had many hobbies including collecting antique cars, collecting guns, target shooting, and fishing.  He became a private pilot who enjoyed buzzing his house early on Saturday mornings.  He was an accomplished photographer with his own darkroom.  An avid golfer, he even got a hole in one.  He was an active member of the Masons, Shriners and especially Jesters, and enjoyed ‘re-fighting the war’ at AmVet and Legion halls wherever his travels took him.  He particularly enjoyed surprising his family by making unannounced visits to California and overseas, even into his 80s, and delighted in spiriting grandchildren away for ice cream or other forbidden treats.  There wasn’t much he didn’t try during his life and acknowledged that he had a great ride.  He was fond of saying, “If they screw me into the ground tomorrow, I’m still ahead.”

He will be remembered for his generosity, his kindness to everyone he met, his flair for story-telling, and especially for his sense of humor, resilience and indomitable spirit, right up until the end, living life with grace and without complaint.  The example he set in life has been inspirational, and he will be missed more than he ever could have imagined.

His family is very grateful for the staff and residents of Atria Aquidneck Senior Living where he lived happily from 2014-2018, and for the compassionate care he received at St. Elizabeth Manor and from Hope Hospice. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or Hope Hospice in Providence.  Interment in Pelham’s Valley Cemetery will be private. 

 

PostHeaderIcon CHARLES EDWARD DRAKE JR. of AMHERST, October 11, 1929 – October 27, 2020

Charles E. Drake, Jr., known to many as Charlie, Red, Papa, dad and grandpa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at the age of 91. 

 

Born in Amherst, MA on October 11, 1929, he was the son of the late Charles E. and Evelyn (Crutch) Drake, Sr.  He married Nancy Olivier and raised five children.

 

Charlie was a graduate of Amherst High School, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, and the University Of Massachusetts School Of Public Health.

 

He retired from the Town of Amherst after a career working in the Health Department serving many roles including the Director of the Board of Health.  After his retirement, he enjoyed working well into his 80’s as a courier for Paige’s/Classic Chevrolet and Amherst Insurance, as well as caring for the rabbits at Millbrook Farms.

 

He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the US Air Force and was the past-Post Commander of the Amherst VFW 754 and a member of the American Legion. 

 

Charlie help found the Amherst Youth Football league, and enjoyed coaching his boys on many local sports teams. A lover of golf, Charlie was a long-time member of the Amherst Golf Club, scoring a hole-in-one in 2007 at the age of 78. 

 

He was a member at the Norwottuck Fish & Game Club and the Pelham Hunting Club. 

 

A long time sports official, Charlie officiated football, basketball and baseball, receiving recognition from the Western Mass Chapter – National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame in 1996, and the International Association of Basketball Officials.

 

Papa Red enjoyed fishing, watching the Red Sox, Keno, his sweet treats, playing cards with his friends, and napping in the sun on his porch. He lived a good life. 

 

Charles was predeceased by his wife, Nancy; a son, Thomas and daughter-in-law, Sandra; and his sister, Judy Burrows. 

 

He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Nancy, and son, Chuck, both of Amherst; sons, Doug (Maria) of Agawam, and Chris of Belchertown; his brother, Robert (Mary Jane), and brother-in-law, Richard Burrows.  He will also be fondly remembered by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.   

 

The family would like to thank Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice, as well as the nursing staff on North 3, Dr. Edward Dean, and Dr. Andrew Hall (retired), for their care and compassion. 

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charlie’s name to the Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060, or Amherst Youth Football, 141 N Pleasant St, Box 155, Amherst, MA 01004 – 0155. 

 

A private service will be held Monday at Douglass Funeral Home, a public graveside  service, with full Military Honors will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, South Hadley, MA.  Monday November 2, 2020 at 1:00 pm. Anyone attending will be required to follow all Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.

 

 

 

A Celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at a later date for all to gather safely to share stories, raise a glass, and celebrate a life well-lived. 

PostHeaderIcon CHARLES EDWARD DRAKE JR. of AMHERST, October 22, 1929 – October 27, 2020

Charles E. Drake, Jr., known to many as Charlie, Red, Papa, dad and grandpa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at the age of 91. 

Born in Amherst, MA on October 11, 1929, he was the son of the late Charles E. and Evelyn (Crutch) Drake, Sr.  He married Nancy Olivier and raised five children.

Charlie was a graduate of Amherst High School, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, and the University Of Massachusetts School Of Public Health.

He retired from the Town of Amherst after a career working in the Health Department serving many roles including the Director of the Board of Health.  After his retirement, he enjoyed working well into his 80’s as a courier for Paige’s/Classic Chevrolet and Amherst Insurance, as well as caring for the rabbits at Millbrook Farms.

He was a veteran of the Korean War serving in the US Air Force and was the past-Post Commander of the Amherst VFW 754 and a member of the American Legion. 

Charlie help found the Amherst Youth Football league, and enjoyed coaching his boys on many local sports teams. A lover of golf, Charlie was a long-time member of the Amherst Golf Club, scoring a hole-in-one in 2007 at the age of 78. 

He was a member at the Norwottuck Fish & Game Club and the Pelham Hunting Club. 

A long time sports official, Charlie officiated football, basketball and baseball, receiving recognition from the Western Mass Chapter – National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame in 1996, and the International Association of Basketball Officials.

Papa Red enjoyed fishing, watching the Red Sox, Keno, his sweet treats, playing cards with his friends, and napping in the sun on his porch. He lived a good life. 

Charles was predeceased by his wife, Nancy; a son, Thomas and daughter-in-law, Sandra; and his sister, Judy Burrows. 

He will be greatly missed by his daughter, Nancy, and son, Chuck, both of Amherst; sons, Doug (Maria) of Agawam, and Chris of Belchertown; his brother, Robert (Mary Jane), and brother-in-law, Richard Burrows.  He will also be fondly remembered by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.   

The family would like to thank Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice, as well as the nursing staff on North 3, Dr. Edward Dean, and Dr. Andrew Hall (retired), for their care and compassion. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charlie’s name to the Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060, or Amherst Youth Football, 141 N Pleasant St, Box 155, Amherst, MA 01004 – 0155. 

A private service will be held Monday at Douglass Funeral Home, a public graveside  service, with full Military Honors will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, South Hadley, MA.  Monday November 2, 2020 at 1:00 pm. Anyone attending will be required to follow all Covid-19 social distancing guidelines.

 

A Celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at a later date for all to gather safely to share stories, raise a glass, and celebrate a life well-lived. 

PostHeaderIcon MARY JEAN PROULX of AMHERST, MASS, January 29, 1934 – October 25, 2020

 

Mary Jean [Ross] Proulx died at Baystate Medical Center on October 25, 2020 at the age of 86. She was born on January 29, 1934 in Lyons, Illinois to Theodore Ross and Mary [Gartner] Ross. She attended local schools and graduated High School in 1950 and

then went to Morton Junior College from 1950-1952. Mary Jean earned a B.S. Degree in Medical Technology from Western Michigan University in 1954 which included an internship at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She then moved back to Illinois where she spent the next ten years at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois, the last 5 years as lab supervisor. At this time she began to consider either grad school or medical school. She was lucky enough to be accepted into the M.S. Program in Biochemistry at Temple University Medical School in Philadelphia,. She spent 2 years there earning her M.S. degree in 1966 and then next spent a year at Highland Park Hospital in Illinois. In 1967 she applied for the position of Director of the Medical Technology Program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, for which she was accepted, moving into an apartment complex near the campus. It was here where she befriended her neighbor, Don Proulx who also was a faculty member and fellow Midwesterner. They became engaged in January of 1968 and were married the next July. When their first son (Donald Jr.,) was born in 1969 and their second (Bill) in 1971, she elected to be a “stay-at-home” mom. She returned to the job market when the boys were in their teens and worked in the lab at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital for about 10 years, retiring in 1996.

Before her marriage Mary Jean traveled to Europe and the Caribbean. While married, she and Don traveled throughout the U.S. as well as trips to Europe, Peru, Mexico and Japan. They had a rich and fulfilling life, remaining in their house in Amherst after retirement and enjoying the local wildlife that shared their yard

Mary Jean is survived by Donald, her loving husband of 52 years, her sons Donald Jr. of Beverly, MA and William of Amherst, MA., her brother Theodore Ross and wife Patricia of Neenah, WI, and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

There will be no calling hours. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst. In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions to a charity of your choice.

 

 

 

PostHeaderIcon WYNN A. ABRANOVIC of AMHERST, MASS, February 28, 1941 – October 7, 2020

Wynn Abranovic was born in a hospital outside Pittsburg on February 28, 1941. His father, Anthony, a Croatian, who had emigrated to the US at a young age, was serving in the US army when his first child arrived. Wynn’s mother, Mary Stich Abranovic, was living at the time with her parents, also Croatian, in Clairton, PA, where Wynn spent his early childhood. A few years after his father’s return from the war, the Abranovic family moved to Kittanning, PA, where his parents had purchased a wholesale magazine and book business. Wynn completed his elementary and high school education in Kittanning, while also pitching in at the warehouse and roaming with his brother Al the hillsides bordering the Allegheny River.

Wynn attended college in Troy, New York, earning his undergraduate degree in engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He went on to earn his PhD also at RPI, writing a dissertation on statistics. (When asked once why he concentrated on statistics and not some branch of engineering, he retorted that statistics was the hardest subject he had ever tackled, and he was hooked.) Following the receipt of his doctorate, Wynn moved to Seattle, where he worked as an engineer at Boeing. He soon returned to academe, taking up a position at Willamette University and moving to Oregon with his then wife Patricia Mueller.

Wynn found his life-long academic and personal home, however, when he accepted a position in the Department of Finance and Operations Management at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He stayed at UMass until his retirement. A devoted teacher, who appreciated that statistics could be a punishing slog, he dedicated himself to making that discipline more accessible. This was the overarching aim of his groundbreaking textbook: Statistical Thinking and Data Analysis Methods for Managers (1997). The opening sentence of the blurb introducing the massive tome reads: “Statistics can’t be over-simplified but it can be clarified and made fun to learn”.

Wynn knew well that a statistical problem could become a sinkhole. He’d often disappear mentally for days in pursuit of a solution. His protection against being drowned by numbers was the buoyant fun he got from sports. (He’d been a champion wrestler in high school.) He was a frequent figure on the now defunct Amherst College clay tennis courts, where he not only honed his game but his wit. Athletics also brought out the dare devil in him, for instance roller blading up and over, trudging up and then flying down, the notch in the Holyoke Range, or bump skiing in Killington on slick spring snow. Perhaps his most cherished outdoor pastime, however, one he often enjoyed with his brother Tony, was fly fishing, especially on the Deerfield River, casting and recasting, wading far into the dusk of a summer night just below Stillwater Bridge.

Wynn courageously fought Parkinson’s disease for nearly two decades. He brought to that battle knowledge he’d gained from statistics and sports. Typically, he would calculate the odds but play each point as it came, maintaining throughout the meditative calm he’d found on the Deerfield. He leaves behind a large extended family: his much-loved siblings, four brothers (Al, Mark, Tony and Paul) and one sister (Ellie); his niece (Attie) and nephews (Abe, Aus, Andrew, and Ryan, his godson); and his sisters-in-law (Linda and Jeanine). Finally, he leaves behind his beloved wife, Peggy O’Brien and the simple but rich life they enjoyed for twenty-five years in Amherst. Peggy’s entire family, all of whom live in Ireland, deeply mourn the loss of Wynn: her sister (Christine Leckey); her daughter (Kristen Kennelly); and her granddaughters (Meg, Hannah and Gracie Murphy). Tellingly, each of Peggy’s granddaughters considered sweet, strong Wynn to be their grandfather. Wynn died in north Amherst on October 7th in the Fisher Home, where he received the utmost in professional and compassionate care. The entire family is thankful.

 

PostHeaderIcon MAURIANNE ADAMS of AMHERST, May 30, 1938 – October 6, 2020

Maurianne (Schifreen) Adams, Professor Emerita, University of Massachusetts Amherst, died on October 6, 2020 at the age of 82. She was born and raised in Philadelphia, the older daughter of Rita (Fuld), of German Jewish ancestry, and Clement Solomon Schifreen, of Polish/Russian Jewish ancestry. At the time of her birth, Nazi invasions in Europe were affecting many members of Maurianne’s extended family and her family in the U.S was working tirelessly to bring as many of them as possible to safety. Acutely aware that some members of her mother’s family, including a cousin of her own age, had been murdered by the Nazis, and shocked by their stories of religious persecution and survival, Maurianne understood at an early age that only an accident of history enabled her to survive. This awareness contributed to Maurianne’s early involvement in the civil rights and feminist movements, her distrust of authority and her lifelong commitment to social justice.

 

Maurianne studied the piano seriously into her mid-teens, then decided to focus on serious academic study, earning a scholarship to college and working toward a professional academic career. She attended Swarthmore College from 1955-59 and earned a BA with high honors in History and Literature. She received her PhD in English Literature from Indiana University in 1967. While at Indiana, Maurianne met Charles Siegel Adams, whom she married in 1961 and divorced twenty years later. Maurianne moved to Massachusetts and taught English Literature at Smith College from 1964 to 1973, published scholarly and feminist articles and was instrumental in creating faculty seminars and scholarly organizations in the field of Victorian Studies.

 

After leaving Smith, Maurianne moved to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she worked closely with John Hunt, who supported her creation of a new social justice curriculum and helped foster her administrative skills. Maurianne and John became close friends and sailing buddies, as well as working partners, married in 1991 and lived in downtown Amherst. Together they enjoyed traveling, music concerts, theater and movies. Maurianne was a devoted wife to John and cared tirelessly for him when he became ill in his later years. Their marriage was adventuresome, happy and mutually supportive, and Maurianne was devastated when John died in 2015.

 

Maurianne was a prolific scholar and presenter who wrote more than 8 books and 50 articles and book chapters, was a speaker or presenter at more than 78 conferences, received 21 awards and grants and was deeply involved in over 50 types of university service. She was an outstanding and passionate teacher who taught both undergraduates and graduate students and directed many doctoral dissertations while also serving as General Editor of the College of Education’s journal, Equity & Excellence in Education, for twelve years. In 1988, Maurianne completed post-doctoral work in Cambridge, MA, to better understand how cognitive development might address the challenges of teaching in the burgeoning field of social justice education. Back at UMass, she identified other faculty with an interest in social justice and, together, they became the founding faculty of the Social Justice Education (SJE) Program, a ground-breaking masters/doctoral program. Maurianne will be remembered by her hundreds of former students and colleagues, as well as by her family, for her vitality, thoroughness, high standards, bureaucratic diplomacy, intelligence, keen sense of humor, irreverence and unstinting support.

 

An avid reader and gardener who loved spending time at her summer home and beloved family retreat on Mt. Desert Island in Maine, Maurianne was also active in Amherst town politics. Among her many contributions to her town, Maurianne researched and wrote the history of several hundred historical properties in her own 19th century Amherst neighborhood and established a Local Historic District to protect it. For this effort, she was awarded a Founders Day Conch Shell award from the Amherst Historical Society. In 2014, Maurianne helped found and became an officer and board member of the Amherst Community Land Trust, which seeks to help low- and middle-income workers achieve affordable home ownership in Amherst.

 

While recovering from several joint replacement surgeries, Maurianne discovered earlier this year that the cancer that had been successfully treated many years earlier had returned. Maurianne brought her skills as a scholar to her understanding of her illness, thoroughly researching the disease and all of the possible treatment options. After a brave, and all too brief, battle for her life, Maurianne died peacefully in her sleep of acral melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Throughout her illness, Maurianne continued to live life to its fullest and, typically, was still trying to complete several book chapters in the last weeks of her life. When it was clear that the “endgame,” as she called it, had come, Maurianne faced her death with courage and equanimity.

 

In addition to the loss of her husband and best friend, John Austin Hunt, Maurianne was deeply affected by the loss of her parents, Rita and Clement Solomon Schifreen, and of her niece, Leah Zisser, who died of neuroblastoma at the age of four. Maurianne will, in turn, be deeply missed by her sister, Carolyn Schifreen Zisser (Elliot), who was inspired by Maurianne from an early age; by her nephew, Jonathan Zisser, and his daughter Lily-Rose; her niece, Alison Zisser Nathenson (Robert); and great nephew, William Ronan Nathenson; her cousins, Barbara Blumstein Blechner and Bob Blumstein and Robert and Joe Field; and her “chosen” family member, Jeremiah Woolley.

 

In keeping with her lifelong commitment to collaboration, this brief summary of Maurianne’s life is a collective effort that includes contributions from the many family members and friends who volunteered to write about Maurianne and what she meant to them. Shivah for Maurianne, arranged by her sister, Carolyn, is being observed virtually and a virtual gathering of Social Justice Education alumnae has been arranged by Maurianne’s SJE colleague and friend, Ximena Zúñiga. A gathering to celebrate Maurianne’s life is currently being planned for the Spring. Donations in Maurianne’s honor can be made to the Fisher Home (Amherst, MA), Dakin Humane Society (Springfield, MA), Amherst Survival Center, Amherst Community Land Trust, or a nonprofit of your choice.

 

PostHeaderIcon CATHERINE A. BENNETT of AMHERST, MASS, January 14, 1945 – October 5, 2020

Catherine A. Bennett (neé Wetz), 75, of Amherst MA, passed away on Monday, October 5, 2020 after a short battle with cancer.

 

Cathy was born to parents John and Adra Wetz on January 14, 1945 in De Kalb, IL.  She was the middle daughter of three and graduated from Waterman High School in Waterman IL in 1963.  She went on to graduate from Monmouth College with a B.A. in music and sociology in 1967, and a Masters degree in Music Performance from Eastern Illinois University in 1968.

 

She met her future husband, Paul W. Bennett, while working for the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Helena, Montana and they wed there in 1971.  They soon moved to Massachusetts, where they had their only child, Timothy, in 1974.

 

While running a social services hotline in Amherst, MA, Cathy felt called to advocate for local homeless children and families.  This led to the creation of Jessie’s House, one of the first family homeless shelters in Massachusetts, in 1982.  She directed both Jessie’s House and Grace House, a residential treatment center for mothers suffering from addiction until her retirement in 2008.  She received multiple awards for her service to the women and families she worked with, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Western Massachusetts Substance Abuse Providers Association and the Eyes of Courage award from the Center for Human Development.

 

In addition to her devotion to helping people through her social work, music was always an integral part of Cathy’s life.  She began learning piano as a young girl, playing with her sisters as they grew up, before studying music at Monmouth College and singing in the College Choir.  After moving to Massachusetts, she directed the choir at Wesley United Methodist Church in Amherst.  She was a cantor and musician at St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church for many years before returning to Wesley in 2001 as director of music. 

 

She was involved in a number of dramatic productions at St. Brigid’s as a singer, musician, and composer.  She was a part of Valley Light Opera productions since 1981 as a singer and rehearsal accompanist, as well as working in the costume shop.  She directed the University Women’s Choral Group for many years, and was a musician for many Amherst Area Gospel Choir concerts.  She enjoyed working with kids, and directed or accompanied the children’s choir at Wesley.  She played piano, organ, and harp in many local venues and thoroughly enjoyed being able to participate in such a wide range of musical endeavors.

 

Her faith was a cornerstone of her life.  Cathy was always searching and always willing to share what she had learned along the way.  She was a teacher and mentor for many, guiding people in both their musical and spiritual journeys.  She had a natural talent for connecting with anyone, and was always encouraging, with a strong sense of humor, but was not afraid to say what people needed to hear.  She understood people’s struggles, and was always open and approachable, always willing to help and offer advice.  She formed lifelong friendships, her beloved Pajama Party group began about 45 years ago after a women’s spiritual retreat and continues to this day. 

 

More recently, Cathy turned to writing through classes and workshops, crafting stories and characters, as well as her thoughts on life, music, and the plains where she grew up.  She also loved crocheting and quilting, elephants and butterflies, flowers and her backyard pond.

 

Cathy is survived by her son, Timothy, her two sisters, Susan Hudson and her husband John Hudson of Woodstock, IL, and Eva Maxwell and her husband, Lawrence Maxwell of Kalispell, MT, as well as her nieces and nephews and their families.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24th at 11am via Zoom.  More details will be available at the Wesley United Methodist Church website (http://www.wesleyfamily.org).  Donations in Cathy’s memory can be given to a charity of your choice, or Wesley United Methodist Church (98 N. Maple St., Hadley MA 01035).

PostHeaderIcon MARIE ILEANA GIGUERE of HOLYOKE, June 17, 1944 – September 25, 2020


Marie Ileana Giguere (Lumbis), recently of Holyoke, passed away at her

home on Friday, September 25, 2020. Marie was born in 1944 to

Joseph Michael Lumbis and Olive Mae Tessier of Northampton,

Massachusetts. She leaves behind five children from her first marriage

to Maurice V. Spear, Jr. (deceased) of Amherst – Maurice V. Spear III,

David H. Spear, Raymond A. Spear, Jeffrey P. Spear, and Lisa M. Hoyle

(Spear). She leaves behind one child from her second marriage to Lewis

E. Tuttle of China, Maine – Patrick A. Tuttle. She has many siblings,

nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, whom she

loved very much. A private burial will take place on September 30th.

 

 

PostHeaderIcon ARLENE A McCARTHY of FLORAL CITY, FL, November 23, 1932 – September 8, 2020

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