Jonathan Matthew Lalonde shed “the surly bonds of earth” unexpectedly at his home September 15, 2020. He was born September 17, 1976 in Northampton, Massachusetts. He is survived by his parents, Tina and Paul Lalonde of Amherst; his sister Rebecca Menke, brother-in-law Benjamin and their son Joseph, of Oxford, Massachusetts; brother Lucas and his wife, Mary and their daughter, Adelaide of Marlborough, CT. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He is greatly loved and missed by all.
Jon was a clever adventurer with a kind hearted, free-spirited soul who fiercely loved and accepted everyone. Passionate about his music and art, he never stopped creating. Jon was tormented by lifelong mental illness and addiction. The challenges of the pandemic exacerbated these struggles. A risk taker with a finely tuned sense of style and youthful exuberance, he was unafraid to explore all aspects of life. Jon was resilient: no matter how many times life knocked him down, he got back up. Very passionate, kind and insightful, he zealously advocated and worked to aid the homeless and disabled.
Love defined his relationship with his family despite the complexities of his life. There will be a private memorial service, with Jon’s ashes scattered on the waters.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that you perform lifelong acts of kindness in his memory and treat those who struggle with addiction with compassion.

Edwin W Borowski Sr. passed away on Tuesday, September 15^th at Care One in Northampton.

Edwin (Ed) was born on March 5, 1936 to the late Zigmund and Stasia (Pliska) Borowski. Ed was raised in a farming family and was proud to have been a member of the United States Marine Corps. He worked for Warner Brothers Construction for many years and upon retirement Szawlowski farms. His passion was fishing. He loved, taking his boat out and spend countless hours fishing on the river or lakes.

Ed is survived by his four children, daughters Traci of Florence, MA, Linda (Sal) of Enfield, CT and sons Edwin Jr. of Hatfield, MA and Alan of Easthampton, MA, brothers Eugene and Chester (Nancy) of Northampton and sister Cynthia (Ron) Lashway of Amherst and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Zigmund and Stasia and siblings Charles and Nancy.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Dr’s, nurses and staff at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and Care One of Northampton for their compassionate care over the past few months.  

The burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Ed will be buried next to his mother as he wished in the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Hatfield MA. Memorial donations may be made to Cooley Dickinson Hospital or Boston Children’s Hospital.

It is with immeasurable sadness that the family of Susan D. MacDonald announces her passing at age 71, after a long struggle with COPD, on September 7, 2020 in Amherst Massachusetts. Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Susan was a graduate of Nashua High School. An Amherst resident for 32 years, she was retired from the School of Nursing and Public Health at UMASS, Amherst.

 Susan loved Bob Dylan and the ocean and delighted in her grandchildren, who called her “Nanni.” She was a fierce and loving protector of her children and a champion of human and civil rights. She had a wicked sense of humor, was generous and kind, and also irreverent and tenacious. Susan lived the nine lives of a cat and she will be missed very much.

 Susan is predeceased by her parents Douglas H. and Kathryn B. MacDonald. She is survived by Miso the cat; daughter Shannon Golden and son-in-law Jerome Golden, daughter Rachel Roberson, and son Marcus Roberson; her grandchildren Heaven, Zoe, and Xavier Golden; her siblings Deborah, Kathryn, Douglas, and Jean MacDonald; nephew Ian MacDonald, and niece Kiera MacDonald-Morelli. 

In light of the pandemic and in keeping with Susan’s wishes for simplicity, a family remembrance and ocean scattering will be planned for a later date. Donations in her honor are encouraged to the American Lung Association (lung.org).

Nancy H. {Borowski} Reil, died Sunday August 30, 2020, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, at the age of 77.

Nancy was the daughter of the late Zigmund and Stasia {Pliska} Borowski.

Nancy spent her entire life caring for her family and working on the family farm raising vegetables for many of the area stores and markets.

Nancy is survived by her daughter Sylvia McMahon of Bernardston, her son Richard of Northampton, brother’s Eugene, Edwin and Chester and his wife Nancy Borowski, all of Northampton, her sister Cynthia and husband Ronald Lashway of Amherst; her grandchildren Shauna, Andrew, Alex and Emily and several nieces and nephews. Her son Roger and brother Charles predeceased her.

Nancy will be deeply missed by her brother’s and sister.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Food Bank of Western Mass. 97 N. Hatfield Rd. Hatfield, MA 01038

David Paul Sackett of Amherst MA died Friday, July 24 following a lengthy illness.

David was born in 1943 in Melrose, MA to the late Reginald and Doris Sackett.  He attended Melrose Public Schools and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1969 and obtained a MBA from the Isenburg  School of Business In 1989.

He worked many years in Financial Aid at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

As a counselor he helped form the Union of Professional Employees.  Interested in student’s and employee’s wellbeing he became an Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

After retiring David had the opportunity to pursue his dream of volunteering with the Peace Corp.  He spent almost a decade helping others start up small businesses and teaching English on a small island off the coast of Chile.

David was intelligent, steady and always interested in teaching and helping.  Serving as a Sunday School teacher and a 4 H leader as his children grew up.

His main interests included Birding, travel and family.  He and his wife, Christina traveled to Texas and Florida to watch the bird migration every year,  often accompanied by dear friends.

David is survived by his wife Christina, daughter Jane,  grand daughters Charlotte and Yainelyz, god daughter Stacey and many friends and relatives.

He is predeceased by his daughter Kristin, his brother Richard and beloved dog Clark.

A celebration of his life will be held in the Spring.

To honor his memory donations may be given to World Wildlife Fund ( 1250 24th street NW Washington DC 20037 ) or SIERRA ( sierramagazine.org ).

Mary G. (Devine) Fitzgibbon (1933-2020) entered into eternal life on August 31, 2020.  She leaves her husband of 64 years Joseph, sons Paul (Karen Sobasko) and James (Connie DeSantis) and daughters Maryellen (Catherine Cezeaux) and Martha (Kevin Hill).  Her son Joseph and daughter Honora predeceased her.  She was a devoted grandmother to Joseph Fitzgibbon (Angela), Michael Fitzgibbon (Kim), Mary-Kate Murray (Scott), Kevin and Emily Hill; and great grandmother to Cole, Penelope and River.  She also leaves her brother Thomas Devine and brother-in-law William Dion as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their spouses and families.

Mary, was born in Hadley, daughter of John E and Mary Agnes (Kelley) Devine. She attended Hadley schools, graduating from Hopkins Academy.  She was also a graduate of Northampton Commercial College.  She served the towns of Hadley and South Hadley as Town Accountant.  She was a military wife for many years and accepted the separation and uncertainties of Navy life with grace, courage, and good humor.  She supported her husband Joe’s career traveling with him as he was stationed in California, Hawaii, Virginia and Rhode Island.  When Joe retired from the Navy they returned to Mary’s home town of Hadley to raise their family.

Her two great loves were her family which she presided over with wisdom and gentility and her flowers.  She was so proud of her children and grandchildren.  She spent many happy hours in her greenhouses and at her flower stand.  Every customer became part of her extended family.

Those she leaves behind will miss her dearly.  She taught us all the meaning of life, love, and perseverance.  Our leading light has dimmed but will always guide our way until we join her in paradise.

A liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at 10:00 at the Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley with burial following at the St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley.  In keeping with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 restrictions, masks and social distancing will be required.

Judith A. (Gross) Makepeace, 73 of Shutesbury, passed away peacefully at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, August 18, 2020.  Judith was born on November 11, 1946, in Huntington, Massachusetts, to Muriel I. (Lafond) Gross and Robert C. Gross, Sr. 

Judith’s family moved to Shutesbury in 1947.  She graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1964. After high school, she worked for Puffer’s Construction, where she met her beloved husband, Reginald L. Makepeace.  They were married in 1972.  After being a housewife and stay-at-home mother while her children were young, she worked part-time at the Shutesbury Elementary School, assisting the cafeteria manager.  After the passing of her husband, she worked at National Evaluations Systems, now Pearson, in various positions for many years. Judith transitioned back into the construction field when she went to work for Karl’s Excavating and Site Work in Hadley, Massachusetts as a Site Coordinator/Dispatcher until she retired in 2015. 

Judith cared deeply for her small-town community in Shutesbury.  She volunteered to serve in many positions, including the Council on Aging, Cemetery Commission, Shutesbury Community Club, dinners at the Shutesbury Athletic Club, as well as with the Shutesbury Police Department when her father was Chief of Police.

Judith was an avid Red Sox fan. She enjoyed ceramics, bus trips, playing as part of a pitch league, and enjoyed her daughter’s hobby farm.  She also took great pleasure in hosting large family gatherings, which provided her with a lifetime of cherished memories.

Judith is survived by her daughters Jessica Makepeace, of Shutesbury, Melissa Makepeace-O’Neil, and her husband, Christopher O’Neil, also of Shutesbury. She is also survived by her beloved grandsons, Trevor Makepeace and Travis Mason-Makepeace of Shutesbury.  She is predeceased by her husband and both of her parents.

She is also survived by her brother Robert C. Gross, Jr. and his wife April Gross of Topsfield, Maine. Her niece Tamra Harriman and her nephew Robert A. Gross both of Maine. Judith is survived by her godson Charles Walter Bostic, of North Pole, Alaska. She leaves behind many other loved family members and dear friends, too numerous to list individually.

Judith will be laid to rest at a private burial service along with her mother, Muriel Gross, who also passed recently.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shutesbury Firefighter’s Association, PO Box 295, Shutesbury, MA 01072.

Orene J. (Melcher) Berg, 82, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2020 at the Elaine Center of Hadley. Born July 16, 1938 to Oscar and Elizabeth (Nichols) Melcher, Orene grew up in Wilton, Maine and graduated from Wilton Academy and Husson College. She worked for many years as a secretary in the Plant Pathology Department at UMass. Married in 1958, Orene was predeceased by her loving husband, Elmer Berg Jr. after 50 years of marriage. She was a wonderful mother to her three children and always welcoming to their friends with homemade treats and meals. She loved staying in touch with family and friends in Maine. After retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending their games and events. She especially loved her great-granddaughter. She leaves her son, Gary (Jean), daughter, Tammy Coe (Randy), and son, Steve (Donna), all of Hadley. Eight grandchildren, Amanda Berg (partner Jeff Hubbard), Lisa West (Cody), Ashley McKechnie, Rhett Cadenhead, Stuart and Marie Murphy, Erik and Paul Berg, and great-granddaughter, Logan West. The family would like to give a special thank you to all of the staff at Elaine Center for the kindness, loving care and friendship so freely given to our mother, especially during this unusual time of COVID. Thank you to Hospice for mom’s care at the end. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be made on Orene’s behalf to the American Diabetes Association. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. The Douglass Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial guestbook @ www.douglassfuneral.com

Pat Schneider of Amherst Massachusetts passed away on August 10, 2020. She was the author of ten books of poetry, plays, and non-fiction. Born in the Ozark mountains of Missouri on June 1, 1934, Pat became intimate with fossils, creek beds, grasshoppers and box turtles. After a search for work took her single mother to St. Louis, from age ten Pat lived in tenements and in an orphanage until she was given a scholarship to college. Those early experiences deeply influenced her writing and fueled her passion for those who have been denied voice through poverty and other misfortunes. Pat and her husband Peter Schneider moved to Amherst in 1966 where Peter served as pastor of Wesley United Methodist church until 1980 and where Pat and Peter were committed to building a community-based social justice ministry.In 1981, Pat founded Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA). Today an international network of workshop leaders use the writing method described in Pat’s book, Writing Alone and With Others (Oxford University Press). How the Light Gets In: Writing as a Spiritual Practice (OUP) was published in 2013. Her last book is the poetry collection The Weight of Love, published by Negative Capability Press in 2019.Pat’s libretto, “The Lament of Michal,” was performed in Carnegie Hall. Her poetry has been read on NPR sixteen times. Her plays have been performed in over three hundred productions. A film about her work with women in low-income housing titled Tell Me Something I Can’t Forget was made by Florentine Films in 1992.Pat is survived by Peter Schneider, their four children and two grandchildren.  The family is grateful to the Elaine Center in Hadley Massachusetts for care in her final year. If you wish, you may honor her by making a donation in her memory to AWA, the organization she founded, nurtured, and sustained with love and boundless energy, either online at https://amherstwriters.org/nonoring-pat/ or by check to Amherst Writers and Artists, PO Box 1076, Amherst MA 01004.