Mother to hundreds, friend of thousands, loved by all who knew her, Judith E. (Cook) Loebel died on December 11, 2019 as she lived, surrounded by those she loved and who loved her.
Judy was the heart of her large family. She was married for 54 years to Tod Loebel, with whom she built a family via blood, adoption, and determination. She leaves behind her children: Darlene, Stephen, Gretchen, Wendy, TR, Jennifer, Andrew, Zoe, Andi, and Noah, 27 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, as well as dozens of children she nurtured over more than 49 years as a foster parent. Judy was a fierce advocate for these children and was always quick to shelter those (of any age) in need.
Judy was a Hadley farmer’s daughter who applied the work ethic she learned as a child to all she did. She was born on August 5, 1943 at Cooley Dickenson Hospital to Gordon and Marjorie Cook. She grew up on Cook Farm with her three brothers: Gordon Jr, Richard, and Peter Cook. As an elementary school student, Judy joined the high school band as a clarinet player, later taking up saxophone and drums as well. She was a member of the local 4-H. At sixteen, she was crowned the Hadley Tercentenary Queen. She graduated from Hopkins Academy in 1961 as her class valedictorian. She went on to complete degrees in biochemistry and physiology at Mount Holyoke College, as well as a later degree in computer information systems from Rollins College.
For 45 years Judy worked as a clinical chemist, advancing from a research assistant at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, to laboratory supervisor at Holmes Regional Medical Center, to field representative at Instrumentation Laboratories, to the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Tosoh and DOCRO. Her expertise led her to consulting on clinical oncology trials and work with the FDA. She loved her work and continued it to within days of her passing.
Later in life, Judy volunteered at Lathrop Home and Harvest Club. She and Tod travelled the world, often sharing these experiences a with her children. In 2000, Judy and Tod opened the elegant Ivory Creek Bed and Breakfast on Chmura Road in Hadley. She loved meeting and hearing the stories of those who stayed at the B&B.
Judy was full of life, intelligent, strong, sensitive and wise. She was beautiful, although she didn’t know it. She lived an exemplary life that inspires all who cherish her memory. Her words continue to guide her family as they try to live by her example.
The family plans to host a celebration of life at a future date.

Belchertown,MA,Winthrop “Butch” Kellogg, 72, died December 29, 2019 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital following a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born on October 7, 1947 to the late Winthrop and Ella (Squires) Kellogg. He grew up in Amherst and was a graduate of Amherst High School.

Butch was a retired member of the Belchertown Police Department. Prior to becoming a police officer, he was employed by the Amherst Regional Schools as a custodian and school bus driver and instructor. He also previously worked for Western Mass Electric, and as an auto mechanic in Amherst.

Butch enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and classic cars. He was an avid skeet shooter and was a life time member of the Norwottuck Fish and Game Club.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters Mary Rhodes, Grace Rauch, and Joyce Saylor and brother Martin. He is survived by his wife of 49 years Donna (Kolasienski), sons Michael of Belchertown and Brian and his wife Sarah Rastallis of Montague, and one granddaughter Kasey. He is also survived by his sister Eleanor Killeen and her husband Bill and several nieces and nephews.

At Butch’s request there will be no calling hours or services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Belchertown Police Department, PO Box 901, Belchertown, MA 01007 to benefit the association scholarship program. Make checks payable to the Belchertown Police Association. Donations may also be made to the Norwottuck Fish and Game Association, PO Box 2492, Amherst, MA 01002.

Marvette Selanis, 93, died December 26, 2019 at the Buckley HealthCare Center in Greenfield. She was born May 20, 1926 in East Hartford, Ct to the late Wallace and Avis (Gilker) Johnson. Marvette grew up in Greenfield and was a graduate of Greenfield High School.
In 1946, Marvette met George Selanis at a dance in Northampton. They were married in 1949. Marvette and George shared many things in their life together. Most notably, they shared the exact same birthday – May 20, 1926.
Marvette was a long-time employee at Goodnow’s Department store. She enjoyed gardening and cooking, loved watching and rooting for the Red Sox and the Patriots, and was famous for her homemade apple pie.
Marvette is survived by her husband George, and their three children, Zane Selanis of Amherst, Debbie Guillotte and partner Ron Roy of Auburn, and Gary and Linda Selanis of Northfield. She also leaves three grandchildren, Rachel and Jake Guillotte and Jillian Selanis. Marvette is predeceased by her three sisters, Maxine, Gloria, and Patty.
Marvette’s family would like to thank the Buckley HealthCare Center and New England Hospice for their compassion and wonderful care.
All funeral services will be private.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Buckley HealthCare Center, 95 Laurel St., Greenfield, MA 01301.

Jon L. Berube passed away at his home in Pelham, Massachusetts on Thursday, December 5th. While Jon worked most recently in the Alterations Department at UMass Amherst, he had worked as a carpenter for nearly 30 years prior. Jon took great pride in his work, and it often seemed that he had built or worked on every house in the valley. Jon was a skilled hunter and fisherman who had a deep love and respect of nature. He felt most at home in the woods, and loved to get away to spend time in the peacefulness of rural Vermont. Jon was always quick to help a friend, and will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and tireless work ethic. Jon leaves behind two children, Hannah Berube of Hadley, and Jon C. Berube of Pelham, as well as a sister, Karen DiPersia, of Princeton, New Jersey. He is predeceased by his parents, Gail and Paul Berube. Jon’s family would like to thank the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson for their guidance and care.

Deborah Jane Long, of Amherst, Massachusetts., Daughter of Wesley S. and Dorothy M. Long, aged 62, was born on June 11, 1957; she died on November 29, 2019. Deborah was a retired Division Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System’s Northeast Region of the Department of the Interior, in Hadley, from 2009 through 2019, providing field support to 75 refuges in 13 New England and Mid-Atlantic states protecting over 550,000 acres of habitat.
Deb grew up on Lloyd Neck, Huntington, NY, and attended Cold Spring Harbor H.S. where she developed a passion for nature and the outdoors. A graduate of Colorado State University (1979) with a BS in Biology and Zoology, and with an MBA and Teaching Certificate in Applied Science from the University of Colorado, Deb commenced her career as an environmental scientist and middle school teacher. Her 27 year career with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Refuge System started at Denver’s Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge in 1992, followed by assignments in Chatham, Mass, Southern New Jersey and Long Island, NY. In June 2019, Deb was granted the Department of the Interior’s Superior Service Award.
Passionate about protecting and preserving the environment, Debbie was a mentor to many and fostered a collaborative team environment. She was a respected leader, advisor, and colleague whose impact is lasting and whose spirit has touched us all. We will miss Deb’s friendship, integrity, strength, kindness and her humble and unending sense of service and boundless dedication to family, friends and care for the environment.
Deb is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Anna; sister, Barbara; nephew, Chris; niece, Kate; and loyal dog Hariett.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Newman Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 472 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at 11 AM.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Long Island Bird Conservation Program c/o Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, or Hospice of the Fisher Home, Amherst, MA.

Molly May Robinson, age 94, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2019. She was born January 19, 1925 in England, to Albert and Bertha Kenzie. She became a war bride when she married the love of her life, Wilfred Robinson, in October of 1944.
Molly arrived in the states as a passenger on the Queen Mary. She loved to sew and was also a great cook. Plus, she was an avid knitter, skier, golfer, camper, and…surprisingly for someone from England…a Red Sox fan.
Molly worked at the Amherst Regional High School for many years. She will be remembered for her tireless and meticulous work in processing hundreds of college applications for high school seniors, while at the same time supporting the guidance counselors.
Molly is survived by daughter Pamela (Robinson) White and husband Tom White, daughter Lynn (Robinson) Watson and husband Gary Watson; grandchildren, Kristin Pettus and Megan White, step-grandson Cliff Watson; plus her many nephews and nieces, all of whom she loved deeply. Molly’s first great grandchild, Connor, is scheduled to arrive in March 2020.
Molly was pre-deceased by her husband Wilfred, who passed away in 2014, and her brother William (Bill) Kenzie, who passed away in 2009.
Please join us in celebrating her life on Monday, December 16th, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, MA. Burial will follow at the North Amherst Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Lewy Body Dementia Association at https://www.lbda.org/donate .
Many thanks to the staff in the Dharma Unit at The Center for Extended Care in Amherst. And thanks also to the Cooley Dickinson VNA Hospice. They both provided great care and comfort to Molly and her family.
 

Esther Jacobson Ph.D, mother of Debra Jacobson of Amherst, MA. and Charles Jacobson of Silver Spring, MD, grandmother of Rosa and Natasha Friedman and Adam Jacobson, died in Rockville, MD. Saturday morning. She was 95.

Doctor Jacobson is remembered for her wit and her mastery of the English language. She earned her PhD in English literature from Cornell during World War II and, after the war, taught returning veterans at New York’s Queens College and New York University. She then worked as a copy-editor until the early 1990s at Norton.

The funeral will be Wednesday, December 11, at 10am at the Jewish Community of Amherst. She will be interred next to her late husband, Louis Jacobson, at the JCA Cemetery.

Mourners are encouraged to make donations in her honor to the ACLU at https://action.aclu.org/give/donate-to-aclu-multistep.

For information: Gerald Friedman 43 Wildflower Dr., Amherst, MA. 01002.
Telephone 413-218-2701

Keith A. Connly, 51, of Conway, MA died suddenly of natural causes on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

Son of Patricia A. (Lashway) Connly and the late Richard P. Connly, Keith was born in Rutland, VT on August 9, 1968. Raised in Northampton, Keith graduated from Walton High School in Marietta, GA, after moving to that area when his father relocated for work during Keith’s senior year.

Keith attended Holyoke Community College and Worcester State University. His passion for cars led him to make his living in the automotive industry. He was employed by Sweeney Ford of Greenfield, Greg’s Auto Body of South Deerfield, Penske Corporation, Patriot Freightliner, and most recently with Ford of Northampton.

Keith had an unparalleled work ethic. To work with him was to work with a consummate professional. He always put the customer first and never left for the day unless the job was done and done to his high standards.
Keith was a passionate fan of the New England sports teams, America’s team – the Dallas Cowboys and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

He had a great sense of humor and delighted in making people laugh. His own unique laugh will certainly be missed by all who knew him.

Keith loved the peaceful, natural setting of his home in Conway, surrounded by the rolling hills, woods and wildlife. A great day was one spent out on a lake taking in his surroundings and perhaps being lucky enough to catch a fish or two, but his best days were those spent with the loves of his life, his son Austin Robert and his daughter Emmalee. He could not have been more proud to be their father and rejoiced not only in their academic, athletic and artistic achievements, but more importantly by the remarkable young people they have become.

Keith is survived by Austin and Emmalee, their mother, Kimberly Connly and his mother, Patricia A. (Lashway) Connly all of Easthampton, his sister Michele C. Foote and her husband Robert of Holden, his brother Gregory A. Connly and his wife Barbara of North Easton, his brother Peter L. Connly and his wife Linda of Sturbridge, his brother Glenn R. Connly and his wife, Lyn of Florence, his brother Sean C. Connly and his wife Sarah of Leicester, twelve nieces and nephews and his best friend since childhood, Craig Kirouac of Northampton.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Brigid’s Parish, 122 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA on Wednesday, December 4 at 10:00 am with burial to follow at St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley. Calling hours will be at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA on Tuesday, December 3 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Connly Memorial Scholarship Fund: 

Checks can be mailed to either:
Florence Bank
5 Main Street
Easthampton, Ma 01027

OR

Connly Family
3 Sterling Drive
Easthampton, MA 01027

Christine L. (Walker) Wiley, 90, of North Amherst, Massachusetts, born October 9th 1929, passed away peacefully at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on November 22nd. Chris was predeceased by her husband Robert Wiley, son Lenerd Wiley, parents Newell and Hazel Walker, sister Marcia and her husband James Block, and sister-in-law Clara and her husband Gordon Chamberlin. Chris leaves her sons William Wiley, James Wiley and his wife Lisa and daughter-in-law Debbie. She also leaves her siblings and their spouses; Ruth and Leonard Lamoureux, Joyce and Roland Parent, and Lemuel and Louise Walker. She will be greatly missed by her nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren as well.

Chris was born in Southbridge, Massachusetts and began studies in nursing until her marriage to Robert Wiley of North Amherst. She worked at University Health Services at UMASS until her retirement. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Sunderland and enjoyed quilting, cooking, baking, going to parades, spending time with her family, and visiting with her friends. Her family, by whom she was fiercely loved, wishes to express their deep gratitude to the staff of the Critical Care Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital for the care and dignity they showed Chris and her sons in the last days of her life.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2019, at 10:30 am at the N. Amherst Cemetery. A reception will follow at the First Congregational Church of Sunderland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Cooley Dickinson Hospital, c/o CCU Unit P.O. Box 329 Northampton, MA 01060

Susan Phyllis (Gold) Knapp, 73, of Belchertown, MA died on Monday, November 18, 2019 at 7:30 P.M. at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, surrounded by her family. She faced a long bout with lymphoma with strength and dignity. Sue was born on March 5, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan to Frances (Stellar) and Morris Gold. At an early age her family moved to Los Angeles, California where she grew up and attended school. She graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a major in Spanish and taught in the Oakland, California schools for 3 years.
In 1973 she accepted a position with the Department of Defense schools in Heidelberg, Germany. Sue taught at Heidelberg High School. When Heidelberg Middle School opened she was part of the original teaching staff and later became a guidance counselor working with the children of military families for 30 years. In Heidelberg she met her husband of 44 years, Richard Knapp. There they raised their three sons Bryan, Adam and Stephen.
In 2004, Susan and Richard retired and moved to Belchertown, Massachusetts to be near longtime friends and family. Sue was active in the Belchertown Democratic Committee and attended state conventions and canvassed for Democratic candidates. She was a founder of Belchertown’s CAN organization. She loved music and attended many “Jazz Shares” concerts and cultural events with Richard.
Sue will be remembered as a caring friend, a compassionate listener, a skilled Scrabble player, and someone who knew just when to add a dose of humor.
Susan is survived by her husband Richard, three sons, Bryan, Adam and Stephen, three grandsons and her oldest brother, Theodore. Her brother Burton passed in 2017.
Funeral services are planned for Friday, November 22 at 1:00 P.M. The ceremony will be held at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, Massachusetts. Burial follow at Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst.
Donations in Susan’s memory may be made to Cancer Connection in Northampton, Massachusetts.