Pelham, Walter A. Oliveira, 89, died peacefully surrounded by his family Thursday November 30, 2017 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was born September 8, 1928 in New Bedford, MA. He served in the Navy during WWII; upon his discharge in 1948 he married his beloved wife Shirley {Suprenant} Oliveira, who predeceased him in 2009. “Tony” was a long time Pelham resident and was active in politics there for many years. He worked for many years at H.M. Spencer as a Watermarker and retired from the Hampshire County Courthouse as Director of Maintenance. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed gardening particular maintaining his own home and property. Tony had a deep love for his family: his two daughters Carol Ann Powers, Sue-Ann Battistoni, his five grandchildren and his eight great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday December 7, 2017 at 10:00 AM at St Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery Hadley, with a reception following. At his own request there will be no calling hours.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Hadley, Marilyn R. Weber, 89, of Hadley, MA passed peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Elaine Manor. Her family had gathered around her in the days before her passing.

Born in Schenectady, NY in 1928, she was the daughter of the late Earl Havens and the late Dorothy (Gallup) Havens. She was predeceased by a sister, Betty Barr. She married the first love of her life, August W. Weber, in 1949. He predeceased her in 1958. They had four sons, Todd, Rodney, Dana, and August W. Weber III, all of whom survive.

She is also survived by eight grandchildren and 5.5 great grandchildren.

She was married to her second love, Robert C. Weber, in 2006. He predeceased her in 2017.

As a single mom she was employed by the Niskayuna NY school district to be able to be home after school to keep tabs on her rambunctious brood during their formative years. It didn’t always work…

She loved California, Mexico, Cape Cod, Old Orchard Beach, her dream home in Hadley, dancing and cooking, but most of all her and the family reunions in Mariaville, NY. She will be deeply, deeply missed by all of us.

The family would like to thank mom’s caregivers, both at home and at Elaine. It wasn’t always easy but the care you gave and the love you showed are appreciated more than you can ever know.

A celebration of Marilyn’s life will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 1:00pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, 87 N Pleasant St. Amherst, MA. A remembrance reception will follow from 2:30-5:00pm at the American Legion in Hadley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marilyn’s name to a local hospice or charity of your choice.

Amherst, Ilse Wilson Shumway of Amherst Massachusetts, born January 3, 1956, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday, November 19, 2017, after enduring her battle with cancer.  Ilse was the beloved wife of Philip E. Shumway and cherished mother to Philip, Spencer, Jennifer, Clarissa and the late Geoffrey Shumway. She also leaves behind grandson Jackson Shumway and dear siblings John, Peter, and Harold Wilson, Holly Jenne and the late Eric Wilson as well as many nieces, nephews and family members whom she cherished greatly.

For Ilse, family was everything. Throughout her life she continuously placed the needs and desires of others before her own, the ultimate example of this can be seen through the manner in which she loved and cared for her family. Ilse reached beyond the walls of her home as well to be of service and advocate for many she came in contact with. From a very early age, her genuine care for others shown through as a volunteer worker at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Professionally, Ilse was an accomplished CPA who carried out her own practice and touched the lives of many of her clients.

Calling hours will be held Friday December 1^st from 5-7 pm and funeral services will be held Saturday, December 2^nd at 2pm, both held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 23 Brigham Ln, Amherst, MA. Flowers can be sent to 25 Mount Pollux Drive, Amherst MA 01002.

ELIZABETH JEAN FARNSWORTH, 54, residing in Amherst, MA, died at home unexpectedly on October 27^th, 2017. She was born in Boston, MA on December 8^th, 1962, and was predeceased by her parents, William B. and Jean G. Farnsworth.  She is survived by her brother Robert L. Farnsworth and her sister-in-law Georgia N. Nigro of Greene, ME; her nephews Nathan and Tobias Farnsworth; her aunt, Alys F. MacLeod of Bristol, RI; and her cousins Libby, Rory, Tucker, and Caroline.  Educated at Brown University (B.A. with honors 1984), The University of Vermont (M.S. Botany 1991), and Harvard University (PhD. Ecology 1997), Elizabeth conducted research projects in plant ecology all over the world in a vigorous and distinguished career spanning more than three decades. She dedicated her prolific scientific and artistic expertise to environmental education in a wide variety of settings, from university teaching to development of ecology education projects for children.  Elizabeth served as a scientific consultant to government agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and worked recently as the Research Ecologist and Director of Education at The New England Wild Flower Society in Framingham, MA. Her wide-ranging research was recognized and supported by numerous grant awards from such sources as the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The American scientific community will miss Elizabeth’s energetic presence and distinguished accomplishments in the field of ecology. Her wide and devoted circle of friends in science and in the arts has lost an ardent, gifted musician and visual artist, and a witty, fervent, and loyal companion.  A memorial celebration of Elizabeth’s life is being planned for the near future. For further information on developments thus, check the Hitchcock Center website

http://www.hitchcockcenter.org/ .  The family suggests that donations in memory of Elizabeth be sent to New England Wild Flower Society http://newenglandwild.org, Hitchcock Center for the Environment http://www.hitchcockcenter.org/ , Amandla Chorus  http://amandlachorus.org , or any other conservation organization, group, or charity of the donor’s choice.

Amherst, Maxine Brooks Marra of Amherst, Massachusetts, died peacefully in her home on Sunday, October 15, 2017. She was 94. She was attended by her loving caregiver and friend of more than five years, Gladys Kumi. During the time Gladys cared for Maxine, they developed a deep relationship based in kindness and good humor. Maxine and Gladys began and ended each day in prayer that was the source of great comfort to both.

Born on a small farm in Grass Lake, Michigan in March of 1923, Maxine was the fourth child of six born to Elizabeth (Bessie) and William Mix Brooks.  She attended the local one room schoolhouse. Later she taught at the same schoolhouse. Maxine continued her teaching career in post-war England.

She married Alan A. Marra in November of 1951 and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she raised three boys. The Marra family moved to Amherst, Massachusetts in 1972. 

After raising her family, Maxine returned to her teaching career.  In her forties she went to graduate school earning her Masters of Education from the University of Massachusetts. She taught Remedial Reading in the Northampton School system until she retired in 1998. Always a passionate reader, Maxine indulged in historical romance novels, which she described to her students as a guilty pleasure.

Maxine always enjoyed tending a garden. She and Alan kept a healthy and productive vegetable patch in addition to growing a variety of flowers that bloomed throughout the seasons.  Together they grew and harvested grapes, strawberries, blueberries, red and golden raspberries, blackberries, and currants, which were preserved into delicious jams and jellies.  Their many garden gifts were enjoyed by their sons, grandchildren, extended family, and friends.  She was at home in the kitchen and in addition to making family meals would frequently bake bread and cookies from scratch.

Maxine had a life-long interest in history and made a personal connection to it through the study of her own family history researching genealogical records as a hobby.

A talented seamstress, Maxine had a strong sense of style and kept up with the latest fashion in clothes she made herself. She was an avid conversationalist who had a sharp wit and a well-developed sense of humor, which she tended to share only with those who knew of it.  She loved to play the piano.  Both she and Alan were actively involved in the mental health community. 

Maxine is preceded by her eldest son, Daniel in October of 2011, and her husband of 51 years, Alan, in May of 2012. She is survived by sons Nicholas of South Hadley, his daughters Alexandra, Julia, Christina, and Samantha, and his wife, Leslie, and Franklin, of Amherst, his wife, Noelle, their sons, Collen, Arin and Quinton.

Funeral services will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Burial will be at Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst, following the services. A luncheon reception to honor and cherish fond memories of Maxine will be held at The Amherst Women’s Club. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, at www.nami.org in honor of Maxine B. Marra.

Holyoke— Karen Nina (Kwartler) Harper, 65, died October13 of pancreatic cancer at her home in Holyoke.

Born March 27, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York, she was the daughter of Eli Kwartler of Pelham and the late Adele Behrman Kwartler.

In the last three years, Karen served in several roles as an advocate for elders and other vulnerable populations, as she had done her entire life.  She taught a course on geriatric health at Holyoke Community College, provided program and organizational development assistance to Quality Adult Day Care in West Springfield and Holyoke, and served as a Strategic Planning Committee member of the Dementia-Friendly Holyoke initiative. She balanced these roles with enjoying her dream home on the banks of the Connecticut River with her husband and two beloved dogs, and spending vacation time on Cape Cod and in Maine whenever she could.  

Karen graduated from Longmeadow High School in 1970, briefly attended Tufts University, and then settled on Cape Cod where she began her lifetime love of the Outer Cape. There she met her first husband Stephen Mock. Karen and Stephen moved to the Amherst area in the late ’70s so Karen could continue her education. She ultimately received her M.Ed. degree in Human Services and Counseling from Antioch University.

After Karen earned her degree, she took a job as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Avalon School in Monterey, MA.  After a few years, she also began to provide social work consultation to nursing homes in that area of the Berkshires. She and Stephen purchased a home in South Egremont, MA, where they eventually welcomed sons George and next Kevin into their family.

In 1987, after Karen and Stephen were divorced, Karen, George and Kevin moved to Florence, MA.  When Karen first arrived in the Northampton area, she began to work in various nursing homes providing social work services to elderly patients and their families.  She reconnected with high-school boyfriend Ted Harper, and they married in 1991.

In 1998, Karen became Clinical Coordinator of Older Adult Behavioral Health Services at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. She remained in that position until she took a position at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke in 2002. From 2002 until 2014 she was employed at Providence, first as Program Clinical Director of older-adult psychiatric inpatient services, and then as Director of Clinical Programming.  She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Holyoke Council on Aging and of the Alzheimer’s Association where she was also a trainer at local nursing homes and other facilities.

During her early years at Providence, she and Ted purchased a house on the Connecticut River in Holyoke, fulfilling Karen’s long-held dream of living by the water full-time. Throughout her life, Karen was a creative and caring person in her personal and professional relationships.  She was deeply committed to recognizing the dignity of each person with whom she worked, whether they were patients or colleagues. She reached out to help those around her and developed deep friendships that she sustained throughout her life. In her final months, family members, colleagues, and devoted friends gathered to spend time with her at her home by the river, while Karen tended her flower and herb gardens, thought up new craft projects, and continued to show a keen interest and concern for others’ lives and welfare even as her own body was failing.

Karen is survived by her father Eli Kwartler; husband Theodore Harper; son George Mock of Southwick; son Kevin Mock and his wife Cara of Springfield; brother Jonathan Kwartler and his wife Rochelle of Cherry Hill, NJ; sister Dianne Jensen of Old Saybrook, CT; stepmother Barbara Benda Jenkins of Pelham and stepsister Eve Jenkins (John Monch) of Takoma Park, MD; niece Megan Jensen Sher (Adam Sher) of Falls Village, CT;  nephew Wesley Jensen of Groton, CT; nephews David Kwartler and Joshua Kwartler both of Philadelphia; grandson Kevin Mock, Jr.; great-nephew Eli Sher, and step-niece Althea Davey; dear friends Adrienne DeSantis, Marie Buskey-Redmond, Karen Redmond and Donna Longley, along with many other relatives and friends.

Making it possible for Karen to fulfill her wish to remain in her home until her death were staff members of the Cooley Dickinson Hospice team along with her husband, her niece, her father, her sister, and her friends mentioned above.

Funeral services will be held at the Jewish Community of Amherst, 742 Main Street, Amherst at 10 o’clock on Monday, October 16. Burial will follow the services in the Jewish Community of Amherst Cemetery in Shutesbury. 

Memorial gifts in Karen’s name may be made to Cooley Dickinson VNA/Hospice, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060 or www.cooleydickinson.org/giving/vna-hospice-giving; Cancer Connection, 41 Locust St., Northampton, MA 01060 or www.cancer_connection.org; Alzheimers’s Association, 264 Cottage St., Springfield, MA  01104 or www.alzmass.org/ spirit.asp

Edward H Thiebe of Leverett, formally of Holyoke and Springfield, died on October 19, 2017.  Born in Holyoke September 5, 1931, he was the son of the late Edward and Esther

(Bey) Thiebe.  He graduated from Holyoke High School class of 1949, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Lowell State Teachers College (University of Massachusetts at Lowell).  He attended Boston University and received a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  He earned his Ph.D in Supervision and Curriculum Development form the University of Connecticut.  He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving with the 86^th and 389^th United States Army Bands. 

Dr. Thiebe taught at all levels of education from preschool through graduate school.  He began his teaching career as a fifth grade teacher at Westover School One in the Chicopee School System.  In Springfield, he taught as a fifth grade teacher at Memorial (Mary Dryden) School and was vocal music teacher and chorus director at the John J. Duggan Junior High School.  He conducted the Ursuline Academy Chorus and the Springfield Hospital (BayState Medical Center) Student Nurses’ Chorus.  After his tenure as Supervisor of Vocal Music for the Springfield School Department, Dr. Thiebe became an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Music at Springfield College directing the college’s musical ensembles and instructing student teachers.  He was an adjunct professor in the graduate school at the University of Lowell (University of Massachusetts at Lowell).

As a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Dr. Thiebe was a clinician in curriculum development at MENC District, State, Divisional and National Conferences/Conventions.  He served as curriculum consultant to various public school systems and participated in federal projects developing new music curricula using emerging media hardware/software.  He served on the executive board of the Massachusetts Music Education Association Western District.

Edward leaves his wife Patricia Y (Messier) of 62 years, four children; a son Edward A. Thiebe and his wife Sandra of Florida, and three daughters; Elizabeth A. Thiebe and her husband William Conelly of Great Britain, Linda M. Thiebe-Hickson of Springfield, and Jacqueline L. Thiebe of Washington State.  He leaves nine grandchildren, Kimberly Hickson-Torres, John Hickson, James, Raphael and Michael Conelly, Katrin, Gillian, Edward and Josh Thiebe.  He leaves 4 great grandchildren, Alexander and Madalyn Torres and Declan and Lachlan Palmer.

He leaves one sister, Marilyn A. (Thiebe) Bowers and her husband Glenn Bowers of Chicopee, a sister-in-law Jacqueline Kurtz; one brother-in-law Robert Messier and his wife Lorraine and eighteen nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by Richard Messier, Clement Messier and Edward Kurtz.  

Dr. Thiebe will be interned at the convenience of the family.  Memorial donation may be made in his memory to the American Lung Association or to the American Heart Association

Po-zen Wong, of Amherst, died on Monday, October 16, 2017. He was just shy of 65 years old.

Born in Shanghai, China, on November 6, 1952, Po-zen moved to Hong Kong at the age of 4, where he stayed until he graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with B.S. in Physics. Upon graduating, he moved to the United States to pursue his Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Chicago, which he completed in 1981. After several years with the Schlumberger-Doll Research Center, he began teaching in the Physics Department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1988. At UMass, he was known as a creative and tenacious condensed matter experimentalist who worked largely in soft matter physics (a new field at the time), and as a challenging, interesting, and influential teacher, mentor and colleague with a lot to say about physics and life.

After retiring from UMass in 2007, Po-zen turned his attention to another passion of his: Chinese art. His late father, Nan-Ping Wong, had been an art collector, and Po-zen channeled his energy and intellect into becoming an expert in Chinese art, and a collector himself. In 2013, he published his first article about Chinese art—becoming a published author in two very distinct fields.

Po-zen is survived by his wife, Chiu-wun, and his daughters, Joyce and Stephanie Wong, who love and miss him deeply. Po-zen’s life will be celebrated in a private memorial service on October 25, 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to NEPR, 1525 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103.

Easthampton, Deborah Bloomfield age 42, beloved mother, sister, and memaw died Wednesday October 4th at her home in Easthampton. 

She was born September 4th, 1975 to Linda and Joseph Kielbowicz. Deborah was a loving mother who lived for her children and family. 

She will be greatly missed by her children Ally, Tricia, Max, grandchildren, Jeremy and Liam, her sisters JoAnne Braverman, Katherine Russell. Her brother-inlaw Karl Braverman, her former husband Ethan Bloomfield. And her nieces Maddie Braverman, Emmalynn Wade, and nephews Cameron and Spencer Braverman.  

Family decided to keep funeral arrangements private, but there will be a memorial service held on Saturday, November 4th from 1-4pm at the Amherst VFW. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Autism Speaks, 1060 State Road, 2nd Floor Princeton, NJ 08540. 

Amherst, Daniel G. Bress, 63, passed away overnight on October 3^rd, 2017 in his apartment in North Amherst, MA.

Daniel was a man of tremendous good will and a benevolent nature. He spoke in quips and self-deprecating jokes at every opportunity, but he was sincerely helpful to anyone who asked and endlessly thoughtful about the ways of the world.

He was also very private, cherishing his long walks in the early morning solitude of North Amherst and the patient magic of a darkroom. He was relentlessly observant and enjoyed the musings of other great watchers and wonderers like Stephen Wright and George Carlin, who informed much of his sense of humor. His cameras allowed him to be both present and apart anywhere he went. His photographs were his commentary on the world around him, especially when they were only to say, “This is beautiful,” or more often, “This is weird!” He graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography in 2008 as a Professional Photographer.

Dan was fascinated by nature and, whether he was a child bringing home pockets stuffed full of rocks and worms, a young man walking his sons through his backyard garden to pick and eat fresh onions and radishes from the ground, or an adult pruning his bonsai trees and reading long books on fungi, he never stopped marveling at the miraculous cycle of growth, death, decay, and rebirth. He surrounded himself with plants everywhere he went and tried to share their comfort with others whenever he could. He graduated from the UMass University Without Walls in 2007 as a Master Gardener with a BA in Horticultural Presentation.

He was also fond of traveling and took many cruises with his partner Deb. His desire to peek into different lives and cultures was insatiable, and he reveled in the opportunity to start a conversation with a total stranger over the dinner table. More than anything though, he loved to sit in the heat of the sun and the smell of the salt water air.

Dan was the beloved father of and is survived by his son James Bress and his wife Julia Boisvert Bress of West Hartford, CT; his son Joseph Bress of Boston, MA; and his former wife, Susan Pynchon of Amherst, MA. He is also survived by his partner Deborah Lacasse of Holyoke, MA; his mother Dolores Carretta and sister Christine Groll of Stephentown, NY; and his nieces Michelle and Nicole Hoffman.

A public memorial service will be held at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst, MA at 10:00am on October 21^st. In lieu of flowers, donations in Daniel’s memory may be made to The Red Cross or the Massachusetts Nature Conservancy.