Amherst, Florita Beatrice McNealy, who for the past three years, lived in Amherst, died suddenly at home on December 11, at the age of 86. She resided in Michigan for a good part of her life and worked as a nurse anesthetist. She studied general nursing at St. Mary’s Infirmary in St. Louis, Missouri. This hospital trained the largest number of African American doctors and nurses from its inception in the early 20^th century to the late 1960’s.

In 1952, she began her training in anesthesia at St. Francis Hospital for Anesthesia Training in Peoria, Illinois. This program was the first anesthesia school that accepted African Americans and at that time Florita was the youngest person to have ever enrolled in the Program. It was also a milestone achievement when she became the first Black to be employed as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois—thanks to the recommendations of the nuns and surgeons that ran the O.R.

Florita was a Peace Corps volunteer and sent to Brazil to work on the SS Ship Hope. She traveled extensively and after she returned to the States, was employed in hospitals around Illinois and Michigan until she turned 78. In 2007, she retired from Pontiac General Hospital in Michigan after dedicating over 55 years to the healthcare field.

Florita had an unstinting love for anesthesia and attended countless professional conferences and conventions to learn the latest techniques in anesthesia. Additionally, she pursued graduate studies at Wayne State University in Michigan, primarily to better understand the challenges patients from various socio-economic groups seeking healthcare had to overcome.

She was a pioneer in many areas and she left behind much goodwill wherever she lived. One trait she left us is that no matter how challenged our lives are, we should always lend a hand to those in need. We learnt from her that even when you are crying, you should not ignore the tears of others.

Florita is survived by her sister, Laura Richards and her husband Femi Richards, a brother, William McNealy, a sister-in-law, Sarah McNealy, a very special cousin Peter Jackson and scores of nieces and nephews scattered all over the country.

Florita was a devout Catholic and member of St. Patrick’s Church in Detroit, Michigan. As we mourn her passing, may we find strength in knowing that death is only a transition and the spirit lives forever. For those who have toiled long and hard, a respite from the rigors of life is well earned. We cannot afford to deny her the rest she so rightly deserves. It is up to us to keep her memory alive in ways that would immortalize the impact she made in our lives.

She was buried on Tuesday, December 16, at the Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst and is resting in peace. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Amesbury, MA, Claire “Pat “(Granfield) O’Connor 86 passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 13, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband Justin H. O’Connor, son Thomas O’Connor, parents William and Lillian Granfield, sister Catherine (Rena) McNulty, and brother John Granfield, and son in law Jake Bigham .She lived in Amherst MA and worked at the University of Massachusetts Housing department before retiring in 1993. She was Eucharistic minister at St. Brigid’s church and a member of the Cursillo of the Springfield Diocese.

 

She leaves her six children Mary O’Connor of Amesbury MA, Eileen (O’Connor ) Iacobucci and son in law Mark of Palm Harbor FL, Annie O’Connor and son in law  Steve Schwartz of Wappingers Falls NY, Judy Bigham of Seattle WA                   Bill O’Connor and daughter in law Joy (Dean) O’Connor of Londonderry NH and Peggy O’Connor of Punta Gorda FL. Thirteen Grandchildren ; Miranda Belmont Ryan O’Connor, Hailey O’Connor, MIkaela Iacobucci, Justin O’Connor ,Mackenzie O’Connor, Raina Bigham, Liam O’Connor, Thomas Iacobucci, Lula Bigham, Idabelle Bigham, Marcella O’Connor, and Nonni Schwartz, and great grandchild Alex Hickman.

 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM, Friday December 19, 2014, at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow at 12:00 PM in Calvery Cemetery, Chicopee. Calling hours will be held Thursday December 18, form 6 – 8 PM at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

 

Memorial donations can be made to St.Brigid’s Church P.O. Box 424 Amherst, MA 01004. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

 

AMHERST, Doris A. Atkins died at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, MA on December 4, 2014. She was born in Bristol, CT on August 6, 1933, the daughter of the late Walter A. Zeiner and Edith (Blinn) Zeiner. She graduated from Terryville, CT High School in 1951 and received a B.A. degree from the University of Connecticut at Storrs in 1976.

She was a member of the Plymouth Grange #72 in Plymouth, CT and the Whigville Grange #48 for over 60 years. She was also a member of the South Congregational Church and the Thursday Club in Amherst.

She was predeceased by her husband, William C. Atkins in December of 2006, by her daughter, Donna Lee Maynard, and by her brother, Walter A. Zeiner of Mt. Dora, Florida.

Mrs. Atkins leaves her son, David Maynard, of Long Island, New York and her daughter-in-law Linda Winkler of Kingston, PA, her nephew Scott Zeiner of Sarasota, FL, her sister-in-law Elizabeth Zeiner of Mt. Dora, FL, and several cousins. She also leaves five step children: Chandler Atkins of Queensbury, NY, Dr. James Atkins of Goldsboro, NC, Linda Thompson of Warrenton, VA, Holly Pelissier of Nipomo. CA, Elizabeth Vega of Goldsboro, NC, and a number of step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

Douglass Funeral Services will be in charge of the arrangements. At Mrs. Atkins request, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. A committal service will be held in Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst on Wednesday, December 10 at 11 AM. Reverend Fran Ruthven from South Congregational Church will conduct the service. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

 

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

 

Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Cynthia Phyllis Blane died in Hadley on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 27, 2014 with family at her side.

 

Born on July 6, 1928 to Milton and Sally Weber, Cynthia grew up in Brooklyn, New York, graduated from James Madison High School with honors, and attended Brooklyn College.  In her twenties, as the married mother of 2 young children, she, along with a number of family members, trekked across the country and settled in the Southern California area. It was there she raised her family and led an active social life with a close circle of friends from her temple.

 

In 1968 she returned to the Northeast and soon met and married Murray Blane.  They celebrated their 45^th Anniversary shortly before her death.  During the course of those years, Cynthia and Murray lived in New Jersey, California, the Berkshires, and Florida.  A few years ago they moved to the Amherst area to be closer to family.

 

‘Charlie’, as she was affectionately referred to by Murray and his family, loved to travel.  She and Murray journeyed to a wide range of exciting locations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Mexico, and the Caribbean.  She was extremely intelligent, an avid reader, and an inquisitive, life-long learner (as recently as last year taking a UMASS extension course).  Also a lover of the arts, Cynthia enjoyed opera, classical music, movies, theater and dance – in fact, she was a fine dancer herself.  She learned to play tennis in her 50’s and became a very knowledgeable spectator of the sport (and a big fan of ‘Rafa’).

 

Over the years, family became Cynthia’s main priority and she relished her role as the family matriarch. She will be deeply missed by her husband Murray Blane, her son Steven Leiblum, and daughter-in-law Lennie Ware, and her daughter Wendy Edinson and son-in-law Les Edinson.  She’ll also be missed by stepson William Blane and wife Amy Gross, and stepdaughter Jo Ellen Aaron.  Mourning her loss, too, are her grandchildren Eli Edinson, Asa Edinson, Mollie Edinson Domian and her husband Christopher Domian, as well as Mishy Leiblum, Raffi Leiblum, and his wife Kristina Kunkel, and Scott Aaron and his wife, Erin Cooper.  She also leaves behind 4 adorable great grandchildren.

 

Funeral arrangements were provided by the Douglass Funeral Home.  On Tuesday, December 2^nd, there will be a private memorial held for close family members. Contributions to Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street, Amherst MA 01002 may be made in her memory. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

 

Amherst, Dr. Marion M. Taylor, 76, born in Chicago, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 17th at the Fisher House in Amherst. He was surrounded by friends and students. Marion studied as a microbiologist but found his true passion in traditional Japanese martial arts. He held senior ranks in Iaido, Karate, Kyudo and Aikido. Marion worked as Director of Martial Arts in the outdoor program (OPRA) at Hampshire College for 39 years until his retirement in 2012. He is survived by many hundreds of students across the country and friends around the world, all of whom mourn his loss. Marion was an inspiring teacher and timeless mentor to those who carry his legacy through the practices he shared. Donations, in his name, can be made to the Fisher House, where Marion spent his last weeks in the company of those close to him and the loving staff of the Fisher House. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Alice M. {Pratt} Booth

1917 – 2014

Pelham, Alice May {Pratt} Booth, 97, a long time Pelham resident, passed away on Sunday Nov. 16, 2014, at The Center for Extended Care at Amherst. She was born March 11, 1917, to the late Ida and Ralph Pratt, in Shutesbury. She was educated in Shutesbury Schools, and she married her late husband Cleon Booth in 1934, moving to Enfield Rd. in Pelham shortly after. Alice spent her early years raising her four children. Later in life she was a care giver to many at local nursing homes, and then went to work at the University of Massachusetts Dinning Commons, until her retirement. She enjoyed going to bingo with her sisters and taking care of her mother and family. Alice spent her last years at the Center for Extended Care where she had many friends.

She is survived by her brother Lawrence “Larry” Pratt, her two sons, Cleon “Buzzy” Booth and wife Dora and Ernest “Ernie” Booth and wife Carolyn. She was predeceased by her daughters Bernice Stratton, Ernestine “Tini” Sawicki, Sisters Gertrude Stockwell and Mildred Britt, Brothers Harold, Clayton and Chester Pratt; she was also predeceased by a grandson, Tommy Stratton.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, 10:00 AM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with burial following in Pelham Valley Cemetery, Pelham. Calling hours will be Friday Nov. 21, from 5 – 7 PM at the Douglass Funeral Service. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Shirley E. Schwartz

1922 – 2014

Leeds, Shirley E. {Tacy} Schwartz, 92, a long time Amherst resident died Monday November 3^rd, 2014 at Overlook of Northampton. Shirley was born in Northampton Oct. 28, 1922, to the late Frederick and Emily {Bedard} Tacy.

Shirley grew up in the Bay State section of Northampton and was a Northampton High School Graduate; she was also a Graduate of the former Northampton Commercial College.

She was an avid movie buff, and met her late husband Daniel at the Calvin Theatre, where they both were working. She retired after many years from A.J. Hastings, Amherst. Shirley loved birds, especially Cardinals, light houses and the Red Sox.

She is survived by her two daughters, Maryanne and Dennis of Hampden, MA and Martha and Alan of CA., and her son Paul of MA. She is also survived by 6 Grandchildren and 2 Great-Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Shirley was pre deceased by her beloved husband Daniel and was the last of her twelve siblings.

Funeral services will be Friday November 14^th, 9:00 am from the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, with a Mass of Christian Burial,10:00 am at St. Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will be at 12:15 pm in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, Holyoke. Calling hours will be Thursday, November 13^th, from 5 – 7 pm at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

Memorial donations may be made to Overlook of Northampton, 222 River Rd. Leeds, MA 01053 or Community House of Hope, 348 West Avenida De Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks, CA. 91360 Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Holyoke, Malcolm Feinstein died at Loomis House in Holyoke, MA on October 28, 2014.  Born on July 12, 1922 in Middletown, Connecticut, he was the third and youngest son of Sadie and Jacob Feinstein who had immigrated to the US from Eastern Europe in the early 1900’s.  He grew up in the tiny town of Chester, Connecticut where his father and mother ran the village general store which sold everything from shoes to safety pins. 

Mal’s talents in art and music were recognized at an early age.  During his grade school years, he painted murals on many of the school’s walls and received violin lessons from Reuben Segel, a noted violinist and professor at the Hartt School of Music. Mal began his studies of commercial art at Pratt Institute, but his coursework was cut short by World War II.  He was inducted into the Army Air Force and served, during the war, as a phototopographer in India and Burma.  After the war, Malcolm used the GI Bill to complete his studies at Pratt in 1947 and, during the next two years, worked as a commercial artist with a specialty in the area of lettering.  Then, eager to try his own hand at painting, Malcolm traveled to France where he enrolled at the Ecoles d’Art Americaines, Palais de Fountainebleau.  Upon his return to the US, he met Estelle Fisher whom he married in 1949.  Three weeks after their wedding, the two moved to Paris where Malcolm studied painting with Edouard Goerg at the Academic de la Grande Chaumier in Montparnasse, attended classes with Leger, exhibited paintings at the American Library in Paris, and set up his portable easel to paint along the streets of Paris and rural France.

In 1951, they returned to the US and eventually settled in Stamford, Connecticut where they raised three children.  From 1959 until 1982, Malcolm pursued a career as a graphic designer and lettering artist with his college roommate, Irv Koons, at Irv Koons Associates in New York City.  The studio was named the “Package Design Studio of the Year” by the Package Design Council of New York in 1981.  By age 60, Malcolm retired in order to paint full time in the studio he had built at his Stamford home.  After Estelle died in 2002, he relocated close to his daughter’s home in South Hadley, Massachusetts where he continued to paint, creating a total of more than 300 paintings in his lifetime.

Malcolm is survived by one brother Arthur Feinstein and his wife Rhoda Feinstein, one son Daniel Feinstein and his wife Rose Ann Wasserman, two daughters Susan Barry and Deborah Feinstein and their husbands Dan Barry and Alan Copsey, and four grandchildren.  His warmth and imagination will be greatly missed. 

Funeral services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to “Mount Holyoke College for the Malcolm Feinstein Music Fund” at Advancement Office, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College St., South Hadley, MA. 01075. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Amherst, On October 8th at the age of 96, life long Amherst resident Locardia Emily Patnaude joined Victor her husband of 67 years, her son Peter, 2 brothers and 3 sisters in heaven.

 

Born Locardia Emily Mitchell July 14, 1918 on North East Street at a time when most children were born at home, Lou as she was known, was educated in Amherst schools and Northampton Commercial College.  She was the daughter of Joseph and Martha Mitchell.  Lou was a member of Saint Brigid parish and godmother to seven children.

 

Her early years saw North East Street paved, and electric power become available, and then the telephone and tractors replaced horses and hay bailers replace pitchforks.

 

She worked as a telephone operator for the original AT&T.  Long time Amherst residents have heard her voice when they picked up the phone and heard a telephone operator request “Number Please”. 

 

After the dial telephone replaced the Amherst switchboard Lou worked as a telephone operator at the University of Massachusetts and retired from that position.

 

An avid gardener, she grew flowers, some of which were sold locally.  Many vegetables were also raised and she made sure you never left her home without some.

 

She supported her husband Victor when he started the family run business at the corner of College Street and East Street, a business known as Frosty Cap, a local drive-in that became a local favorite where young kids could get at 5¢ cone and adult cones started at 10¢.

 

Always a true lady and gracious hostess she made everyone feel welcome in her home and took pride in meeting the needs of others while dismissing her effort as “nothing”.  During the past year she lived at the Arbors, an assisted living facility in Amherst where her needs were met with grace, dignity and respect.

 

Conservative as true New England Yankee, she subscribed to traditional values of self -reliance and independence while being generous without hesitation.

 

Lou leaves her son Dennis and his wife Sue, granddaughter Robin Kranz and her husband Rick, daughter in-law Pura Patnaude, granddaughter Victoria Patnaude, great grandsons Ryan Kranz and Brendon Kranz. 

 

She also leaves 5 nieces, Mary Ann Mitchell, Gwynne Parmelee, Esther Rocasha, Martha Trenholm and Martha Watson, 2 nephews Dale Patnaude and Will Thayer.

 

In keeping with her wishes there will no calling hours and a private family funeral.  In lieu of flowers anyone who wishes donate in her memory to the VNA & Hospice at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 30 Locust Street, Northampton, MA 01061-0329.  This wonderful organization does so much to ease the burden of health issues for those who find travel challenging and did so much for her in her later years. Obituary and memorial register ay www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.

Hadley, Raphaela “Vi” (Natale) Russell, 95, of Hadley, passed away on Saturday, November, 1, 2014, at home surrounded by the love of her family and caregivers.

She was born in Northampton, June 24, 1919, the daughter of Vito and Madeline Natale. She grew up in Northampton and graduated from Northampton High School taking a job at Pro Brush in Florence. She was married to William Russell Jr. for 55 years before his death in 1998. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Madeline “Carol” Pratt, sister, Antoinette Natale, brothers, Frank, James,and Joseph.

During her beginning years of marriage, she traveled with her husband in the US Air Force during World War II.  They came to settle as longtime residents of Amherst and then moving to Hadley. Raphaela devoted many, many years to being a loving, full time Mom to 5 children.  Her family always came first and brought her the greatest joys in life.  

She enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, and cheering on her children and later grandchildren as they participated in a variety of sports. In later years, as the last child left the “nest,” she decided to use her “flair for fashion,” first as a sales clerk in the former Ann August of Amherst and then The Salt Box. She was a warm, kind, and loving lady of great strength.  Her life was filled with wonderful memories of family beach trips to ME and NH, and gatherings and celebrations with family and the extended family she loved.

She will be dearly missed by her children: Raphaela Ann Telega Streeter and husband Al, William Russell III and wife Lynelle, Maureen Saltis and husband Bob, and Jerry Russell. She also leaves to cherish her memory: her 6 grandsons Ted, Dan, Bill, Mark, Len, and Jeremy; 8 granddaughters Kim, Tina, Joanne, Melissa, Jill, Jen, Kelly and Meagan; 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the loving care given to our Mother in her final years by special caregivers, Dayana and Cynthia as well as Barton’s Angels and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations in Raphaela’s memory may be made to either Hospice or VNA at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, 168 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01053 or to Highland Valley Elder Services, 320 Riverside Dr., Florence, MA 01060.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday November 10, 2014 at 10:00 am at St Brigid’s Church, Amherst. Burial will follow in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, Hadley. There are no calling hours. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.