Amherst, Mary F. (Cronk) Walker, 93, died peacefully August 30, 2014 at the Center for Extended Care of Amherst. 

Mary was born in Fairfax, Missouri, May 31, 1921, the fourth of fourteen children to the late Arthur and Marie (Friend) Cronk.

They moved to Glencoe, Oklahoma when she was young.  Having lived through the Great Depression and dust bowl in very difficult conditions, she never forgot what it was like to be poor and hungry.  In her late teens she worked as a mother’s helper and cleaned houses in Oklahoma City while studying to become a beautician.  There, she met Pvt. John Walker, during World War II.  She joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1943.  John and Mary had a military wedding at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky on August 4, 1943.  Mary was honorably discharged from the WAC in 1944 and moved to Massachusetts to live with John’s family while he continued his military service.  They moved to Amherst in 1946 and bought their home in Pelham in 1950.

Mary was a caring, giving person who hosted Fresh Air children, college students, and fund raisers to build the Pelham Public Library at her home.  She enjoyed many activities such as traveling, crafts, cooking (especially apple and blueberry pies), square dancing, and later in life volunteer reader in Pelham Elementary school.  She was a Cub Scout den mother when her children were young.  Mary was very actively involved and the longest member in the United Wesley Methodist Church. 

Mary was predeceased by her husband, John of 60 years in 2003, her son-in-law, Morris Dwight and 12 of her siblings. 

Mary leaves behind her children, Elizabeth Dwight, Robert, Charles (Carol Kramer), Margaret MacDonald (William), and Daniel (Rebecca).  She had six grandchildren, James, Michael, Jenny, Steven, Amanda, Hayleigh, Cole and seven great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be Saturday, September 6, 2014, at 11:00 AM, at the North Valley Cemetery on North Valley Road, Pelham, Massachusetts, a memorial service and reception will follow at 1:00 PM at the United Wesley Methodist Church at 98 Maple Street, Hadley, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Pelham Library, Pelham Historical Society or the United Wesley Methodist Church.

The family of Mary Walker wishes to thank the Center for Extended Care of Amherst staff for the loving care provided to Mary.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

Amherst, Mary F. (Cronk) Walker, 93, died peacefully August 30, 2014 at the Center for Extended Care of Amherst. 

Mary was born in Fairfax, Missouri, May 31, 1921, the fourth of fourteen children to the late Arthur and Marie (Friend) Cronk.

They moved to Glencoe, Oklahoma when she was young.  Having lived through the Great Depression and dust bowl in very difficult conditions, she never forgot what it was like to be poor and hungry.  In her late teens she worked as a mother’s helper and cleaned houses in Oklahoma City while studying to become a beautician.  There, she met Pvt. John Walker, during World War II.  She joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1943.  John and Mary had a military wedding at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky on August 4, 1943.  Mary was honorably discharged from the WAC in 1944 and moved to Massachusetts to live with John’s family while he continued his military service.  They moved to Amherst in 1946 and bought their home in Pelham in 1950.

Mary was a caring, giving person who hosted Fresh Air children, college students, and fund raisers to build the Pelham Public Library at her home.  She enjoyed many activities such as traveling, crafts, cooking (especially apple and blueberry pies), square dancing, and later in life volunteer reader in Pelham Elementary school.  She was a Cub Scout den mother when her children were young.  Mary was very actively involved and the longest member in the United Wesley Methodist Church. 

Mary was predeceased by her husband, John of 60 years in 2003, her son-in-law, Morris Dwight and 12 of her siblings. 

Mary leaves behind her children, Elizabeth Dwight, Robert, Charles (Carol Kramer), Margaret MacDonald (William), and Daniel (Rebecca).  She had six grandchildren, James, Michael, Jenny, Steven, Amanda, Hayleigh, Cole and seven great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be Saturday, September 6, 2014, at 11:00 AM, at the North Valley Cemetery on North Valley Road, Pelham, Massachusetts, a memorial service and reception will follow at 1:00 PM at the United Wesley Methodist Church at 98 Maple Street, Hadley, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Pelham Library, Pelham Historical Society or the United Wesley Methodist Church.

The family of Mary Walker wishes to thank the Center for Extended Care of Amherst staff for the loving care provided to Mary.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

Amherst – Ann D. (Childs) LaSalle, 85 beloved wife of the late Edwin LaSalle for 64 years, died peacefully Saturday August 23, 2014, at the Center for Extended Care in Amherst.  Born in Northampton on April 22^nd 1929, she was the daughter of the late Herbert L. and Cecelia E. (Dragon) Childs.

Ann grew up on King Street in Northampton and attended Northampton High School. After completing school she worked at Pro Brush in Florence where she met her future husband Ed. They were married April 4^th 1949. They lived on Pomeroy Terrace in Northampton and purchased their home in Amherst in 1955.

While Ann was predominately a homemaker raising her two children, she also took in laundry and ironing from Amherst Laundromat. She later went on to become a manager at Almy’s Department Store in Hadley. After the closing of Almy’s, Ann would finish out her career as the manager of the University Store at UMass.

In their retirement Ann and Ed enjoyed traveling and loved dancing at the Gables and later at the Whale Inn. Ann also took pride working in her gardens and decorating for holidays at her Chestnut Street home.

Ann was the last survivor in a family of thirteen children. She was predeceased by Eleanor M. Childs, Ruth E. Green, Helen E. Peloquin, Herbert Childs, Robert Childs, George M. Childs, Richard L. Childs, Harry E. Childs, Donald E. Childs, John B. Childs and two infant sisters that died at birth. 

She is survived by her son David and his partner Wayne Johnson of Provincetown. She was predeceased by her daughter Linda.

The family wishes to offer special thanks to Gwen Lehan and Lesley Crouse for their continued love and support, also many thanks to the staff at Center for Extended Care.

Funeral services will be Thursday, August 28, at 10:00 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Burial will follow in North Hadley Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the service from 9-10 a.m. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

NORTHAMPTON, Louis Facto, 57, of Earle St. in Northampton passed away peacefully at Baystate Medical Center on August 16, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 25, 1956 to the late Elaine (Birge) Facto and Daniel Facto. He attended Smith Vocational High School. Louis enjoyed hiking, ice fishing, sports especially the Patriots and Red Sox games. He also enjoyed many cruises to the Caribbean. He leaves two brothers and two sisters, Daniel Facto of California, Glen Facto and wife Sheryl of Easthampton, Tina Fournier and husband Donat of Easthampton and Debbi Sacco of Florence. He also leaves aunts Nancy Sloat and husband Rex of Florence, Dori Windoloski of Holyoke, Barbara Birge of Watertown and Jean Williams of Merrimack, NH. He was predeceased by his aunt Pauline Williams and his uncle Robert Birge. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Appalachian Trail Conservancy P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425.  A graveside service will be held Friday, August 29, 2014, at 11:00 AM, at the North Amherst Cemetery, East Pleasant St., Amherst. There are no calling hours. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral .com

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

Joseph Vassallo

1945 – 2014 

Hadley, Joseph Vassallo, 69, passed away Wednesday August 21, 2014 at home after a long illness. He was born on May 6, 1945 in Everett, MA to Joseph and Mary (Pento) Vassallo. Joe grew up in Pelham and was educated in the Amherst-Pelham Schools. He is survived by his partner of 22 years, Janet Anderson. He is also survived by his three brothers, John Vassallo and his wife Trish, Michael Vassallo and his wife Kathy, Robert Vassallo and his wife Lynda, two sisters, Rosalie Mikalunas and her husband Robert, Carol Orrell and her husband David, and his Sister in Law, Helen Vassallo.  Three son’s Joseph Vassallo III, his wife Rebecca, Steven Vassallo and James Vassallo and his wife Alexandria. Janet’s two children Raymond Anderson and Anne Chapdelaine . He also leaves twelve grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.Joe was predeceased by his brothers Paul Vassallo, Angelo Vassallo and Richard Vassallo. Per Joe’s wishes there will only be a private family service at the graveside in Pelham, MA. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

AMHERST, Dorothy Ann (Mays) Ives, aged 96, of West Street, Amherst, died on August 19, 2014 at the Center for Extended Care at Amherst. Born in Boston April 24, 1918, daughter of the late Percy C. and Jessie E. (Kennedy) Mays, she was a graduate of Arlington High School in 1934 and Simmons College School of Library Science in 1938.  Her husband, Philip T. Ives, a research geneticist and weather recorder at Amherst College, died in 1992. 

Dorothy came to Amherst in February 1939 to be Branch Librarian at the Jones Library (North Amherst branch).  Following her marriage in June of 1940 she worked in Converse Library at Amherst College for three years.  She returned to work at the college in the mid-1950’s, first as Secretary in the Astronomy Department and then for 21 years as Secretary in the Economics Department, retiring in 1987.  She had been active in the Amherst Girl Scouts and she was a member of Grace Episcopal Church, the Thursday Club, and the Amherst Historical Society. 

One of Dorothy’s favorite sayings, learned early in life, was “You do what you have to.”  Her parents, immigrants from England and Scotland, were servants on Beacon Hill in Boston and they lost their jobs, their savings, and ultimately their lives during the Depression years.  Dorothy resolutely worked her way through Simmons, building a circle of nine friends called the Robins, and she kept these friendships all her life.  Arriving in Amherst a city girl, she adapted to farm life when she and Philip moved to South Amherst, learning to put up food, butcher chickens, and chase runaway cows.  She wrote about these times in “100 Years at the Corner” (Harvesting History: Amherst Massachusetts Farms 1700-2010), celebrating her family’s ties to the community.

Friends and family meant everything to Dorothy, and in her early 50s she traveled to Britain to reconnect with the relatives her parents had left behind decades earlier.  Many happy trips to the Orkney Islands followed, along with emails and phone calls.  After retiring from Amherst College, she kept in touch with former students and “her boys,” the members of the Economics faculty, and through the years the number of names on her birthday card list continued to grow.  She loved nothing more than having her family home to visit and keeping the wood fire burning, and she will be greatly missed.

Dorothy is survived by four children: Richard T. (Donna) of Spring Hill, FL; Elinor I. Goff (Chris, died 2007) and Carolyn I. Dingman (Joe), both of Bryn Mawr, PA; Donald F. (Sally) of Worthington, MA; five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  She is also survived by her dear friends, the Kosakowski family of Hadley.

A memorial service will be held in Grace Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.  There are no calling hours.  Burial will be private.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Amherst Historical Society, 67 Amity Street, Amherst, MA  01002. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

AMHERST, Blanche (Doleva) Orrell passed away Aug. 17, 2014 at the Center for Extended Care at Amherst. Born Nov. 3, 1925 in Amherst, she was the daughter of the late John and Margaret (Lecko) Doleva. Blanche was a graduate of Amherst High School and Northampton Commercial College. She was a longtime member of the Amherst Garden Club and the Hampshire Bird Club. Blanche loved the Red Sox. She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth H. Orrell in 2005. She is survived by her five sons; David Orrell and his wife Carol of Shutesbury, Bob Orrell of Sunderland, John Orrell of Florence, Bill Orrell of Hadley and Steve Orrell of Pelham; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Blanche wants to thank the friends and staff at the Center for Extended Care at Amherst. You are the best. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Services and burial will be private. There are no calling hours. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Holyoke, MA – Jerome Weidenfeld, 87, passed away peacefully this past Tuesday morning August 12, 2014, at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.  He was a first generation American, born on September 6, 1926 in the Bronx, NYC to Fannie Goltzman and Saul Weidenfeld.

He now joins his late wife Barbara Louise (Diehl) Weidenfeld at the Jewish Community of Amherst Cemetery in Shutesbury. He leaves behind three sons, Robert Weidenfeld of Davis, California, David Weidenfeld of Easthampton, MA and Mark ‘Moshe’ Weidenfeld of Brooklyn, NY and their respective spouses as well as four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Jerry attended Stuyvesant High School in NYC but left before he graduated to enlist in the Army Air Force in 1944.  He was later given an honorable discharge after a tragic car crash in which his mother and uncle were killed and his father was critically injured.  At age 21, he married his first wife Evelyn Pytel and had a son, Robert. 

Some years after Evelyn’s death due to illness, he met and later married Barbara in 1960 and had two sons David and Mark (Moshe) and settled in Massapequa, Long Island.  Jerry worked as a machinist/electrician and later as an industrial arts teacher in the New York City Public schools.  During these years, Jerry developed his skills as a craftsman, working with pottery, ceramics, and jewelry. 

The family later relocated to Amherst where Jerry worked at the TRW factory in South Hadley and later as a custodian at the University of Massachusetts. He sold his crafts at various art shows and he was a regular vendor at the campus center at UMass.  In addition to his talent with crafts, Jerry loved music and taught himself to play the mandolin, guitar and most notably, the harmonica, which he continued to play until the last week of his life.

Jerome had a life long passion for issues of social justice and along with both of his wives had participated in such causes as the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam anti-war movement, and working for freedom for Soviet Jewry. He and Barbara were members of the Amherst chapter of the ACLU and taught ESL together at the UMass workplace education program in their later years.  Jerome was also a skilled handyman, designing and helping to build a home in Shutesbury, where he and Barbara lived for many years.

Shortly after losing Barbara in February, 2013 he became a resident at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home where he lived for the remainder of his days. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Amherst, Ernestine “Tini” Sawicki passed away Tuesday, August 12th, at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston after a 28 year battle with breast cancer.   Born in Amherst on North East Street, July 20, 1942 to Cleon  (Deceased) and Alice [Pratt] Booth, she graduated from Amherst – Pelham Regional High School in 1960.

Tini began her career as a secretary for Jones Neylon Insurance. She obtained her real estate license and began her career as a Realtor in 1974 with D.H. Jones Real Estate. She remained with D.H. Jones until 1988 when she decided to start her own business. During her tenure as a Realtor, she was President of the Hampshire Franklin Board of Realtors, Realtor of the Year in 1986 and again in 2000, received the Milton H Shaw Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Volunteer Leadership in the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and in 2006 received the Amherst Chamber of Commerce award for business. At the State level she served as the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Vice President. She has been recognized by Babson College and the Commonwealth Institute as being one of the Top 100 Women led Businesses in Massachusetts.

She loved giving her time to her local community and was actively involved in the Rotary Club,  Amherst Survival Center, Amherst Chamber of Commerce and the Caring for the Future campaign for Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Tini lived in Amherst all her adult life. She enjoyed traveling the world, staying active, and strived to inspire others. She ran several marathons including the Boston Marathon, Dublin Marathon, Marine Corps. Marathon, The Walt Disney World Half Marathon, and the New England Danskin Women’s Triathlon. In 2011 Tini participated in the Pan Mass Challenge with her son Scott together raising over $11,000 for cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boson.

She is survived by her mother Alice (Pratt) Booth, her two sons and their spouses Richard Sawicki Jr. (Barbara) of Erving, Scott Sawicki (Denise) of Shutesbury. Four grandchildren, Kevin Sawicki of Amherst, Christian Sawicki of Erving, Sean Sawicki and Brittany Dawson of Shutesbury and Erin Sawicki of Shutesbury, one great-granddaughter Madison Sawicki of Shutesbury.

She is also survived by her two brothers and their spouses, Cleon “Buzzy” Booth (Dora) of Pelham and Ernest  “Ernie” Booth (Carol) of Northampton, and her beloved black lab, Libby. Tini is predeceased by her sister Bernice Stratton.

Calling hours are at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, August 21st, and a memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple Street, Hadley, MA at 11a.m. on Friday, August 22nd.  In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to The Amherst Survival Center, PO Box 9629, North Amherst, MA  01059, Cancer Connection, 41 Locust Street, Northampton, MA or a cancer charity of your choice.  Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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

AMHERST, Linda M. Ramirez, 67, of Pondview Dr., Amherst, MA passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014 after a long battle with renal disease. Daughter of the late John J. and Marion Fazio, Linda was born in Malden, MA on May 9, 1947 and raised in Wakefield, MA.  After graduating from Wakefield High School in 1965, she continued onto Fitchburg State College and graduated in 1971. Linda channeled her love for Special Education by teaching for the Central Berkshire Regional School District in Dalton, MA from 1971 to 1974. She impacted the lives of many children through her work as a home daycare provider for over 15 years while raising her own three children. Valuing relaxation and healing practices, Linda soon became a Reiki Master. She was an active part of the Pittsfield, MA community for 36 years then moved to Amherst, MA in 2010 where she loved listening to classical music and especially enjoyed the sounds of Josh Groban.

Linda was loved like no other and is survived by her husband, Angel G. Ramirez, Jr. of Amherst, MA, daughter Bethany K. Ramirez and her husband Arthur Prokosch, son Christopher J. Ramirez and his wife Andrea Nivling Ramirez, and son Brandon S. Ramirez and his wife Myneco Taylor Ramirez. Linda is also survived by two grandchildren whom she loved and adored, Owen W. Ramirez and Maria C. Ramirez, a brother John A. Fazio and a sister Patricia Fazio Franklin of New Hampshire, a sister Jean Fazio Dale of Rhode Island, a brother Peter Fazio of Arizona. Her brother Edward Fazio passed away in 2008.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Linda’s memory to the Palliative Care Department of Baystate Medical Center, the Hospice Program at Baystate, or the renal dialysis department also at Baystate.

There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial Service on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 10 AM. The service will take place at the Douglass Funeral Service, 87 No. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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