AMHERST – Mrs. Gardelia Caceres-Lara, 82, died peacefully on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 15^th, 2014, at the Hospice of the Fisher Home, with her family and friends at her bedside.

Gardelia was born August 2nd, 1931, in Lima, Peru, the home of her parents Elba Guillen and Gamaniel Velarde. She was the first daughter of seven children. Gardelia is survived by four of her seven siblings, Rosa, Augusto, Tomas and Vicente; her son Freddy Chapelliquen; daughter Elba Chapelliquen, daughter-in-law Rosa Maria Calderon, grandsons Christian and Stefan Chapelliquen, cousins Ada Curaca and Carmen Sandford and many nieces and nephews.

Gardelia retired from working as the Peruvian Post Master in 1980 after 30 years of service and then moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to live with her husband Victor Caceres-Lara. In 1994 after the passing of her husband she moved from Honduras to Amherst, MA to live with her son Freddy.

Relatives and friends may gather with his family during calling hours Monday, Jan. 20th, from 9 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Brigid’s Church, 122 N. Pleasant St., Amherst. Burial will follow Mass in St. Brigid’s Cemetery, corner of N. Maple St. and Rocky Hill Road, Hadley, MA. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

AMHERST, Alice Howell Friedman passed away peacefully on January 14, 2014 at the age of 91. Alice’s father was an enlisted man  in the US Army and Alice grew up on military bases in a number of communities—New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and, perhaps most influentially, the Panama  Canal Zone. With the support of her parents she studied and received a nursing diploma at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Alice was very proud to be a MGH graduate. Her movement to Boston engendered a life-long love of Boston and New England.  Following nursing school Alice moved to New York City, another city with which she had a long connection, and received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia Teachers College. She moved back to Boston and became a Visiting Nurse serving low-income areas in the city. At a post-WWII party Alice met a young lawyer who was a recent graduate of Boston University, Harvey Friedman. They were married on the same day the Korean War began. 

Following their marriage Alice worked as a visiting nurse, then taught at Boston College, and eventually returned to school for a Master’s Degree in Public Health at Boston University while Harvey worked as a labor organizer and educator. They raised their three children, Joel, Suzanne and Elizabeth, in Newton.  Alice and Harvey were interested in exploring international relationships and became involved in an organization that brought “movers and shakers” together for cultural exchanges.  The Friedman’s hosted a number of international figures from Kenya, India, England, Australia and other countries—who went on to become prominent, and controversial, figures in their own countries.  Alice was one of the first nurses to advocate for enhancing benefits and working conditions for nurses and testified in support of collective bargaining for nurses.

In 1967 Harvey assumed a position at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the Friedman family relocated. Alice took a position at UMass teaching public health nursing and quickly became known for her vision that nurses should have a liberal arts education in addition to professional training.  Harvey and Alice spent several sabbatical years in England which they thoroughly enjoyed; but they were always happy to return to Amherst and their friendships there.  Following retirement, Alice crafted a second life around a range of activities—the Learning In Retirement Program in Amherst, her interest in nursing history, community activities including the Jewish Community of Amherst and being the proud Grandmother of five grandchildren, Marissa, Jacob, Richo, Abraham, and Caroline. Ten years after Harvey’s death in 1992 Alice moved in to the Applewood Community in South Amherst where she took delight in renewing old friendships and building new ones. At the time of her final fall, she was reading George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda in preparation for a reading group which was scheduled to begin this week.

Donations in memory of Alice can be made to the University of Massachusetts School of Nursing and to the Hospice at Fisher House.  

Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Thursday January 16^th at the Jewish Community of Amherst.  Open house in honor of Alice will be held Thursday afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Applewood, Spencer Drive, Amherst. Shiva will be observed Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM; the family will also welcome friends for a combined open house and Shiva on Saturday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at Applewood. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

AMHERST, Alice Friedman, 91, died on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 16, at 10:00 a.m. at the Jewish Community of Amherst with burial following in the Jewish Community of Amherst Cemetery in Shutesbury. Shiva will be observed Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at Applewood, 1 Spencer Dr. Amherst, and also on Saturday and Sunday at Applewood with details to follow. A full obituary will follow. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

HADLEY, Deborah Laue Richardson, age 91, from Hadley, passed away on Jan 12.  She was born June 5, 1922 in Brooklyn, daughter of Adelaide Tredwell Laue and John Harrison Laue.  She is predeceased by her husband, Edwin Lawrence Richardson and sister Geraldine Hurd.  She is survived by her brother Peter Laue, daughters Susan Sanders of Hanson and Ann Koski of Hadley, 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.  A memorial service will be held Sat, Jan. 18, at 2pm, First Cong. Church, Hadley.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the  Trustees of the U of PA, c/o Med. Ctr. Dev., 3535 Market St., Ste. 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, Attn:  Ian Cali Fund rep. Memo line must state: Ian Cali FOP Res Fund; or donate to Alzheimer’s Assoc, Mass Chapter, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

HADLEY, Pamela J. (Sadowski) Sampson, 32, died unexpectedly on Dec. 30, 2013 at Massachusetts General Hospital. Born in Northampton on Feb. 22, 1981 she was the daughter of Lois (Bristol) Sadowski and the late David Sadowski. Pamela graduated from Hopkins Academy in 1999 and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with her BA in Sports Management. She loved to read and travel. In addition to her mother, Pamela is survived by her husband, Daryn Sampson, her son Jayden David Sampson, her stepdaughter Morgan, her sister Jessica and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her. Calling hours will be Sunday, Jan. 5, from 2-5 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Pam’s honor may be made to the Jayden David Sampson Memorial Trust Fund, c/o Easthampton Savings Bank, PO Box 81, Hadley, MA 01035. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

SHUTESBURY, Dr. Yusef Abdul Lateef of Shutesbury, Massachusetts, passed away Monday, December 23, 2013 late morning. He passed peacefully at home with loved ones at the age of 93.

Dr. Lateef was a five college professor of music and music education from 1987-2002 and well known for his support and mentorship of up and coming artists. Dr. Lateef was a 2010 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Award. This Grammy award-winning composer and musician’s career began in the 1940s and has continued with touring and performing worldwide until summer 2013.

His biography, The Gentle Giant, by Herb Boyd, aptly describes his patient, soft-spoken demeanor and compassionate heart. Dr. Yusef Lateef was a devout member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community since 1948 and had performed the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) on two occasions.

He was predeceased by his wife Tahira Lateef, a daughter and a son. He is survived by his second son Yusef Lateef, current wife Ayesha Lateef, granddaughter Iqbal, as well a host of great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Dec. 26, from 3-5:15 p.m. with Janaza prayers at 5:15 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 N Pleasant Street Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

AMHERST, Janice Elaine Stevens, maiden name Heald, born in Falmouth, ME, on April 16, 1933, died on Dec 18th, 2013, in Northampton, MA at the age of 80 from lymphatic cancer. She is survived by her daughters, Laurie Diana Stevens, in Northampton, MA, Pamela Ann Stevens, in Ellington, CT, granddaughter Aly Stosz, and grandson, Dylan Stosz, in Boston, MA and her brother Norman Heald, in Casco, ME.

She is widowed from Richard Emery Stevens, who made transition in 2000, and Michael de Sherbinin, who passed in 2009.

Janice graduated from Nashua High School in 1951 and from UNH in 1955 with a BA in Sociology.  She went on for her Masters at Simmons College, School of Social Work and then obtained her LICSW.  She began her lifelong career as a social worker at East Penna Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia, PA from ’57-’61, then moved on to UMass Psych Services of Amherst from ’64-’66. She then landed for 28 years at Children’s Aid and Family Services in Northampton, 1970-1998.

Janice was beloved by many.  She had strong involvement in the Unitarian Universalist Society in Amherst, and social clubs such as CAFs Alumni, Learning in Retirement, and Hampshire Athletic Club.  She volunteered often.  Among some of the many agencies she gave of her time, most notable were Meals on Wheels (’90-’96) Dakin Animal Shelter (’03-’06), Interfaith Cot Shelter, and the Fisher Home of Amherst.

At the time of her death, Janice’s home was Applewood of Amherst, where she had many friends amidst a strong and vibrant community.

Janice-in her end of life wishes wanted herself to be described as “A kitchen person, trying new recipes and sharing a pot of soup with someone who needed comfort and cheering up”. Family, friends, and clients alike, knew her to be so much more, but humble she was.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst and VNA Hospice.

Memorial Services will be held at the First Congregational Church, at 165 Main St., Amherst, Saturday January 4^th, at 12 noon, with a reception to follow at the same location.

Cards can be sent to Pamela Stevens, PO Box 61231, Longmeadow, MA 01116. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

AMHERST, Paul E. Lemeris, 94, died on Dec. 19, 2013 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. He was born on Nov. 25, 1919 in Cavendish, VT, the fourth child of Amos E. and Grace G. Lemeris. In 1923 the family moved to Penacook, NH, where Paul attended the local schools for 12 years, graduating from Penacook High School in 1937.

Shortly after the attack on Peal Harbor, he was drafted into the US Army, inducted at Fort Devens, MA, on Jan 12, 1942. He rose quickly through the enlisted ranks, attaining the rank of master Sergeant on Mar. 2, 1943. On May 31, 1943, he was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer (JG). After serving in various Army installations within the continental US, he was sent to Europe in Oct. 1944 as the Personnel Officer for the 151st Engineer Combat Bn. He served with a variety of units in England, France, Germany, Korea, and Japan, and was retired after 20 years’ active service at Fort Meade, MD, on Feb. 28, 1962. Citations awarded included the French Croix de Guerre, Army Commendation Ribbon, Korean Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and several theater service medals. He was always proud of his service in the Army.

Upon retirement, the family moved to Scituate, MA – bought a home there- and Paul obtained employment in Boston at the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company. In 1968, he was appointed as a Staff Assistant in the Department of Zoology, UMass, a position he held until he retired in Dec. 1986. The family moved to Amherst in 1968.

Besides his family, Paul had two loves – music and tennis. He played tennis often while in the Army, and continued to enjoy the sport in Amherst. He enjoyed many sports, including skiing, skating, swimming, plus tennis. As a child, he learned to play the harmonica, and after High School joined a local Drum and Bugle Corps as a snare drummer. After moving to Amherst, he bought his first full set of drums, and practiced long and loud in the basement of their home. He was one of the original founders of the Horse Mountain Jazz Band, who played their first gig at UMass in 1988, and are still active in the Valley.

He is predeceased by his wife Ann (Butler), who died in Mar. 2003. He is survived by one sister, Ruth Wax of Ogunquit, ME; three wonderful daughters: Terry Borst of Portland, OR; Molly Lemeris of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; and Sally Morton of Richmond, NH, plus six grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held in April. Donations in memory of Paul Lemeris can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. 758517, Topeka, Kansas, 66675, woundedwarriorproject.org. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

Ed grew up in North Hadley and was active in 4-H. He was class president of the class of 1941 Hopkins Academy. Ed was a veteran of WWII and was trained at Fort Jackson. After training he was schooled at the Citadel in S.C. and NYU. He was assigned to the 329^th Combat Engineer, 104^th Infantry “The Timberwolfs”. Deployed to Europe his outfit landed on Normandy Beach D-Day +4. Ed saw action through France and Germany including the “Battle of the Bulge.”

Upon returning home he worked at Pro Brush in Florence, where he met his future wife Ann. They were married April 4, 1949. They purchased their home in Amherst in 1955.

Ed was a linotype operator for H. I. Newell Printing for 23 years. He retired from UMass as an HVAC Technician.

Besides his wife he is survived by his son David and his partner Wayne Johnson of Provincetown, MA, his brother Charles LaSalle of Needham, MA, and his sister Lois LaSalle of Glastonbury, CT. He was predeceased by his daughter Linda.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Leslie Crouse and Ronald Holcomb for their continued care and support.

Calling hours will be Sunday, Dec. 22, from 2-4 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst with a reception to follow. Burial with full military honors will take place in the spring in North Hadley Cemetery. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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

HADLEY, Peter J. Kingsley of Hadley passed away on Dec. 15, 2013 after complications from diabetes. He was born on Aug. 14, 1956 in Northampton, MA, son of the late James and Stacia (Sczuczko) Kingsley. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Tina (Coutu) Kingsley and his son Peter Russell, his sister Linda Kingsley and husband Edwin Matusko of Hadley, his brother Robert Kingsley and wife Marilyn of San Diego, CA, nephew Josef Matusko, his grand puppy Austin and sister-in-law Debbie Russell and husband Jim.

He was a graduate of Northampton High School, class of 1974 and graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1979 with a BBA. He worked and managed Swartz Potato Farms in North Amherst, MA for 18 years. He was Club Steward of the Hadley Young Men’s Club for 5 years and finished his career as Supervisor of Janitors at the University of Massachusetts for the last 16 years. He was an avid sports fan, Pats, Red Sox and Bruins and he loved the beach.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10:00 a.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Calling hours will be Friday, Dec. 20, from 4-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers or donations be kind and considerate of those less fortunate than yourself by “Paying it Forward” when the opportunity arises. A simple “Thank you” goes a long way. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

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