AMHERST, MA:  Wallace “Wally” Eugene Vorderstrasse, 95, of Amherst, MA, long time resident of Lebanon, OR returned to his heavenly home on June 9, 2023 after a blessed and long life. His devotion to his family and his firm belief in God supported him throughout his life and gave him peace.

Wally was born to the late Paul Vorderstrasse and Ida (Kapperman) Vorderstrasse, in Liberty, KS on December 4, 1927. He attended Denny Road School and Lebanon Union High School.  He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII on the destroyer U.S.S. Brinkley Bass in the Pacific theater as a radar operator, seaman 2^nd Class.  He worked at Champion International plywood mill as a glue room leadman until the plant closed in the 1980s. He then worked at Roseburg Forest Products plywood mill in Roseburg, OR until his retirement.

Wally was blessed with a large and loving immediate and extended family. He married the love of his life, Betty Lou (Alley) Vorderstrasse, on July 14, 1949 in Washougal, WA. Wally is survived by his son Greg (Allison); his daughters Deanna Harmon-Lyles (Rod), Nancy Baker (Randy); his grandchildren Kristen Dody (Brandon), Tyler Harmon, Whitney Harmon, Ryan Baker, Courtney Baker and Kelsey Baker; his great grandchildren Jaxson Dody, Mackenzie Dody and Kylee Dody; his brother, Ken Vorderstrasse and his sister, Velma Howard. He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty (Alley) Vorderstrasse; his daughter, Julie Vorderstrasse; his parents; his siblings Charles “Chuck” Vorderstrasse, Myrna Nelson; and his WWII comrade and life-long friend Mr. Cecil Gause; and many other friends, family members, and congregation members over his life time. Faith, family, and the extended church family at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon were the focus of his life. Wally leaves his mark on his family’s homes, church, and community through his willingness to step in and help address what is needed. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones, who celebrate the fact that he is at peace with his creator, Lord and Savior.

Funeral services will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon, OR on June 28, 2023 at XX AM/PM. Burial will follow at the Odd Fellows/ IOOF Cemetery in Lebanon, OR with military honors.  A reception will be held afterward at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon, OR.

 The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers that those so inclined make donations to Fisher Hospice Home in Amherst, MA (www.fisherhome.org) or We Honor Veterans (wehonorveterans.org).

Constance (Posten) Hoyack’s life ended suddenly on May 24, 2023, at the age of 71. Those who knew her were left with a huge hole in their lives. Connie’s abiding love for every human, particularly those who were in need, was her driving force. She moved through life with a profound grace, always seeking to use the gifts God gave her to their fullest: offering high quality tutoring at low cost so all could get help; coordinating education for Head Start; developing a Welfare to Work program with a heart; and lending a hand at local historical groups. If someone knocked on the door, she’d be there with a smile and offer of food. We all stood in awe of how one person could do so much for so many, never asking to be noticed, and always without artifice or judgement.

Connie grew up on a farm near Centerville, PA, with her coal-miner father, her mother, four older brothers, and cousins. Her mother’s love of oil painting helped fuel Connie’s lifetime interest in weaving, crafts and art. Music has always been important in her family. Connie’s piano-playing was often the backdrop to family gatherings. She attended California State College to become a teacher right out of high school. Towards the end of college, she met Herbert Hoyack, the “one and only love” of her life, on a blind hay-ride date. They married right before graduation. Their marriage was like a movie romance: daily love notes from Herb; travelling on a dime in the early years; absolute devotion to their son and daughter; a devastating journey with Connie’s blood disorder with Herb at her side; and miraculous come-back that gave Connie fifteen years with her children and grandchildren. When Herb suddenly passed in late 2021, the loss hit her hard.

Connie was predeceased by her beloved husband Herb, her mother, Myrtle, and father, Guy Posten, and her brother Larry. She is survived by her daughter Heather, her husband Chris, and children, Isabelle and Matthew; her son Michael, his wife Karen, and children, Andrew, Ben and Claire; her brothers, Donald, Raymond, and Warren, and all their children and grandchildren.

Family and friends will be received at Douglass Funeral Home, in Amherst, MA, on June 5, with a funeral service and visitation beginning at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://www.lls.org/, whose research directly benefits people suffering from blood disorders, such as Connie’s Jak2 disorder.

Jane Shea Chalmers of Lady Lake, FL formerly of Amherst, 85 passed away peacefully at home on May 8 surrounded by family. She was born on April 11, 1938 and was the daughter of the late John and Winifred (Maher) Shea. Jane spent her career as a Medical Record Administrator. Jane previously worked at the University of Massachusetts Health Services, taught at Holyoke Community College and retired from the VA Hospital in Leeds, MA. Jane adored her children and grandchildren, had a love of reading and enjoyed spending Sunday mornings eating donuts with her friend Paula before moving to Florida. She was an avid golfer and was a member of the Amherst Golf Club where she had served on many committees. Jane leaves behind her husband of 58 years, Tom; her daughters Karen of Amherst, Shawn and husband Rick of Princeton, grandchildren Justin, Jamie, Olivia, Christina and Ava, sister Kathleen Shea Weatherwax and sister in law Barbara Romashko. She is predeceased by sons Brian and Tommy and brother John. Calling hours will be held at Douglass Funeral Home on Wednesday May 31st from 4pm-7pm. A burial will take place at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation https://www.jdrf.org/ The Jack Shea Junior Golf Scholarship Fund c/o Amherst Golf Club 365 S. Pleasant Street Amherst, MA. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

Peter P. Kaslauskas, 100, of Summer St in North Amherst, passed away May 13, 2023 with his family by his side. Born in Amherst on April 29, 1923 he was the son of the late John B and Ursula (Nawskon) Kaslauskas. He recently enjoyed celebrating his 100th birthday with family and friends in the house in which he lived for 85 years. He eagerly shared many stories of growing up in Amherst including cutting ice on Puffer’s Pond for iceboxes, helping his father deliver milk by horse and wagon and riding the trolley to nearby towns. Peter attended Amherst High School and then worked at Amherst College for over 40 years as a custodian and painter and Puffer Construction as a dedicated school bus driver. Pete enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and watching his favorite sports teams. Pete made a great impact on everyone he met. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who will forever be missed and loved. He will continue to inspire all that knew him. His wife Veronica (Descarage) predeceased him in 2009. He leaves his daughter Susan Geissler and son-in-law Eric of Granby, MA and grandchildren Kevin of Ludlow and Kimberly of Shutesbury. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will take place at St Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley on Thursday, May 18 at 10 AM. Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

A longtime lover of the arts and talented percussionist, Killian J. Venman, died suddenly on Friday, May 12, 2023. Born in Northampton, MA on February 28, 1995, he grew up in Western Massachusetts, attending several local public and private schools. Killian graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Plymouth State University in May 2018, and then obtained a Master of Music degree from New York University in May 2020. While in the city, Killian established long-term working relationships with a number of illustrious musicians, such as the Brooklyn Ballet, for which he served as its First Chair Percussionist.

In his most recent professional life, Killian was a well-loved music teacher at The Well School in Peterborough, NH. As a teacher, Killian fostered the love of learning, curiosity, experimentation, and, of course, music. Per his private lesson parent policy agreement, he states, “Having fun and learning about music are the number one priorities of these private lessons!”

In his own words, “I grew up in a white two-story farmhouse in western Massachusetts. Creaky hardwood floors, column radiators, a chipped and worn cabinet piano, a porcelain claw footed tub in the bathroom, an unfinished dirt floor basement, a swing hanging from the maple tree, and a rambling stream. This was my paradise until age 9, when my parents divorced. Since then, I have tried to recreate the feelings of warmth, comfort, simplicity, and natural beauty that I felt so deeply growing up. I would like to bring this feeling of tranquil country bliss to as many experimental art loving New Englanders as possible.”

Killian produced a number of multi-media works, including short films about each of his well-known and passed grandparents, Bill, and Sally Venman, from Amherst, MA. He also produced the Valley Light Opera’s 45^th Anniversary film, titled, “If You Want to Know Who We Are: Or VLO Then and Now”, which is available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isiD_OX9628. All of Killian’s work may be found on his website, which continues to be hosted, at www.killianvenman.com. 

Killian leaves behind loving parents, Jennifer Higgins of Southampton, MA and Peter Venman of Hadley, MA, and a slew of family and friends forever bereft.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of Wildwood Cemetery, Pollinator Garden Project, 70 Strong Street, Amherst MA 01002; or Amherst Friends of the Performing Arts at www.amherstfpa.org.  

Calling hours with be held from 5-7 PM on Thursday, May 18 at Douglass Funeral Home in Amherst, MA. A graveside service will be held at Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst, MA beginning at 10 AM on Friday, May 19, 2023. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

Braulia Vazquez Cabán, 91, of Amherst, MA, passed away on April 20th, 2023, of natural causes.
Braulia was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico on August 7^th, 1931. She graduated from high school in Manhattan, NY and and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Manhattan’s Hunter College.
Braulia was married to Juan Pedro Cabán on January 29^th, 1956; they were married for 67 years. She worked as the office manager for WFCR Public Radio for over 10 years. Braulia enjoyed cooking, entertaining, reading, and listening to music. She was also actively involved with the Baha’i Faith. The Cabán home, in Amherst, served as the center for Baha’i gatherings for decades.
Braulia is survived by her spouse Juan, her children, John and Anne, her grandchildren Kai and Vincent, numerous nieces and nephews and other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her closest sister Ligia Ruiz, as well as numerous other siblings.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Braulia’s name may be given to New England Public Media by visiting www.nepm.org/memorial

The Cabán family wishes to thank Linda Manor Assisted Living, Cooley Dickenson VNA and Hospice, Douglass Funeral Services and Atkins Farms Flower Shop for their care and assistance.

An intimate funeral service was held for her on April 22^nd, at Wildwood Cemetery, in Amherst, MA

 

AMHERST, MA: Houghton Ingram, 85, passed away May 3rd, 2023 with family by his side. He was born on December 10th, 1937. He was the son of late Marshall and Vera (Buchanan) IngramHoughton was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Family was was very important to him. He was extremely proud of his three sons and everything they have accomplished. In his free time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, cornhole, horseshoes, golfing, playing cards, coaching little league baseball, and going to tag sales with his grandchildren.

Houghton took pride in everything he did; including his jobs working at the Lord Jeffery Inn assisting Robert Frost, running Flavortowne coffee shop alongside his wife and sons, working as a maintainer at Umass where all of the students and staff loved him, and working as a runner at the Biffway Auctions. He was a respected member of the community that was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. No matter where Houghton went he would always run into at least one person he knew, and he was always ready to tell a story.

Houghton leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Judith; his sons Jeffery (Sherry), Scott, John (Kimberly); his grandchildren Ryan, Kelly, William, Elizabeth, Marshall, and Nolan; and his great grandchildren Luke, Hannah, Nova, and Harper. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew

Calling hours will be held at the Douglass Funeral Home on Thursday, May 11th, from 4pm-7pm. Followed by a Brief Service at 7pm.

A burial will take place at the connivence of the family.

 

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be sent to:

* Toys for Tots  www.toysfortots.org/donate

* The Alzheimer’s Association  www.alz.org/get-involved-now

 * The Dakin Humane Society   www.dakinhumane.org

 * Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice.  www.cooleydickinson.org/giving

 

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com

AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him.  He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He  opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.

A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it. 

He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.

Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.

There will be mourning bands available.

Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program, P.O. BOX 155, 01004-0155.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com 

AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him.  He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He  opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.

A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it. 

He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.

Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.

There will be mourning bands available.

Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program or a charity of your choice.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com 

AMHERST, MA: Keir Moon, known far and wide as “Mr. Moon” or simply “Moon,” and to so many beloved young people as “Grampa Moon,” died on April 30, 2023 after a long illness.

A lifelong entrepreneur, Moon early on decided a traditional career path was not for him.  He once drove a taxi cab in Boston, but what else he did during the 70’s remains a bit of a mystery. He started the Hi-Fi Exchange Stereo store in 1979 in downtown Northampton. He was a pioneer of computer gaming; his Moonbeam Software games for the TI-99/A home computer still have a following. He ran Adirondack Music stereo store in the old carriage shops, and worked maintenance for local Amherst apartment complexes while raising his daughters in Williamsburg, MA before returning to Amherst in 1993. He  opened another small business in the early 90’s, but really found his calling in the avenue of online sales which married well with his lifelong love of computers and provided an outlet for writing custom software programs and databases.

A grandchild of Winnifred Shumway of South Amherst, Moon took up the family legacy of contributing to the community. He became a fixture at the Amherst Transfer Station where he volunteered religiously, and from 2008 attended nearly every Amherst youth Football game from SAFL Pee Wees through high school varsity, where he could be easily spotted in a funny hat and a neon shirt, running the chain gang, setting up the field, and helping anyone who needed it. 

He will be greatly missed by his sisters, nieces and nephews, daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and the Amherst community he served for decades. He will be remembered for his often gruff exterior, his stubbornness, and more than anything his boundlessly generous nature.

Please join us at Wildwood Cemetery, at 70 Strong St, Amherst on Friday, May 5, at 12:00PM for a GRAVESIDE SERVICE , where he will be interred beside his granddaughter in a green burial, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr. Moon was not known for his formality so we invite you to dress however you choose to honor your memories of him, whether you wear the neon he so loved, rep the ‘Canes, or wear neutral tones to reflect his natural return to the earth.

There will be mourning bands available.

Memorial conributions can be made to the Amherst Youth Football Program or a charity of your choice.

Memorial Guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com