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Archive for the ‘Obituaries’ Category

PostHeaderIcon INGEBORG S. FREITAG of HADLEY, MA, May 13, 1924 – October 6, 2017

Hadley, Ingeborg (Skjerne) Freitag, 93, passed away on October 6, 2017, at Elaine Center at Hadley. She was born on May 13, 1924, to the late Axel and Frances (Fischer) Skjerne in Indianapolis, Indiana, but grew up in Oberlin, Ohio. After her mother passed at an early age, she was raised by her father and adopted mother, Ebba Schöller, of Copenhagen, Denmark. Ingeborg graduated from Oberlin High School, Phi Beta Kappa from Oberlin College, and received her Masters of Library Science from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

During her career as an Art Librarian, Ingeborg worked at the Vassar College Art Library and the Kunstindustri Museum of Copenhagen, and then she moved to New York City where she worked for many years at the Watson Library and Robert Lehman Collection Library, both at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  She was the devoted wife of Dr. Werner Freitag, who predeceased her in 1996, after being married for 43 years.  Ingeborg spent many years traveling throughout Europe with her husband, using Denmark as their base, and they enjoyed their house in the White Mountains in Franconia, New Hampshire, where she took great pleasure of the flowers in her window boxes and working on her photo albums.

 

Ingeborg loved Manhattans, dark chocolate, and her toy poodles; during her last years, she cherished the friendship of Jane Bowne, her next-door neighbor. They took day trips together, searching out the best sources of chocolate and ice cream, and enjoyed laughing and dining out. Jane made aging lighthearted and fun; she continued to visit and laugh with Ingeborg even after Ingeborg went into assisted living.

 

She will be missed by her two sons, Steven Freitag and his wife, Pam, of Edison, New Jersey and Christopher Freitag and his wife, Melanie, of Hadley, Massachusetts, and her four grandchildren, Melissa, Rebecca, Heather, and William. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Grace Episcopal Church, with a private burial at Elmwood Cemetery, Franconia, New Hampshire. Donations, in memory of Ingeborg, can be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002.

 

 

PostHeaderIcon ALICE M. BUKOSKI of AMHERST, June 25, 1928 – October 6, 2017

Amherst, Alice M. Bukoski, 89, of Amherst passed away peacefully on October 6, 2017, at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst.

 

She was born on June 25, 1928, in Hadley, the daughter of the late John L. Lizek and Josephine (Kalentek) Lizek.  Alice graduated from Hopkins Academy and Northampton Commercial College. After graduating from college, she worked at the Esso gas station in Northampton as a bookkeeper until she was married on June 25, 1949, to Frank J. Bukoski of Amherst. They celebrated 60 wonderful years together.   After her marriage, Alice was a devoted wife and mother to four children.

 

Alice leaves her children, Linda Thompson and her husband Robert of Chester, MA; Ronald Bukoski and his wife Cynthia of Bourne, MA; Nancy Dillon and her husband Thomas of Swarthmore, PA; and Jane Archer of Granby, CT.  She is survived by her brother, John Lizek, and Stella Stroiney both of Windsor Locks, CT; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband, Frank, and sister, Angeline Czajkowski.

 

Visiting hours will be from 8:30 to 9:45 am at the Douglass Funeral Home, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Amherst.  Burial will follow at St. Brigid’s Cemetery in Hadley.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Alice’s memory may be made to the Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002 or St. Brigid’s Church, 122 North Pleasant Street, PO Box 424, Amherst, MA 01004.

 

Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

PostHeaderIcon JOHN M. CUSHING of AMHERST, MASS, April 15, 1934 – October 2, 2017

Amherst, John M. Cushing, a long-time resident of South Amherst and a popular physical education teacher within the Amherst Regional School System, died Oct. 2 in the Cooley Dickenson Hospital in Northampton.  He was 83.

John is well known to generations of elementary school students in the Amherst Regional School System, primarily at Marks Meadow Elementary School but he also taught physical education at the Wildwood and Fort River Elementary Schools.  He was also a Downhill Ski Team coach for Amherst Regional High School.  Additionally, he spent many summers as a life guard and swimming instructor at the War Memorial Pool and the Mill River Pool.  He also ran summer recreation programs for the Town of Amherst, and one particularly popular one introduced kids to the joys track & field.  John also coached many youth sports teams.

Outside the classroom, John had many hobbies and interests that kept him busy throughout his life.  In his younger years, he spent a lot of time fishing.  Some favorite fishing destinations included the Quabbin Reservoir for bass and catfish, Swansea and Cape Cod for stripers and bluefish, and various lakes and ponds throughout Western Mass for pickerel, trout, and anything else that would bite.  Even in the coldest months of winter, he would pull on his Sorels to go ice fishing.  In his later years, he became more and more active with birdwatching, which took him and wife Merry all over New England along with a wide circle of their birding friends.  He was also a good sport about supporting Merry’s daily obsession with hiking, and even climbed Mt. Norwottuck on the Holyoke Range in South Amherst at the age of 82!

Naturally, being a physical education teacher meant John had a life-long passion for sports.  In high school he was a scrappy football player for Cushing Academy, despite being small to play football, inspired by the football success of his older brother Joe.  He also competed in downhill skiing.  He played tennis throughout his life, but became an increasingly active tennis player after he retired from teaching and played in competitive tennis leagues well into his 70s.  He also enjoyed playing in an Amherst golf league for many years, along with his long time friend Don Johnson.

John was a big fan of New England professional sports, and particularly the Red Sox and Patriots.  It certainly made up for many, many frustrating years as a New England sports fan for him to see the Red Sox win the World Series three times, and the Patriots win the Super Bowl five times!

John was born in Fitchburg, MA, in 1934 to Joseph Cushing and Ruth Merwin Cushing.  He grew up as the second youngest of five siblings, and his family lived across the street from a small downhill skiing facility.  He went to High School at Cushing Academy.  When he served a 2-year stint in the U.S. Army, he was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He then went to UMass and completed his degree in Physical Education and later went on to get his Masters Degree.  While at UMass, he was a member of the UMass Ski Club and the swim team where he competed as a diver.  It was there that he met his future wife, Merry Borden. 

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Merry Borden Cushing.  Other survivors include their three children:  John M. Cushing Jr (Vienna, VA}; Amy Dulac {Amherst}; and Thomas Cushing (Stratford, CT}; as well as 5 grandchildren, Elizabeth Dulac, Thomas Dulac, Emily Rose Cushing, Faith Cushing, and Andrew Thomas Cushing.  Additional survivors include his brother Joseph Cushing from Franconia, New Hampshire; his sister Nancy Howe from Rutland, MA; and his brother Matthew Cushing from Atco, New Jersey.

The family appreciates all the well wishes they have received, but requests that no flowers or gifts be sent.  For anyone who would like to make a donation in John’s honor, the family requests it be sent to the Kestrel Land Trust, PO Box 1016, Amherst, MA  01004 or https://www.kestreltrust.org/give/tributegift.

 

PostHeaderIcon ISAAC BEN EZRA of AMHERST, MA, February 18, 1926 – October 2, 2017

  Isaac Ben Ezra, MSW, born February 18, 1926, passed away peacefully on October 2nd  at the Hospice of the Fisher Home, surrounded by loving family and messages of admiration and friendship. He died of issues related to heart and kidney failure and Parkinson’s disease, hastened by an inoperable Sept. 4th hip fracture.

 

   Isaac was the youngest son of the late Victor and Bella (Zara) Ben Ezra, of Istanbul, Turkey and New York City. He lost the love of his life, his wife Hilda Fisher Ben Ezra, when she passed away in 2006.  He was also predeceased by his 4 siblings, Mark, Joe, Leon, and Regina, their spouses, and his dear in-laws Louis and Sara (Goldman) Fisher, of Philadelphia, PA.

 

   He leaves behind his dear eldest son Aaron Ben Ezra of Cazanovia, NY; daughter Amy Ben-Ezra and her husband Farnsworth Lobenstine of Amherst, MA; and daughter Lucille Ben-Ezra, now of Doylestown, PA.; his much loved grandchildren David Lobenstine and wife Miranda,  K. Lev Ben-Ezra and partner Keleigh, Alexander Falco, and Sara Falco; his great-grandchildren Quentin and Kitsune; his nephew Jerry Benezra and wife Linda, and niece Bella Hausman.  Isaac also leaves behind much-loved extended family from the Lobenstine side, as well as many dear, dear friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and neighbors, with relationships spanning from a few to 75 years.

 

   Isaac grew up in poverty on the lower East side of Manhattan, the son of Sephardic Jewish immigrants. He lived through the Depression (when 17 million people were out of work) and WWII—the war to end fascism. His life’s work was founded on the belief that justice for all is central to our democracy. He has been part of the labor and civil rights movements and advocated for better health care, the environment, and senior rights.

 

    Isaac left school at 16 to work to support his family. He was active in the Educational Alliance which was originally a settlement house for immigrant Jews that offered classes on citizenship and recreational and social service programs.

 

   The Educational Alliance sponsored Isaac for the first Encampment for Citizenship in 1946 at Fieldston School in New York. By 20, he already had a history of organizing on the Lower East Side, including leadership in the Boy Scouts and wartime activities such as canteens for youth and victory gardens. The Encampment expanded Isaac’s view of the world, exposed him to various social justice movements, and particularly influenced his future involvements in the trade union and civil rights movements.

 

   Isaac was also a gifted sculptor and, with a scholarship, attended one year at the Brooklyn Museum Art School, working at night. He then began working at an art store and became an organizer and shop steward for CIO District 65.  He taught himself drafting and was able to get a job and work his way up in American Bridge and then US Steel. He worked first assembling steel for buildings and bridges in very arduous conditions in order to support his family.

 

   Isaac married Hilda in 1950 and had 3 children, Aaron, Amy and Lucille. Isaac credits his 55-year marriage to Hilda for the great joys in his life and for the support that made it possible for him to be the activist that he was and follow his dreams. In 1954 Isaac and Hilda bought a house in Levittown, Pennsylvania, which was then a new community. He joined the Defend the Black Family Movement there, which was protecting the first Black family that moved into this White community, which had an active KKK and John Birch Society at the time. In 1957, Isaac went to Selma, Alabama in a delegation of five people from Levittown. They brought a solidarity wreath which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. carried during the march.

 

   The 1960’s and ’70’s were a time of great activism for many. With the arrival of the polio epidemic in the US in 1961, Isaac challenged the county health board and the AMA in their opposition to creating public polio clinics. Despite all the obstacles he succeeded in organizing $1-a-shot polio clinics in the public school, operated and run by community members including volunteer medical professionals, which served 75,000 people. He organized support for Medicare and challenged both the John Birch Society and the AMA on this issue. He worked devotedly on the successful campaign to pass a moratorium on foreclosures in the Pennsylvania state legislature during the mid-70s recession. As a result, though US Steel closed down many plants, thousands of steelworkers’ families were able to remain in their homes.

 

   Isaac organized the 1968 Bucks County McCarthy for President movement, was active in the anti-Vietnam war movement, as well as in the trade union movement, including the United Farm Workers struggle for healthy working conditions, safe food and fair wages.

 

   While activism was his passion, Isaac had many jobs over the years to support his family, including drafting, working in his father-in-law’s hardware store, selling life insurance, and selling real estate. Isaac then established and became director of the Ombudsman Project for Middle Aged and Older Workers in Philadelphia, a national pilot project. As a result of this work, and despite the lack of an undergraduate degree, Isaac was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work. Graduating in 1979, he became the recruitment director for Lincoln University, an African-American college in Pennsylvania. He helped working individuals to gain their masters degrees in human services. Eventually he established a private social work practice specializing in divorce mediation and child custody, while continuing with varied community activism, including environmental issues.

 

   Isaac and Hilda enjoyed traveling, taking their family on yearly camping trips, and later traveling themselves to many countries around the world. Upon retirement, they took off on a three month camping road trip with friends to and from Alaska. They both loved music — opera, classical, jazz, klezmer, and more — and the radio and stereo were constantly in the background. They attended many concerts and made many dear friends while standing on line to get inside. They had a large group of friends and enjoyed conversation, discussions, and much laughter.

 

   At age 70, after recuperating in part from a serious car accident, Isaac and Hilda moved to Amherst, MA to be closer to their daughter, Amy and her family, who had recently moved here. Isaac became active in his new community, was elected to the Town Meeting on which he served for 14 years, and he began doing a TV show called Conversations on the local public access station, Amherst Media.  Isaac produced shows for 16 years, and some of these shows are still aired periodically. “It was a great opportunity to learn another skill and I found an ability to communicate and organize around free speech.” Isaac also served as the town representative on the Amherst Media Board for nine years and served as board president for 4 years. Despite serious physical disability and pain compounded by subsequent accidents, Isaac continued to pursue his lifetime work for justice and served as an inspiration to so many others in his community. Isaac loved the Amherst chapter of his life, made many great friendships and remained active in social justice issues while thoroughly enjoying the Amherst Farmers Market, Puffers Pond, and other area treasures.

 

   Over the years, Isaac received multiple awards for his activism and service. In Massachusetts, these included the Jean Haggerty Award for Community Service, the James N. Quinn Social Work Award, the Amherst Human Rights Commission Service Award, and the Massachusetts Nursing Association Advocate for Nursing Award. Upon his retirement from the Amherst Media board in 2014, he was awarded a Certificate of Congressional Recognition based on lifetime achievement and steadfast dedication to justice work. Congressman Jim McGovern gave special recognition to his Amherst Media TV program Conversations for informing and entertaining  the community for many years. In addition, his leadership as president of the board of Amherst Media was named “transformative,” strengthening this important resource for the people of Amherst.

 

   McGovern went on to say: “For six decades he has fought tirelessly to create a more just society— through efforts to combat inequality, improve public health and serve underserved communities. He has a strong commitment to racial equality; organized a free polio clinic; campaigned for Medicare; and is an advocate for universal health care. His community organizing and devotion to bettering the world around him has had an impact on countless lives. Isaac’s activism serves as an inspiration to others.”

 

   Bill Newman, Western Massachusetts ACLU president, thanked Isaac for “… showing us all that the purpose of community TV is to build community…That kind of media brings us together not because we necessarily agree but because we can talk to each other and find the good and precious in each other.”

 

   After Hilda’s death in 2006, Isaac spent 4 years sharing his home on Strong Street with family and friends.  Six years ago, he came to live with Amy and Farns, utilizing an accessible addition built for him the year before. These years together were a special time for Isaac, Amy and Farns, and allowed Isaac to continue his social and political activities despite increasing physical limitations. This could not have happened without the assistance of his dear aides from O’Connell Care at Home, especially Sarah Noonan and Torvald Kohlin, as well as Aaron, Lucille & all of the family members.

 

   Unexpectedly, at age 90, Isaac and Sarah Noonan rediscovered the Encampment for Citizenship in his own backyard, here at Hampshire College in Amherst. It was a great delight for him to reconnect with the Encampment, share his history as a founding member of the first Encampment of 1949, and participate in some of their activities in the summers of 2016 and 2017.  

 

   In the last years of his life, Isaac spent the bulk of his time with family and close friends, and contributed in many crucial ways (as he always had) to his family’s well being, both emotional and practical. In his last weeks, Isaac commented that he knew all were doing well, that he was glad he’d been able to help make that possible, and that he could die with the comfort and happiness that this brought him.

 

   Isaac will be remembered as a fighter, a survivor, a friend, a person of great creativity, integrity and conscience, and a man who loved life and lived it to its fullest, to the very end. He will be sorely missed by many.

 

   Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 4th, at 11:30am, under a large tent at 1164 South East Street, home of Isaac, Amy and Farns. Parking is available next door at Andrew’s Greenhouse.  Service will be followed by burial at the South Amherst Cemetery, just a few doors away. All are then invited to return to the home to share food, memories, and to comfort each other.  As is typical of Jewish custom, the family would appreciate ongoing visitors in the days following the funeral. Jewish custom does not include flowers, but instead requests that donations be made to charitable organizations in Isaac’s name. He particularly valued

 

the Amherst Survival Center, https://amherstsurvival.org/donate/,

 

the Rosenberg Fund for Children,      http://www.rfc.org/supportus, and

 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), https://aclum.org/take-action/give/

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Lobenstine,

 

 

 

It was a pleasure to speak with you on the phone this afternoon.

 

 

 

On behalf of the Hampshire Hospitality Group, we thank you for choosing the Holiday Inn Express and Suites for your guests’ accommodations and we apologize for the loss of your father in law.

 

 

 

The information regarding your group has been entered successfully into the Holiday Inn Express & Suites’ reservation system.

 

 

 

Your guests may begin calling the property at any time by calling (413) 582-0002 and requesting the Issac BenEzra Funeral Group to receive the rate of $72.00 plus tax per night.

 

 

 

Please let us know if there is anything I can assist you with at any time.

 

 

 

Thank you again for choosing the Holiday Inn Express and Suites.

 

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

Emilie Barrett Gajda

 

Corporate Sales Manager

 

Hampshire Hospitality Group

 

Phone (413) 586-3910

 

Fax (413) 586-3928

PostHeaderIcon LAWRENCE L. LASHWAY of WILLIAMSBURG, MA, February 20, 1923 – October 1, 2017

Williamsburg, Lawrence L. Lashway, age 94, died peacefully in his home in Williamsburg, MA on October 1, 2017. He was born on February 20, 1923 in Leverett, MA to the late Myrtie and William Lashway.  He was the brother to 15 brothers and sisters.  Lawrence will be deeply missed by his wife of 70 years Shirley, his son and his wife, Gerald and Deborah Lashway of Williamsburg, MA, daughter and son in law, Jane and Robert Connelly of Medfield, MA and daughter Lorie Spencer  of Boston, MA, 12 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Dennis Lashway. He is preceded in death by 9 of his siblings but is survived by 2 brothers, William and Harry Lashway, and 4 sisters, Alice Adams, Joan Olanyk, Harriet Eddy and Ethel Bozek, and many caring nephews and nieces.

 

Lawrence spent his life devoted to his wife, family, his lumber business and many close lifelong friends.  He served in the Army in 1945 at the end of World War II.  Upon his return from service he married his one true love Shirley Gross in 1947.  From 1966 to 1992, following in his father’s footsteps, he owned and operated a sawmill in Williamsburg, MA, the majority of those years in partnership with his two sons, Dennis and Gerry.  Lawrence was known for his honesty, generosity, and quick mind by everyone who knew him.

 

In the years after his retirement in his late 60’s he and Shirley enjoyed a home in Florida during the winter months, close to his sisters who resided there as well.  He remained productive throughout his entire life, including well into his 80’s by building picnic tables, delivering Meals on Wheels with his wife and continuing to visit the mill on a daily basis in his cherished El Camino.

 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at Douglass Funeral Home, 87 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, Friday, October 6, 2017 from 5-8 PM and . Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 7 at the Leverett Congregational Church, 4 Montague Road, Leverett, MA at 10 AM., burial will follow in East Leverett Cemetery.

 

PostHeaderIcon FRANCIS “FRANK” FISHER of GREENFIELD, MASS, April 12, 1966 – September 25, 2017

GREENFIELD – Francis “Frank” Fisher, 51 of Holly Street died Monday 9/25/17 at Baystate Hospital in Springfield. Frank was born April 12, 1966 in Greenfield Ma. He was the son of Alfred and Eleanor (Reynolds) Fisher. Frank worked for New England Naturals for many years. He enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, kayaking, camping, and spending time with friends and family. He will be greatly missed by his mother Eleanor Fisher of Greenfield, his sister Joan James of Greenfield, brothers, Scott Fisher of Vermont, and Chris Fisher of Greenfield. Frank was predeceased by his father Alfred Sr. and brother Alfred Jr. Fisher. Among his survivors, he also leaves 3 children, his son’s, Francis L. Fisher Jr, of Millers falls, and Bailey Fisher of New Hampshire, and his beautiful daughter, Olivia Fisher of New Hampshire. Frank had 1 Grandson, Landyn Fisher. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts & uncles. Calling Hours will be Thursday, October 5th, from 4-7 at the Douglass Funeral Service, 87 No. Pleasant Street, Amherst Ma. “Yeeehaa”

PostHeaderIcon ROBERT HOWE DAVIS of AMHERST, MASS, July 14, 1934 – September 14, 2017

 
Robert Howe Davis, 83, of Amherst, passed away September 14, 2017 at the Holyoke Soldiers Home in Holyoke, MA after a short illness. Bob was born in Marblehead, MA, the son of Roy and Alice Davis. 
 
Bob’s father owned a flower shop in Billerica, MA and that is where he began his love of plants and the outdoors. As a young man, he was an Eagle Scout and he graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  After graduation, he started his own landscaping business in Amherst and was drafted into the US Army where he served from 1960-63.
 
 
In 1962, Bob married Debora Macy Taylor of Pelham, MA and together they bought an old dairy farm in South Amherst where he ran his business. Bob loved horticulture, playing bridge, and, most of all, fishing.  Whenever he could, he would travel to fish in Maine, Cape Cod, Florida, and especially Martha’s Vineyard during the Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
 
Bob had a Yankee sensibility about him and he valued hard work, common sense, and tenacity in those he knew or that worked for him over the years. His friends lovingly knew him as Bob, Archie (from All In The Family), or even the Mayor of South Amherst. Several of the young men that worked for him went on to other professions but never forgot the lessons Bob taught on the job and in life. Local kids received their first ride on a tractor or other piece of equipment from him and he was a favorite “Uncle Bob” to many. He was also a Shriner for many years and a longtime member of the Masons.  He enjoyed helping people and, throughout his life, he was generous with his time for friends and strangers alike.
 
Bob is survived Debora Davis, his wife of 55 years, Taylor Davis, his wife, Karen Davis, their three wonderful children Ryan, Patrick, and Meghan, and his son, Daniel Davis, and his wife Pamela Mattson.
 
In keeping with Bob’s wishes, there will be no funeral services. A memorial luncheon for friends and family is planned for Saturday, October 21, from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Society Social Hall (121 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA).
 
In lieu of flowers, please consider paying it forward by helping a stranger or neighbor in need – whether across the street or across the country.  Bob would have liked that. 

PostHeaderIcon FRANCES J. BIXBY of AMHERST, MASS, February 12, 1941 – September 25, 2017

Frances J. Bixby, Educator (1941-2017)

 

Frances Josephine Bixby of Mill Lane, Amherst, Massachusetts passed away on September 25, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Frances was born on February 12, 1941 in Jersey City, NJ to Joseph and Stella (Karpinski) Hussey. She was the third of four children. Frances was raised in Jersey City and Union, New Jersey. She attended St. Aloysius High School in Jersey City. Upon graduation Frances began working at Fidelity Union Trust Company, Newark, NJ where she met her future husband, William C. Bixby. At Fidelity, she worked as an auditor in the accounting department for three years before leaving to get married in 1961 and moving to Madison, NJ. Frances and William had their first child, Mark, in 1962 and their second, Kathleen, in 1963. Kathleen passed in infancy. They also adopted a son, David, who also passed in childhood. While raising Mark, Frances attended and graduated with a BA in education from St. Elizabeth’s College, Convent Station, NJ in 1972. Frances and her family moved to Bedminster, NJ in 1973 where she went on to work in the Bedminster school system and was later the director of a Title XX Program (Head Start) at the Salvation Army, Morristown, NJ. Frances and William moved to Amherst in 2005 to be closer to their grandchildren. Frances was a lover of children and animals, especially dogs, and spent countless hours regaling her grandchildren with stories of her life and her dogs.

 

Frances was predeceased by her beloved brother, Thomas Hussey, who passed in 2013. Frances is survived by her husband of 56 years, William Bixby of Amherst; her son, Mark W. Bixby and daughter-in-law, Jennifer, of Pelham; their four children, Tucker, Reed, Evan and Kira; her brother, Robert Hussey of Toms River, NJ; and her nephews and nieces, Kevin Hussey, Ricky Hussey, Jason Hussey, Danielle Ortiz, Rose Esther McCauley, Arthur Bixby, Michelle Hussey and Robert Hussey.

 

Receiving hours will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, September 29th, at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 30th, at Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley, MA.

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Frances’s name to the Epilepsy Foundation.

 

Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

PostHeaderIcon KAREN JEANNE ANDERSON of NEWBURYPORT, MASS, November 11, 1946 – September 19, 2017

Newburyport, MA – Karen Jeanne Anderson, 70, of Newburyport, MA passed away on September 19, 2017, after a long illness.  She is survived by her sister Kathy Anderson (Tim Bitney), St. Paul MN; brother Gregg Anderson (Audrey Smith) of Amherst, MA; and brother Jim Anderson (Retsey) of Eagan MN; and her 5 cherished nephews, Carl, Paul, Chris, Ben, and Matt.  

 

Karen was a 1964 graduate of Our Lady of Peace High School in St. Paul, MN and received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1969.  After living her formative years in St. Paul, she moved to Massachusetts where she truly found her home. She was a successful business owner, and served as a board member of the YWCA of Newburyport MA where she was presented with the 2007 YWCA Volunteer Service Award.

 

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Minnesota.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Karen’s name may be made to Dorcus Clothing Ministry, 1 Osgood Place, Amesbury, MA 01913 or Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst MA 01002.

PostHeaderIcon MARGARET “PEGGY” ROSENBERRY of AMHERST, MASS, September 25, 1931 – September 19, 2017

Amherst (MA)- Margaret R. (Peggy) Rosenberry embarked on, as one friend put it, her “ultimate road trip” on September 19th, 2017.

 

In her rear view mirror, she sees legions of friends and family waving and wishing her a bon voyage. Most especially her daughter Nancy (Gaustad) and husband, Blaine, her son Charley, and wife Lanora, and her son Flip, and his wife Liz. She waves “so long” to her grandchildren Sam, Emily, Megan, and Merideth. Her sister Nancy, brother-in-law Gordon, brother Tom, and sister-in-law Sherry also bid her farewell.

 

Peggy’s life began on September 25th, 1931 in Omaha, Nebraska. She subsequently lived in California, Hawaii, Colorado, and lastly Massachusetts.

 

Some of the many characteristics that made Peggy genuinely unique:

 

She cared very deeply for her family. As mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and cousin, she wrote, spoke, and visited her relatives with a wonderful and sustained enthusiasm.

 

She was tough, thoughtful, humble, determined, and strong.

 

She was a contented and adventurous traveler.

 

She was a devoted teacher, friend, and mentor to hundreds of students from a variety of backgrounds.

 

She was the kind of volunteer both clients and staff of the organizations she served quickly grew to love.

 

She was a loyal fan of the Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, and the Tour de France.

 

Hers was a questioning faith. She often uttered a general “thank you” for gifts received, especially those found in the natural world.

 

Safe travels Peggy Rosenberry.

 

A funeral service is planned for 9:00 in the morning on September 30th, 2017 at South Congregational Church in Amherst, MA. A reception will follow at the Courtyard Marriott in Hadley, MA.

 

A separate memorial service will take place in Colorado in the spring or summer of next year.

 

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Peggy’s memory may be made to The American Civil Liberties Union, The High Country News, or The United Farm Workers. Memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

 

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