Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home

Madeline "Mandy" Echols, 81, passed away with the love of her family surrounding her on October 30, 2023. Visitation will be held Saturday, November 11 th at Beers & Story Funeral Home in Palmer, MA from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. with a prayer service at 11:30 a.m. followed by Burial in Oak Knoll Cemetery. Please visit www.beersandstory.com for a full notice

Amy Rose Hamel, 40, passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2023. Amy was born on September 2, 1982 in Northampton to Paul H. and Nancy J. Hamel. She leaves behind her parents, and her brother, Aaron P. Hamel, his wife, Elizabeth (Libby) Hamel, and beloved nieces, Claire Anita and Bridget Erin Hamel. Amy lived in Amherst her entire life and graduated from ARHS and UMass. Amy and her mom were "The Hamel Team", selling real estate in the Valley for Jones Group Realtors. She enjoyed Yoga, good food & wine, fashion, card games, spending time with friends, and her dog, Chloe Bear. Amy was in NYC at the time of 9/11 and in the fallout of the World Trade Center dust storm. She saw people crossing...

Michael James Lancaster, 73, passed away April 7, 2023. He was born on March 27, 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Ernest and Patricia (Von Hoene) Lancaster and spent his formative years in Western Massachusetts. After graduating from Agawam High School, where he played football and baseball, Mike began working as a salesman for Sears, where he continued his employment for 25 years before relocating to central Maine in the early 1990's. While there, Mike met and married his beloved wife, Lita in 1996. Together, they owned and operated the Newport Redemption Center for over 25 years, a variety store located in Newport, Maine. Though he remained dedicated to his work, Mike enjoyed spending...

Ernest W. Canterbury, 76, passed away March 23, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. Born January 18, 1947 in Westfield, he was the son of Donald and Eleanor (Trudell) Canterbury. Ernie grew up and lived in Westfield for many years. He proudly served his country in the US Army from 1968-1971. While living in Westfield, he worked for over 30 years at Digital Equipment Corp as well as being a bartender at the former Murphy's, also known as Rally's. He then was a professor at Asnuntuck College and in 2008, he moved to Warren to be with Lori. Ernie enjoyed playing golf, being part of a softball team, bowling with his father and was an avid Yankees fan. He loved music and also...

Family Therapist Holly Prater Dies at 79. Palmer native Holly Anne Prater has died, just days after her 79th birthday. Holly was well-known in Western Mass as a family therapist, child welfare advocate, and Guardian Ad Litem for institutionalized children. She opened Westfield's first private therapy practice in 1976 and worked over the years as supervisor, consultant, and social worker for many state agencies, service providers, and counseling services. She was also a child welfare investigator for the Massachusetts trial courts and among the state's first Licensed (vs. accredited) Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW). Holly earned a BA from The Elms and an MSW from UConn, where...

Constance R. (Hamel) Yelle, 89, passed away on February 22,2023 surrounded by family. Born November 15, 1933 in Chicopee, to the late George and Evelyn (Thibeault) Hamel. She lived in Hadley since 2019, previously residing in Chicopee, Florence and Holyoke. Connie was a waitress for 44 years at Beckman's, Mel's, Kelly's, The Townhouse and JP's Restaurant, all located in Holyoke. After retiring she enjoyed spending time with her grandkids and great grandkids, and doing crossword puzzles and board puzzles. She was a communicant of St. Anne's Church in Chicopee. Connie was preceded in death by her husband Gerald Yelle, Sr. They were married April 24, 1954. She will be deeply missed by her...

Glorianna H. Wholley, 90, passed away February 22, 2023 with her family at her side. She was born in Hartford, CT, on July 6, 1932 to the late Wallace and Corrine (Robarge) Hill and was raised in East Hartford. She graduated from Hartford College for Women with a Bachelors in Nursing and later graduated from AIC with a Masters in Business Administration. With a passion for caring for others, Glorianna worked as a Nurse for many years prior to her retirement. She enjoyed spending time with her family and cherished the memories made with her husband as they traveled to memorable destinations in their RV. Guided by her faith, Glorianna sang in numerous church choirs. She was also a gifted...

Marcelina Medina, 88, passed away February 22, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 6, 1934 in Humacao, Puerto Rico to the late Juan and Marcelina (Rodriguez) Serrano. Marcelina was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who dedicated her time to taking care of her family that she loved dearly. As a devout Catholic and member of St. Patrick's Church in South Hadley, Marcelina was guided by her faith. Besides her parents, Marcelina was preceded in death by her loving husband, Ismael Medina; their son, Ismael Medina, Jr.; and siblings, Augustina, Petra, Maria, and Francisco. She is survived by her children, Magali Medina and her husband Daniel Goodman and their...

Lucille (Bergstrom) Breen, 99, of Loomis Village, South Hadley, formerly of Framingham, MA peacefully passed away on January 14, 2023, just a few days short of her 100th birthday. Lucille was born in the same farmhouse in Evansville, Minnesota where her father was born, and her grandfather homesteaded in the mid 1800's. Lucille was the daughter of Frank Bergstrom and Bertha (Peterson) Bergstrom. Being an only child on a farm without electricity or indoor plumbing in her early years meant chores were a way of life; helping her father in the barn and her mother manage the house. Lucille recalled that her first job was cleaning the glass chimneys of the household kerosene lamps. Lucille...

John L. Lessard, 90, died November 8, 2022. Born in Waterville, ME, August 21, 1932, to Arthur and Anna (Pelletiere), he attended Notre Dame church and school there. As a teenager working in a local cotton mill, he saw the young Patricia Thibodeau, a fashion model who had recently returned home to nearby Winslow and was determined to marry her. On April Fool's Day, 1951, the two had their first date. They married that September 29 and remained an inseparable couple until her death in April 1986. In late 1987, John met Joyce Sizer, who became his dear and devoted lady-friend for the next 35 years. In addition to Joyce, John leaves his four children, June of Newport News, VA, Patrick of...

Belchertown- Theresa M. St. Mary, 93, of Wyomissing, passed away on September 9, 2022, at Phoebe Berks. Her husband, Milton H. St. Mary, passed away on February 25, 1990. Born in Ft. Kent, ME, she was a daughter of the late Cyrias and Veronique (Madore) Cote. She was employed by St. Paul Insurance, Holyoke, MA for 20 years retiring in 1992. A very religious woman, Theresa was a member of St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Whitfield. Theresa was a wonderful homemaker and mom. She was a favorite "Grammy" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, passing along her love to her entire family. Theresa's strawberry freezer jam is a recipe that has continued to her grandchildren. She enjoyed...

Robert "Bob" E. Holleran, 57, passed away suddenly on September 4, 2022. He was born on January 10, 1965 in Portsmouth, Virginia to Joseph J. Holleran, Jr., and Ursela (Smolibowski) Meech. Bob proudly served his country in the USMC as a Corporal during the Desert Storm Era. Following his honorable discharge from the Marines, he was employed as a cell phone technician for almost 20 years before his retirement. Bob enjoyed spending time in the woods, fishing, gardening, and coin collecting; but most of all, he loved his family, friends, and his cats. Bob was preceded in death by his mother, Ursela (Smolibowski) Meech; father-in-law, Frederick Dubois; son, Nicolaos A. Dubois; and nephew,...

Capt. Phillips Brooks Carpenter, (Ret.) USN, JAGC, 79, died July 30 after a long illness. Born March 30, 1943 in New York, NY to Brooks and Evelyn "Teddy" (LeMunyon) Carpenter, Phil graduated from Evander High School in 1961, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After six years of active duty, Phil was honorably discharged, and he and his beloved wife, Linda, moved to Waltham, to attend Northeastern University and Suffolk Law School. After graduation, Phil was commissioned in the United States Navy Reserve, Judge Advocate General Corps, retiring with the rank of Captain in 1998. They moved to Brimfield in 1984, where Phil was an attorney and accountant. Phil led the Town of...

Robert E. Bonkowski, 70, passed away June 17, 2022 with his loving wife by his side. Bob was born on December 1, 1951 in Westfield to the late Edward and Bernice (Sczuczynski) Bonkowski. He graduated from Westfield High School and attended Westfield State University. Graduating from Springfield Technical Community College, Bob earned a Dean's List Award, a President's List Award, and an Alpha Nu Omega Society Award. He previously worked in Shipping and Receiving at Columbia Manufacturing, Buxton Manufacturing, Carando Inc., and Waldman Publishing. Bob was a lover of dogs and cats, of which he had many. He leaves behind his dog Molly and his cat Tess. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed...

Richard "Bud" P. Andras, 92, passed away May 1, 2022. He was born on January 20, 1930 in Westfield to the late August and Mary (Oleksak) Andras and was the youngest of eight children. Bud graduated from Westfield High School in 1947, served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War Era, and later retired from Hampden Papers in Holyoke after more than 40 years of employment. Besides his parents, Bud was preceded in death by his 3 sisters and 4 brothers. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Ann M. (Doherty) Andras; daughters, Lisa Andras and her partner Andy Chartier, Mary Beth and her husband Eric Leclair, and Lisa Guenette and her fiance Christopher Fesko; as well as his...

Marjorie L. (Jardine) Mortensen, age 94, a resident of Marlborough MA (formerly of Holyoke, Chicopee and Woburn MA) died peacefully on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. She was the wife of the late Carl M. Mortensen. Marjorie was born in 1927, the middle daughter of the late William Ernest Lawrence Jardine and Jane Gray (MacKnight) Jardine of Napan, New Brunswick, Canada. She attended college at Mount Allison University, in Sackville, New Brunswick. In addition to her husband, Carl, Marjorie was predeceased by her daughter Sara Jane Mutch, her son-in-law David Mutch, and her sister Virginia Lockerbie. Marjorie is survived by her daughter Amy Rice (Timothy) of Northborough MA; her sister Ruth Hannah...

Joan Estelle Ciruti of Amherst died on March 26, 2022 at the age of 91. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Joan was the daughter of the late Joseph A. Ciruti and Olga (Jordan) Ciruti. She had one brother, Robert W. Ciruti, who predeceased her in 1998. After discovering in high school that she enjoyed learning foreign languages, Joan majored in Spanish in college and later pursued a career in higher education. A bachelor's degree from Southeastern Louisiana College in 1950 was followed by an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. from Tulane University. Joan returned to the University of Oklahoma as a member of the faculty in the Dept. of Modern Languages in 1957. In 1959-60...

Joan Estelle Ciruti of Amherst died on March 26, 2022 at the age of 91. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Joan was the daughter of the late Joseph A. Ciruti and Olga (Jordan) Ciruti. She had one brother, Robert W. Ciruti, who predeceased her in 1998. After discovering in high school that she enjoyed learning foreign languages, Joan majored in Spanish in college and later pursued a career in higher education. A bachelor's degree from Southeastern Louisiana College in 1950 was followed by an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. from Tulane University. Joan returned to the University of Oklahoma as a member of the faculty in the Dept. of Modern Languages in 1957. In 1959-60...

Joan Estelle Ciruti of Amherst died on March 26, 2022 at the age of 91. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Joan was the daughter of the late Joseph A. Ciruti and Olga (Jordan) Ciruti. She had one brother, Robert W. Ciruti, who predeceased her in 1998. After discovering in high school that she enjoyed learning foreign languages, Joan majored in Spanish in college and later pursued a career in higher education. A bachelor's degree from Southeastern Louisiana College in 1950 was followed by an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. from Tulane University. Joan returned to the University of Oklahoma as a member of the faculty in the Dept. of Modern Languages in 1957. In 1959-60...

Katherine 'Katie' Elizabeth (Elian)Thomson-Hansen passed away on March 22, 2022 at the young age of 31 in Ludlow. Born on December 25th 1990 in Worcester, MA, to Michael and Laura (Plasse) Elian. Katie enjoyed music, tending to her plants, being with friends, and hiking with her beloved dog Mia and husband Joshua Thomson-Hansen. Katie was gorgeous and empathetic, loyal, witty, and elegant. She graduated from UMASS Amherst with a B.S. in public health and earned her PhD in pharmaceuticals at MCPHS. Her short but dynamic career in pharmacy touched many lives. She was passionate about public health. Caring for others as a pharmacist she took pride in being a frontline healthcare worker and...

Edmund A. Lanoue, Jr, 54, suddenly passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. He was born in Hoosick Falls, NY on December 3, 1968. Son of the late Edmund Sr, born in Winooski, VT and Marise (Senecal) Lanoue, born in Bennington VT. Known as JR to many, he was employed for many years with Toyota Summit Lift. In his travels he became a reliable and trusted business person and friend. JR was a dedicated husband, father, and coach. JR committed hundreds of hours to youth basketball in Belchertown and beyond, watching both his sons and their teammates grow as friends, teammates, and skilled players on the court. He loved coaching and believed in doing it with intensity, accountability and...