Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home

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...

"On Angles Wings you were taken away, but in our hearts you will always stay". Barbara Ann (Allaire) Erickson, 88, was called home peacefully on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 in West Brookfield, MA. Born on February 4, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Blanche (Forsman) Allaire. Barbara was pre-deceased by her husband Richard, of 65 years in 2016. She leaves her sons, Stephen and his wife Laurie of Palmer, and Dennis and his wife Christine of Brownsville, VT. Barbara was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Barbara grew up in Auburn, MA and married her husband, Richard, right after high school. She enjoyed singing and was known for her rendition of "Ave Maria". She loved...

Jacques (Jake) Adrien Mathieu 87, of Brimfield, MA, passed away December 24, 2021 following a two week hospitalization. He was born to Alphonse and Adrienne (Payant) Mathieu on June, 2, 1934 in Holland, MA. Jake is survived by his brother Alphonse Mathieu of Ware, MA; his wife of nearly 63 years, Judith (Reid) Mathieu; brother-in-law Pete Lukesh of Vero Beach, FL; daughter Michelle Brooks of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; son Bernard Mathieu of Hayesville, NC; daughters Laurel (Mathieu) Prescott and her husband John, Jill (Mathieu) O'Day and her husband Darryl all of Brimfield; grandchildren: Christina Mathieu, Andrea Kaiser and her husband Tyler, Benjamin Keating and his wife Morgan, Hannah...

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Steven Edwin Mastalerz, 62, after a courageous fight of a series of pneumonias. He left peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center. He was the son of Edwin and Joyce (Mclean) Mastalerz, and born in Palmer on July 26, 1959. Steve made a career working as a sheet metalist that would spend his free time hitting the green at Mill Valley, going to his weekly bowling league, Hindsdale trips or trying to be on a hot streak at the Black Jack Table. Unfortunately, many of these hobbies were interrupted when he was paralyzed after back surgery nearly eight years ago. This did not stop...

Dana Lee Feldshuh Whyte, 82, passed away October 16, 2021 peacefully in her home while her son was visiting. She was born on February 10, 1939 in Kingston, New York to the late Alfred M. and Constance B. (McMullen) Feldshuh. She grew up in Kerhonkson, NY where everyone knew her name. Making house calls in the Borscht Belt with her father, a country doctor, was formative. She met lifelong friends (and a future husband) at Mount Holyoke College and graduated in 1960. She earned her MD (and met her first husband) at the University of Michigan. After moving to Atlanta, she was adored as an anesthesiologist at Northside Hospital where patients and surgeons alike trusted her soothing voice as she...

Carl A. Jensen, formerly of Brimfield, passed away on October 1st in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Carl was raised in Brimfield, MA, and was a graduate of Tantasqua High School and the Manhattan School of Art. He was a talented artist; his paintings and sculptures were a pleasure for his family and friends. He was a great friend who could be counted on, and wonderful brother who brought joy to his family. He had a contagious sense of humor, loved animals and had many during his lifetime, they were his children. Carl would share endless stories relating their personalities and antics. He had immense talent in architecture, styling and restoring his homes. Carl will be loved and missed by all...

Russell (Russ) Carleton Brown passed away peacefully, at home, on September 30, 2021, with his loving family by his side. Russ' life reflected his love of the outdoors, fish and game, sports, travel and his family. Born in 1937 to Clinton and Ruth (Davis) Brown, Russ grew up in Keene, NH. After graduating high school in 1955, he joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Rhode Island. Later, he worked for Public, Manchester and New England power companies. Russ married the love of his life, Gloria (Boucher) Brown in 1957 and together they raised four sons and one daughter. After retiring at the age of 57, Russ and Gloria purchased a hunting camp in St. George, New Brunswick,...

Joseph W. Tropp (J.T.) of South Hadley died on August 22, 2021 at Hospice of the Fisher Home with his family at his side. He was 71 years old. Joe was born in Abington, Pennsylvania and moved to South Hadley as a child. He graduated from South Hadley High School and attended Holyoke Community College and Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan, where he played basketball. He was a gifted athlete and had a lifelong love affair with the game of golf. He spent a year on the PGA mini tour in Europe before settling in as the golf professional at the Falmouth Country Club for 2 years. He also worked as a golf professional at the Paul Harney Golf Club in East Falmouth. He enjoyed brief...

Francis P. "Fran" Vivier, November 6, 1934 - August 11, 2021. Born and raised in North Brookfield, MA to Ernest and Sylvia (Wine) Vivier, Fran and his wife Gloria (Laflamme) moved to Granby, MA in 1979 and were parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Upon his retirement from B.F. Perkins Co. in Chicopee, Fran and Gloria owned numerous income properties and operated beauty salons locally. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing softball and was an avid sportsman, hunting deer with shotgun, bow and black-powder rifle. His love of the outdoors extended to hiking, camping and exploring from New Hampshire's White Mountains to the rugged coast of Alaska. Fran and Gloria were fixtures in...

Margaret Gray Colson Devot, age 101, passed away peacefully at Loomis Village on Sunday, July 18, 2021. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland on Jan 2, 1920, the first child of Margaret and John Gray of Gowan. John left for America in 1924. On Nov. 1925, after he was settled with his job and home, his wife and children, Margaret, Gilbert, and Agnes joined him, arriving on the U.S.S. Baltic. Their new home was City Point in Boston, within walking distance of the ocean and entrance to Castle Island. Years later, they moved to the Codman Hill area of Dorchester and brother, John was born. Margaret was in the first graduating class of the Woodrow Wilson School and later graduated from Dorchester...

Francis John Wisgirda, 81, of Monson, passed away peacefully at his residence on July 10, 2021, surrounded by the people who truly cared for him. Francis, born in Brockton, Ma on March 9, 1940, was the oldest child of John and Mary (Trainovicz) Wisgirda. He journeyed west to Monson in 1949 as a pioneer for his time, where he resided for the remainder of his life. Francis will be dearly missed by all who knew him, including his brother Robert and his wife, Elizabeth of Delaware; his nieces, Jill and Kristin, and his nephew Joseph; his grand-nieces and nephew, Phoenix, Allison, Samantha and Logan; as well as many extended family members and friends. Visitation for Francis will...

Donald W. Gallant, 79, passed away June 29, 2021. He was born on November 25, 1941 in Springfield to the late Theodore Walter and Blanche (Hould) Gallant. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Ann (Sampson) Gallant. He leaves a son, John N. Gallant of VT; granddaughter, Kayla Gallant; and sisters, Carol Goulet and Lucille Gallant.

Ralph H. Verrier, 88, died Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. Born in Biddeford, Maine he attended local schools and went on to graduate from Springfield Community College. He was a production worker for 24 years and a System Specialist for 16 years at Monsanto, Co. in Indian Orchard, MA, retiring in 1991. He was an avid communicant at St. Christopher's Church in Brimfield and also belonged to Local 288 ALF-CIO. Ralph will be dearly missed by all who knew him, including his loving wife Priscilla A. (Bourque) Verrier; his five children, Robert (Odette) Verrier of Plattsburgh, NY, Kathleen (Richard) Worthing of Conway, SC, Joanne (Gary) Wood of...

With heavy hearts the family of Maureen T. (O'Connor) L'Abbee announces her passing on June 4, 2021 at Holyoke Hospital. She was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on February 5, 1943 to the late Everett J. and Alice (Habrowska) O'Connor. Maureen lived in Holyoke and West Springfield and attended Catholic school in her early years. Her family later moved to Granby where she attended Granby Schools. She attended South Hadley High School and graduated in 1961. Granby High School had not been built yet. She attended Becker Junior College and worked for her Father at Everett J. O'Connor Insurance Agency in Holyoke. She also worked for The Osborne Clinic in Agawam and finished her working...

Monson- Emily Jean (Watson) Wight, 89, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, June 3, 2021. Daughter of the late Paul and Addie (Hill) Watson, she was born in Kennebunk, Maine on September 5, 1931. Emily was a graduate of Becker Junior College in Worcester, MA where she played college basketball. Emily and Roland built Yogi Bear Jellystone Park at Sturbridge Pinelake and Poland Spring Campground in Poland, Maine. Emily spent her later years with the love of her life of 65 years in Kennebunk, Maine where she rode the waves until 80 years old and ate peanut butter sandwiches on the beach. She also spent time in Sanibel, Florida where she spent her days walking on the shore, doing the...