Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home

Elizabeth Ann Crowell, 82, passed away on April 26 at Holyoke Medical Center, following a long illness. She was born on September 1, 1939 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After high school, Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art, and in 1987, she received a Masters Degree in Administration from Clark University. Her many jobs included Legislative Aide to Massachusetts Senator Robert Wetmore, Executive Assistant to Pittsfield Mayor Anne Wojtkowski, Communications Director of the Massachusetts AHEC Program, Coordinator of the Pittsfield Anti-Tobacco Coalition, and foster parent to several therapeutic foster children. She was also a poet, and a member of...

Elizabeth (Dimock) McArthur, daughter of the late Earl and MaeBelle (Thompson) Dimock, born June 11, 1918, died on April 22, 2022 in Framingham, MA. A resident of Framingham, she was born and educated in Scranton, PA. She studied piano at the Scranton Conservatory of Music, graduated from the Sherman School of Expression and from Keystone Jr. College. She received a Bachelor's degree in Religious Education from the Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT and a Master's degree in Education from Central Connecticut State University. She also studied piano at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT. Under the auspices of the Connecticut Conference of Congregational Churches she was co-founder and...

Linda E. (Thurston) Boisselle, 66, passed away unexpectedly on February 17, 2022 at home. She was born March 6, 1955 in Greenfield, attended primary schools in Turners Falls, MA, then attended and graduated from Stoneleigh Burnham School. She graduated from UMASS Amherst in 1977 with a Bachelors degree in bilingual social work. After moving to South Hadley and prior to starting her family, Linda worked for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She then worked in the South Hadley School System for over 25 years, retiring from Mosier Elementary School in 2020. She was the owner and president of Architectural Roof Management Inc. for 13 of years, working alongside...

Pliny Allen Stebbins, 78, died peacefully on February 13, 2022, in South Hadley, MA. The arc of Pliny's life began on December 16, 1943, born on that day to William and Penelope (Allen) in Worcester, MA. He spent much of his youth in Spencer, with brief but formative time in Kentucky and the Philippines. Pliny graduated from Spencer's David Prouty High School and went on to attend Dartmouth College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. As an adventurous young man in the 1970s, Pliny was drawn to the colorful community in Wendell, MA. He settled there and later in Pelham, where he raised his five children and built his livelihood as a craftsman skilled in stone masonry and then as...

Pliny Allen Stebbins, 78, died peacefully on February 13, 2022, in South Hadley, MA. The arc of Pliny's life began on December 16, 1943, born on that day to William and Penelope (Allen) in Worcester, MA. He spent much of his youth in Spencer, with brief but formative time in Kentucky and the Philippines. Pliny graduated from Spencer's David Prouty High School and went on to attend Dartmouth College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. As an adventurous young man in the 1970s, Pliny was drawn to the colorful community in Wendell, MA. He settled there and later in Pelham, where he raised his five children and built his livelihood as a craftsman skilled in stone masonry and then...

Pittsburgh cycling legend Mathew Brady Harris, 57, passed away Wednesday, January 26. Son of Forrest "Bud" Harris and Maria Harris (nee Evans), Mat was a beloved father of five, business owner, and BMX racing pioneer, winning two BMX national championships, the 1982 Murray Cup, and the 1983 pro cruiser world championship in Holland. A native of Squirrel Hill, Mat graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School and was always at the center of the city's cycling community, initially riding on teams sponsored by small neighborhood shops, and working in the shops part-time to hone his abilities as a mechanic. For his contributions, Mat was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of...

Mathew Brady Harris, 57, passed away Wednesday, January 26. Son of Forrest "Bud" Harris and Maria Harris (nee Evans), Mat was a beloved father of five, business owner, and a legendary BMX racing pioneer, winning two BMX national championships, the 1982 Murray Cup, and the 1983 pro cruiser world championship in Holland. A bicycle man to the fullest, Mat was the sole-proprietor of Peak Performance Bicycles in Granby, where he had been serving as a trusted friend and mechanic to the local cycling community for over 30 years. He leaves behind his five children, Robert, Elijah, Samantha, Danielle, and Chloe, as well as his partner Tina Lariviere. He is also survived by his mother Maria, his...

Ruth Adeline L'Abbee Cooke, 93, passed away peacefully on 1/23/22 at home surrounded by her family. She was born in Holyoke on 11/22/28 to the late Dewey L'Abbee and Blanche Caron L'Abbee. Ruth graduated from South Hadley High School in 1944. She married Warren Cooke on October 16, 1948, and they spent most of their married life in Granby after building their home on family farmland at Cooke's Corner. They moved to Hadley in 2007 to be near their family. Ruth worked in the library at Mount Holyoke College for 20 years in her dream job. She loved reading, especially to her grandchildren. Her true enjoyment came in retirement when she and Warren cared for their three youngest grandsons. She...

Judith A. Turner (83) of South Hadley, MA passed peacefully into the loving arms of God, surrounded by her family. Judith is survived by the love of her life - her husband of 65 years, Charles H. Turner, III. She is also survived by her large, loving family who were her pride and joy: five children (and spouses): Charles Turner, IV (Marcia) with their children Charles Turner, V (Rachael), Mitchell Turner, Camden Turner, and Cooper Turner; David Turner (Lauren) with their children Allison Lepper (Joseph) and Emily Fleming (Ryan); Debra Klepacki (Dwight) with their children Christine Heymanns (Neil), Bryan Klepacki (Rhonda), and Kimberly Garcia (Carlos); Judith Loughrey (Robert) and their...

Wayne Wells, 87, passed away at home January 18, 2022. Born in West Pike Run, PA on August 17, 1934, he was the son of Alma V. Reisner (Artis) and Harry W Wells. After high school, Wayne went on to honorably serve his country in the US Navy. Since 1959, Wayne has lived and raised his family in South Hadley. He worked for 37 years at Monsanto, retiring as the maintenance superintendent. In his leisure, Wayne was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing along with bowling and square dancing with his late wife, Beverly A. (Niec) Wells. He was an active member at his church, Our Savior's Lutheran Church in South Hadley. Wayne will be dearly missed by his children, Debra Brown...

Jane Elizabeth (Wood) Harrington, 91, of South Hadley, MA, died at home on Friday, November 5, 2021, in the loving care of her family. Born in Northampton, MA, on July 7, 1930, Jane Harrington was the daughter of the late Milton J. and Anna (Gustafson) Wood and grew up in Palmer, MA. Jane graduated valedictorian from Palmer High School in 1948 and received a B.S. degree from Simmons College in 1952. She married her high-school sweetheart, the late Robert D. Harrington, in 1952. Jane is survived by four children, Patricia A. Harrington-Wydell and her husband Craig Wydell of Mundelein, IL; Susan J. Ruge and her husband Brad Warble of Hinsdale, IL; Thomas R. Harrington and his wife Katherine...

South Hadley- 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...

Cheryl Virgina Cobb, A beloved teacher, mother, and member of the community, Cheryl passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021, in Amherst, Massachusetts from pancreatic cancer. She was known by some family members as "Cherry" and later by friends as "Diva". Cheryl was born May 30, 1945, in Hornell, New York to Virgil Harrington Hussey and Marian Elizabeth Hopkins, formerly of Greenwood, N.Y. She married George Whitfield Cobb in Richmond, Virginia on May 12, 1971. George passed away on May 6, 2020, in Springfield, MA. Cheryl was a resident of Amherst, Massachusetts for 20 years and South Hadley for 15 years. After her childhood in the town of Greenwood, N.Y, Cheryl earned degrees from The...

Thomas F. Small, 81, passed away September 13, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center. Born November 1, 1939 in Worcester, he was the son of Clarence E. and Mary C. (McManus) Small. Tom served in the Air Force Reserves for six years then worked as an electrician for New England Power and Arizona Public Service until retiring in 2002. Along the way, he relocated his family from their New England roots to the wild west of Scottsdale, Arizona in 1977 where he developed a love for golf that he maintained the rest of his life along with an affection for the Boston Bruins and Red Sox. In 2018, Tom was predeceased by his wife, Ann G. (Dressell) Small and in 2020, his sister, Rosemary Small. Tom...

Fernande "Nan" Kelleher of South Hadley died Tuesday after a long illness. She was the youngest of 10 children born to Hattie and Ferdinand Laprade of Easthampton on March 14, 1938. Nan grew up in Easthampton and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School and Providence Hospital School of Nursing. In 1959 she married her devoted husband Thomas Kelleher and they eventually settled in South Hadley. Along with her husband, she leaves children Karen Malone of Stafford, CT, Mark of Granby, MA, Linda Zina and her husband John of Belchertown, Daniel and his wife Erica of South Hadley, Glenn and his wife Silvana of Southwick, and Keith and his girlfriend Dorice of Boston. She also leaves 21...

Memorial Service for Robert H. Russell, Jr Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 3:00PM Has been changed to an outdoor location at 22 Worthington Drive, Loomis Village, South Hadley. Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.

Sheri was a warm-hearted and generous being , an enthusiastic and thoughtful listener , a nuanced communicator of ideas and feelings with never a need to take anyone down a peg. Sheri held convictions and beliefs that centered around protecting , honoring and supporting all human beings . For over thirty years she advocated for , collaborated with , and empowered the battered and bruised, the marginalized , the oppressed . Just a few days prior to her death she was working as the program director of a community mental health clinic in Springfield, Massachusetts . One of her first jobs was as a legal advocate at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Sheri was strong , valiant , and courageous....

Lori J (Angers) LaValley, 60, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Daughter of the late Lawrence and Beverly (Stark) Angers, she was born in Holyoke on November 26, 1960. Lori worked for many years as a case manager for the Department of Children and Families and in her retirement, she worked as a Care Provider, doing foster care for adults with disabilities. Lori was a caring and compassionate individual, evidenced by her dedication to her work and each patient and their families that she cared for. Each family was welcomed into her home and each one held a special place in her heart. As a resident of South...

Jane Ellis (Insley) Bontempo, 75, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center. Daughter of the late Robert and Joann (Geer) Insley, she was born in Washington D.C. on January 27, 1946. Jane was very educated and shortly after graduating from Niskayuna High School in NY, she obtained her Bachelors from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY and later her Masters Degree from Springfield College. She went on to become an assistant to the chaplain at Mount Holyoke College before settling down as a homemaker to her cherished family. In her early years, Jane and her family spent the summers vacationing at Cape Cod and making lifelong...

Jennett Teece passed away peacefully at Baystate Medical Center on April 27, 2021 at age 84. Jennett was a former faculty member at the MacDuffie School and at Springfield Technical Community College. She was a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (bachelors) and Oberlin College (masters). She is survived by 4 children: Ronald Teece and his wife Laurie of Charlton MA, Robin Dale of Bethel CT, Sandra Teece of Agawam MA, and Eric Teece of Erving MA as well as 5 grandchildren: Matthew and Bryan Teece, Alexander and Marissa Dale, and Kira Teece. Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jennett's name to either the Community Music School of...

Helen A. (Jette) Arana, 94, passed away on April 17, 2021 surrounded by her family. She was born September 30, 1926, in Exeter, NH, daughter of the late William and Amela (LaChapelle) Jette. Helen graduated from Newton Wellesley Nursing School. She has lived in South Hadley since 2008, and previously resided in Lexington, MA for over 40 years. She was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Thomas Arana MD and three daughters, Susan (William) Furdon of Saratoga Springs, NY, Margot (James) Shinnick of Florence and Denise (Stephen) Bongiorno of East Islip, NY. She will also be missed by six grandchildren: Laura (Wes) Miller, Kristin (Joseph)...