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Jane C. Gilman
TURNERS FALLS - Jane C. (Kownacki) Gilman, 64, of Turners Falls died peacefully at home on Sunday (12-2-07).
She was born in Greenfield on April 25, 1943, the daughter of Aleck and Jennie (Zachlowski) Kownacki. She grew up in Deerfield and graduated in 1961 from Frontier Regional School, South Deerfield. Jane received an associate's degree from Greenfield Community College, a bachelor's degree from Elms College, Chicopee, and her master's degree in social work from Boston College.
Prior to her illness, she was an adjunct professor of Human Services at Holyoke Community College. She was also the development coordinator and social worker for Hospice of Franklin County.
Jane enjoyed reading, photography, walking, Boston College sports and the Red Sox. She was on the board of directors for the National Organization of Human Service Education, a volunteer in public schools and the Pioneer Valley Rest Home, a member of the American Gerontology Association and a member of Gerontology in Higher Education.
Jane loved gardening and was a member of the Montague Streetscape Committee. She was caretaker of the perennial garden and planter for Jay K's Liquors, as well as the "island" in front of Kostanski Funeral Home in Turners Falls.
Jane leaves her daughter, Pamela (Dempsey) Kostanski and her husband Jay; a son, John Dempsey and his wife Terry of Turners Falls; her grandchildren, Joshua and Tarrah Dempsey; her sisters, Kathy Melnik and her husband Stephen of Deerfield, Pat Haigis and her husband Richard of Gill, as well as an uncle, several aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Also, she leaves her beloved dog, Lucy.
A memorial Mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Peace Church with the Rev. Stanley J. Aksamit, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
Kostanski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joan L. Churchill
TURNERS FALLS - Joan L. (Lanfair) Churchill, 76, of 133 Turners Falls Road died unexpectedly Sunday (12-2-07) at home.
She was born in Montague on May 15, 1931, the daughter of Earle and Florence (Stowe) Lanfair. She graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1949 and had been a resident of Turners Falls most of her life.
Joan was employed by the Esleeck Paper Co. for many years, retiring as secretary to the president in 1963 in order to start her new career as mother and homemaker.
She was married
to Harold R. Churchill on Oct. 14, 1956. They were married
for 41 years, until his death on May 18, 1998.
Together with her husband, they built their own home at 133 Turners Falls Road in Montague and moved in January 1962.
She was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Turners Falls. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and was a Sunday school teacher there for over 25 years. She was also a dedicated member of the church's Women's Group.
Joan was very proud of her induction as Noble Grand of the Rebekah Valley Queen Lodge of Turners Falls, going on to become a past Noble Grand.
She was an active member of the Friends in Council Group.
Joan was an accomplished painter and had many other hobbies and interests including reading, traveling, woodcarving, knitting, crocheting, gardening and care-giving.
Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was dedicated to her family, a very strong and giving person who always put her family first. She loved to laugh. She was a wonderful mother and best friend, wife, daughter, niece and friend to so many. She will be greatly missed, more than words can ever express.
In addition to her mother of Turners Falls, she leaves a daughter, Susan C. Lawless and her husband John of Charlemont; two grandchildren, Hayley and Elizabeth Lawless of Charlemont; an aunt, Lily Matherson of Lake Pleasant; three nieces, Priscilla Robison and her husband Jim of Pembroke, Audrey Davis and her husband Saad of West Virginia and Pamela Whyte and her husband Brad of Newark, N.Y.; two nephews, Collin Churchill and his wife Abby of Northfield and Gary Churchill and his wife Karolyn of Antioch, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Lanfair of Turners Falls and Rose Churchill of Shelburne Falls; a niece-in-law, Melissa Lanfair of Greenfield; several grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins and many friends. She also leaves two very dear friends, Valda Stowe of Greenfield and Ed Potter of Turners Falls.
She was predeceased by a son, Harold R. Churchill, Jr. in 1971; a brother, Bradley Lanfair, in 1991, and a nephew, Curtis Lanfair, on March 31, 2007.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday (12-8) at noon in the First Congregational Church of Turners Falls with the Rev. Dr. Dennis Roth, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Arms cemetery in Shelburne.
A calling hour at the church will be Saturday from 11a.m. until the time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of Turners Falls, 148 L St., Turners Falls, MA 01376.
Kostanski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
John S. Yokubaitis Sr.
SUNDERLAND - John S. Yokubaitis Sr., 86, of 9 Potyrala Cross Road died Thursday (1-10-08) at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.
He was born in Sunderland on June 18, 1921, the son of Stanley and Barbara (Grunski) Yokubaitis. He was a graduate of Deerfield High School and had been a lifelong resident of Sunderland.
John was an injection molder for Vistron-Pro in Florence for 25 years, retiring in 1987. Previously, he was employed by Warner Bros.
He was a communicant of Holy Name of Jesus Church in South Deerfield.
He was a former Little League coach in Sunderland.
John enjoyed fishing, hunting, all sports and his pets. He loved homemade sweets.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, the former Estelle M. Pekarski; a son, John S. Jr. and his partner Kimberlyann Rule of Sunderland; a daughter, Mary E. Yokubaitis and her partner Daniel Crafts of Amherst, and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a stepbrother and a stepsister, Joseph and Edna Saviski.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 9 a.m. from the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal St., Greenfield, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 in Holy Name of Jesus Church with the Rev. Randolph Calvo, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery in the spring.
Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sunderland Little League, c/o James Ewen, 12 School St., Sunderland, MA 01375.
Vivian E. Sargent
GREENFIELD - Vivian E. (Dyer) Sargent, 93, of Greenfield, formerly of Amesbury and Newton, N.H., died Tuesday (1-1-08) at Poet's Seat Health Care Center.
She was born in Rockland on April 12, 1914, the daughter of Harry and Catherine Dyer.
Vivian was a private duty licensed practical nurse until 1984. Previously, she was a LPN at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
She was a member of the Ladies Aid for the Newton Baptist Church in Newton, N.H.
Vivian was an avid reader.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Earle B. Nichols in 1947, and her second husband, Harold C. Sargent in 1961.
Survivors include a son, Ned F. Nichols and his wife Valera of New Ipswich, N.H.; four grandchildren, Barbara, Robert, Gregory and Verity Nichols, and many nieces and nephews.
Also, she was predeceased by two brothers, Daniel and Roy Dyer.
A memorial service will be held at the Newton Baptist Church in Newton, N.H., in the spring on a date and time to be announced. Burial will follow in Highland cemetery in Newton.
There are no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Kostanski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
MARY 'MOLLY' PERVERE
TURNERS FALLS - Mary "Molly" (Golowka) Pervere, 87, of Turners Falls, died Monday, December 31, 2007, at Sunbridge Rehabilitation and Care Center in Hadley.
Mary Magdelena (Golowka) Pervere was born on June 13, 1920, in Turners Falls, the daughter of Michael and Helena (Kutasiewicz) Golowka. She graduated from Turners Falls High School in 1938. She continued her education at Clark University and earned her nursing degree at the Worcester City Hospital.
Molly had great fondness and loyalty for the town of Turners Falls, where she lived most of her life. Her working career was devoted to caring for others. She did private duty nursing and worked at the Farren Memorial Hospital and Eaglebrook School. She spent twenty-five years as the head nurse in the Emergency Department at the Franklin Medical Center. She was always active in her community and volunteered as both a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader.
She was a member of the Board of Organized Work at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, the Holy Rosary Society of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church and the Elks Auxiliary. She was a volunteer with a Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Children. Molly thoroughly enjoyed being with people and looked forward to weekly card games with her friends. She was delighted with the recent championships won by the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
Molly was married
to Harold (Baldy) Pervere until his death in 1966. They enjoyed many family travels, including an adventurous camping trip across the United States and back in 1957. The family also enjoyed many fishing excursions to Canada, Maine, and New Hampshire.
Survivors include her son, Christopher Pervere of Turners Falls, with whom she lived; two daughters, Denise Lemay and her husband, Gary; and Mary Ellen Warchol and her husband, John, all of South Deerfield; and her daughter-in-law, Debra Lemay, of Turners Falls. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Joshua Lemay of Boston, Nicholas Lemay of South Deerfield, and Megan and Nathan Pervere of Turners Falls. She also leaves one brother, Joseph, of Cambria, California, his wife, Phyllis; sisters-in law Stasia Golowka and Catherine Webber, both of Turners Falls; and eight nieces and nephews in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Colorado and California. She was pre-deceased by her brothers John and Stanley and her long time companion, Louis Bresciano, Sr.
The funeral service will be held Friday at 9:15 AM from the Kostanski Funeral Home, One Kostanski Square, in Turners Falls, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 AM at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, with the Rev. Charles DiMascola, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday from 3-6 PM
Memorial contributions may be made to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 479 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301.
Marjorie C. White
MONTAGUE - Marjorie C. (Shirtcliff) White, 80, of 90 Greenfield Road died Sunday (12-30-07) at Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield.
She was born in Montague City on March 26, 1927, the daughter of Samuel and Harriet (Thompson) Shirtcliff. She attended local schools in Montague and had been a lifelong resident of Montague.
Marjorie was a homemaker.
Survivors include a son, Jeffrey A. and his wife Cynthia L. of Knotts Island, N.C.; a daughter, Gail A. LeBlanc and her husband George of Wendell, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Norma Tirrell in 2007 and Marylan Sanderlin in 2005.
Funeral services will be private and burial will be at the convenience of the family.
There are no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 153 Magazine St., Springfield, MA 01109.
Kostanski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gloria J. Baker
GREENFIELD - Gloria J. (Wood) Baker, 61, of 358 Wells St., formerly of Turners Falls, died Saturday (12-29-07) at the Anchorage Nursing Home in Shelburne.
She was born in Montague on June 1, 1946, the daughter of Alfred and Irene (Legere) Wood.
She graduated from the former St. Anne's Parochial School in Turners Falls and had been a resident of Turners Falls before moving to Greenfield in 1990.
Gloria was employed for Kentucky Fried Chicken for several years until 2005.
She was a member of the Bernardston Senior Center.
Gloria was an avid Red Sox fan and enjoyed board games and playing cards.
Her husband, Brinton A. Baker Jr., pre-deceased her on Feb. 17, 2005.
Survivors include two sons, Brinton A. III and his wife, Deborah, of Greenfield and Russ A. and his wife, Marie, of Mashpee; a daughter, Melinda L. Pedley and her husband, Cary, of Deltona, Fla.; her stepfather, Gordon Downing of Montague; two brothers, James Wood of Pittsford, Vt., and Leo DuBois of Seattle, Wash.; three sisters, Mary Kuklewicz of Pittsfield, Sandy Barnish of Claremont, N.H., and Jean Morgan of Winchester, N.H.; eight grandchildren, a great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls.
Calling hours will be Thursday from 5 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway St., Greenfield MA 01301.
