Marie Elizabeth (Lawler) Aquadro, 93, passed away peacefully in Leeds, MA on November 21, 2020 with family at her side. Marie was born to the late George Edward and Genevieve (Swiatek) Lawler in Northampton, MA at Cooley Dickinson Hospital on March 16, 1927.
Marie grew up in Northampton, graduating from Northampton High School in 1944 and then the Northampton School for Girls in 1945. While at Northampton High School, she was on the Girls’ Basketball team and enjoyed special outings with friends. She then attended the Elms College, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Following graduation, she worked as a Phlebotomist at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, MA where she became the unofficial house expert at drawing blood from infants.
On September 3, 1951, Marie married Richard Conz Aquadro, her knight in shining armor and the love of her life. Marie and Richard started their family in the Boston area with their first three daughters before moving back to Northampton in 1954 and completing the family with a son and daughter. Marie enjoyed volunteering as a leader for her daughters’ Brownie troops and also as a member of the Hampshire Regional YMCA’s Board of Directors. Marie was a devout Catholic and incorporated her religion and the church into her daily life and that of her family. In 1970, she received the Pious Catholic award for her dedicated service as a CCD teacher. She was also an informed and passionate political participant and worked as a poll worker for over 20 years.
During her later years she cherished her time with Richard in New Smyrna Beach, FL where they had an open-door policy and would go months with guests rotating in and out. They valued the good meals they had there from Hot Dog Day at Dairy Queen to Burger Night at the Breakers, always with friends in tow.
Marie was an avid swimmer enjoying her swims at both the Hampshire Regional YMCA and the Northampton Country Club; this continued into her later years switching to water aerobics both in Northampton and in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. When not in the water, she could be found soaking in the sun, but never without her signature visor. From April through October, she watched her beloved Red Sox as often as she could.
Marie loved travelling. She and Richard travelled frequently when their children were grown both internationally and nationally visiting many countries and states. After Richard retired, they traveled across the country seeing amazing sites. They kept a travel log which she recently found and read. She enjoyed reminiscing about the trip with her children.
Marie was a life-long avid reader and it was not unusual for her to be reading two or three books at a time depending on which book was in which room, or whichever one was the lightest (in her later years, never hard cover – “too heavy”). She loved cooking and especially searching for new recipes to try out on her family. She became an exceptional cook, passing on her enthusiasm and talent to her children and grandchildren – and always made sure to critique where necessary. Everything was from scratch- “There will never be a boxed mix or meal in this house!” Marie also shared her love of bird watching with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many others. There was rarely a bird she couldn’t identify, and always made sure to educate everyone around her. She ensured the birds were well fed with her collection of bird feeders, and much to Richard’s dismay, found a way to please the rival squirrels and chipmunks with seed on the patio.
Marie loved her time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and often commented, no matter how long the visit, that she wished it were longer. She was always up to date on what was happening in the lives of her grandchildren and supported them unconditionally. She never missed a holiday, big or small, and ensured everyone received their cards filled with $2 bills and her classic “Guess Whoooo” signature for Halloween. We will miss her infamous eye rolls, diva-like personality, and her first-class taste. She will always be remembered through Sunday mimosas, eggs benedict, and butter pecan ice cream.
Marie is survived by her five children Elizabeth Kouri ’70 and husband Kevin of Naples, FLA, Alison Gleason and husband Daniel of Leeds, MA, Kimberly Sapienza and husband Thomas of Chelmsford, MA, Richard D. Aquadro and wife Sabra of Northampton, MA, Jennifer Egan and husband James of Walpole, MA. She has thirteen grandchildren: Kevin, Daniel, Kristen, Bryan, Aileen, Christine, Timothy, Courtney ’11, Andrew, Anthony ’15, Ania, Natalie ’17 and John. Seven great-grandchildren: Sapphire, Theodore, Declan, Parker, Genevieve, Elizabeth and Marie. She is also survived by her sister Patricia Brooks of Ellicott City, MD. She was predeceased by her true love and husband of 68 years, Richard Conz Aquadro ’47, and sister Virginia Lebeau.
We would like to thank all compassionate caregivers at O’Connell Home Care for the loving care they provided to Maire over the past year.
Calling hours for Marie will be Saturday November 28 from 9:30-11:30 AM. Due to the pandemic, masks are required for all guests, and physical distancing must be observed. Other services for Marie will be private and held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Elms College, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Crew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or The Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund, Daily Hampshire Gazette, P.O. Box 299, Northampton, MA, 01061.

On September 6, 2020, the world lost an amazing woman. Paula Gallup was a truly special person, who embodied kindness and grace in the way she lived her life. As a mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, she will be dearly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. Paula loved her family and is survived by her husband of 69 years, John G. Gallup, her daughter, Susan G. Purdy and son-in-law, Robert Purdy, her daughter Paula Ingalls and late son-in-law, Darrell Ingalls, her son, Bruce Gallup and daughter-in-law, Lindy Gallup. In addition, she leaves behind six grandchildren, Cliff Purdy (Trisha Purdy), Kristin Blanchard (Steve Blanchard), Ross Purdy, Heather Collins (Dennis Collins), Jonathan Gallup and Holland Gallup and two great grandchildren, Deighton and Arlo Blanchard.
Paula was born on September 10, 1931 in Holyoke, Massachusetts to Marcelle and Henry Burgee and grew up in close-knit family with her late sister, Maria Burgee Dwight ’52. She attended Northampton School for Girls (now The Williston-Northampton School) and Mount Holyoke College, leaving after two years to marry John, a graduate of Dartmouth College. For 32 years she raised her family and pursued the volunteer and civic work she loved, including teaching Sunday school, running a church fair, serving as Assistant Girl Scout Leader and Assistant Cub Scout Den Mother. She was an active member of the Junior League for 20 years and a sustaining member for 15 years. During that time, she volunteered in the thrift shop, trooped with puppets to hospitals and children’s agencies, served as Concert Series Program Chair, Concert Series General Chair, Hospitality Chair and Advertising Co-chair for the Follies (musical). In addition, she served as a United Way representative for the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club. Over the course of 20 years, Paula was a hospital volunteer, member of the hospital auxiliary and served on auxiliary boards. She also worked as a volunteer at Wesson Women’s Hospital at the front desk, in the hospital coffee shop, as co-chair and buyer for the gift shop and as hostess in the ICU waiting room. She also held board positions: Membership Chair, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary and President of the Baystate Medical Center Auxiliaries. Paula served as a docent at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts and on the Springfield School Volunteers Advisory Council in a variety of capacities. She served as a volunteer for Chestnut Knoll, Stage West, the Springfield Mount Holyoke Club, Women’s Symphony League and the Longmeadow Women’s Republican Club.
In 1983, Paula returned to Mount Holyoke College through the Frances Perkins Program earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion. She continued her studies at Hartford Seminary and received her Master of Divinity from Andover-Newton Theological Seminary, after which she served for 9 years at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Longmeadow as a Lay Pastoral Assistant providing compassionate guidance and support to senior members of the congregation. She established a Eucharistic Visitor Program, a prayer and study group, a monthly Lunch Bunch Group, and organized an 80 year+ celebratory tribute party, a job she truly loved. Paula was also a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. She was deeply involved in the Hatikvah Education Center and was a devoted member of the Cosmopolitan Club.
Paula and John loved to travel and visited many wonderful places in the world including England, Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. More recently, Paula loved spending time at home surrounded by the people and things she loved.
A memorial service to celebrate Paula’s incredible life will be scheduled at a later date. Her arrangements have been entrusted to Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St. East Longmeadow.

Barbara Jane Fuller, née MacNeil, departed this world peacefully on June 17, 2020 at her home in Marion, Massachusetts after a brief illness, surrounded by her five daughters and numerous grandchildren. She was 89 years old.

“Bobby” was born on September 2, 1930 in Newton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Ruah and John MacNeil and sister to Jean, Margery, John, Janice, and Marcia ’49. She attended the Northampton School for Girls and Elmira College, where she sang in the choir and earned a BA in education. In 1955, she married William Fuller and together they raised five girls on Beach Drive in Darien, Connecticut. In 1999, they moved to Marion where they renovated the Elizabeth Taber House on Cottage St.

Bobby will be remembered for her loving and generous spirit, her humor and wise counsel, and her dedication to family and community. She was an avid reader who loved history, and she was an ardent tennis player and fan. She was Past President of the Marion Garden Group, and during her life she held positions with the Darien PTA, the Girl Scouts, the Houston Amigos, Post 53 Emergency Medical Services in Darien, and she volunteered at numerous charities. In her younger years, she was a well loved school teacher.

She is survived by her children, Frances Fuller Baldwin of Mystic, CT; Faith Elizabeth Fuller of Oakland, CA; Abigail Fuller (Neil Wollman) of Portland, ME; Ruah Seidel (Erik) of Las Vegas, NV; Jean Fuller Gest of Marion, MA; and grandchildren Jack Madigan, Elian Seidel, Ali Madigan, Jamesin Seidel, William Baldwin, Leonore Fuller, Barbara Nell Gest, Jack Fuller, and Beau Fuller. She was preceded in death by her precious granddaughter Josephine “Scout” Fuller and her husband of 56 years, Bill Fuller.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marion Garden Group in memory of Bobby Fuller, PO Box 403, Marion, MA 02738

Becky Sparks passed away on May 19, 2020 in Falmouth, Maine. She was born in Kyoto, Japan, December 29, 1921 to parents Eva and Homer Grafton, who were teachers with the YMCA. Her formative years were spent at her parents’ boys’ camp in Ontario in the summers, and a series of schools in the Midwest in the winters. She graduated from Bennington College where she majored in music, then attended Julliard School of Music after the war ended, where she met her first husband, Ken Ward. They moved to Chardon, Ohio where daughter Carol and son Craig were born.

In 1954 they moved to Colorado, settling in Aspen in 1955, where she taught piano. In 1968 after a divorce Becky moved to New England, taught physical education and music at Northfield Mount Hermon schools, and then got an M.A. in early childhood education. She married John Sparks in 1972 and they spent 10 happy years together on a gentleman’s farm in Virginia and then moved to Stuart, Florida.

After Jack’s death in 1987, Becky moved to Snowmass Village to be near her son, Craig, and rekindled friendships with many Aspenites. She attended Aspen Music Festival concerts, Anderson Ranch art and photography classes, worked for Snow Cubs, volunteered for cross country ski races, was a member of PEO (an educational organization), played tennis at the Snowmass Club, downhill and cross country skied. Her artwork flourished during these years. She moved to Whitcomb Terrace in 2008 and made many friends with residents and staff. Often she would take seniors to the Maroon Bells to paint the landscapes. She snowshoed around Whitcomb Terrace into her mid-90’s.

Becky leaves behind her children, Craig Ward and Carol Ward, stepdaughters Tania Clark and Lana Leonard, their spouses, seven grandsons, and 9 great-grandchildren. Her life will be celebrated at a family gathering in Aspen/Snowmass later this summer.

Domenica Margaret Duprey, 100, formerly of Cedar St., Northampton, MA, died May 15, 2020 at the Elaine Center in Hadley. She was born in Northampton on May 8, 1920, the daughter of the late Nicola and Frances (Capadice) Spinelli. She grew up on Market St. and went to Bridge St. School. She attended the Northampton School for Girls, Northampton Community Commercial College, and Holyoke and Greenfield Community Colleges.

In 1937 she went to work at McCallum’s Hosiery Company for four years. She was a WAC in the United States Army during WWII. Domenica was a Medical Aidman who worked in the surgical ward as a Nurse’s Assistant until discharged in 1946. In 1949 she married her husband of 48 years, Louis F. Duprey. Domenica later worked at the Northampton State Hospital until 1968. She worked as a Book Keeper for the University of Massachusetts until retiring in 1983. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting. Domenica and Louis loved to travel to Cape Cod in the summer.

She was predeceased by her husband Louis, her daughter Donna Duprey and her sisters Mary Isaacson and Ann Goodhind. Domenica leaves her son Gary Duprey of Northampton and Nicholas Duprey of Easthampton, her brother Vito Spinelli, grandchildren Spencer, Peter and Alicia, and great grandchildren Gabriel, Lucas and Madilyn. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Elaine Manor who, over these past 10 years, took such great care of “Minnie”.

The funeral and burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery will be private. Czelusniak Funeral Home is in charge.