Tag Archives: Northampton School for Girls

Mary Elizabeth Ockenden Loweth ’46

December 6, 1928 – September 27, 2018

Elizabeth died peacefully, surrounded by love, in her 90th year. Born in Massachusetts to the Rev. Albion and Kathrine Ockenden, Elizabeth was the third of five children. She graduated from Smith College in 1950 and in 1955 married the Rev. Gerald Loweth. They moved to Hilo, Hawaii in 1956, where she served as the only woman on the Charter Commission for the County of Hawaii, moving toward legal charter for statehood, and as the Founding President of the League of Women Voters in Hilo. During the eight years they lived on the Islands, they welcomed their four children. The family moved to Toronto in 1964. Elizabeth enjoyed a long and varied career in mental health, human rights, and social justice. Her last position before retirement was Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy. She was also an active volunteer, particularly with the Anglican Church, and in recognition was given the Anglican Award of Merit in 2010. This is the highest honour given to lay people who have contributed to the life and work of the church at national and international levels.

But more than career and awards, Elizabeth was devoted to her family. She survived her husband and best friend of 61 years, and will be deeply missed by their four children: Doug (Maureen Loweth), Kitty (Jim Danks), Maile (Mark Reeves) and Jennifer. Elizabeth was so proud of her eight grandchildren, who gave her so much joy: Tenney and Aidan, Bradley and Alexandra, Bridget and Connor, and Clara and Charlotte. Elizabeth is also survived by a sister, Kitty Ockenden (’49) of New York, and seven nephews and nieces, all of whom gave love and support. She was predeceased by her parents and siblings: Johanna Sencak, Edward Ockenden, and Albion Ockenden.

Heartfelt thanks to Elizabeth’s medical team, including Dr. Christine Elser, Dr. Bernard Cummings, Dr. Daniela Costantini, Dr. Martin Strauss, Dr. Bruce Horten, Elena Aviva and Chris Bell for their care. They would also like to thank the wonderful staff at Oak Ridges Retirement Residence where Elizabeth lived for the last month of her life.

Visitation will be held at Marshall Funeral Home, located at 10366 Yonge Street in Richmond Hill, on Thursday, October 4th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00. The service will be held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, located at 10030 Yonge Street in Richmond Hill, on Saturday, October 6th at 2:00.

In Elizabeth’s memory, her family would appreciate donations to the International Anglican Women’s Network, c/o the Canadian Compass Rose Society, or the Yellow Brick House (www.yellowbrickhouse.org/).

Ann Hyde Ahlquist ’51

Ann H. Ahlquist, 86, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 18, 2019 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. She was born Sept. 8, 1932, in Portland to Samuel and Elizabeth (Swan) Hyde. Ann graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School, and then Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, Mass., in 1951. From there, she entered Boston Bouve School and Tufts University, majoring in physical education. Ann taught in that field at King Junior High School in Portland for some 30 years until her retirement. Ann grew up in Cape Elizabeth and became an accomplished horse rider by age 15, earning many ribbons with her horse, On Parade. She competed in many horse shows throughout Maine, Pennsylvania, and Madison Square Garden in New York. She boarded her horses in Scarborough at a small farm owned by Leon H. Ahlquist, who shared the same love of horses, and on April 4, 1977, they were married. She had seven massive display cases in her home filled with winning ribbons in 3-gaited and saddle classes. Many more ribbons decorate the home’s woodwork and walls. She rode for The Dressage Riding Club of Cape Elizabeth, and the Pleasant Hill Riding Club. Ann and Leon were very much in love and were always with one another throughout their marriage, sharing the farm work equally in what became a land-locked Noah’s Ark. Noah had two of everything; Ann and Leon had multiples of many, both animal and fowl. Although not all at once, there were at times eight cows, two bulls, a pair of draft horses, 14 mini horses (for show), three mini goats, 17 beagles (for trials), two pair of peacocks, Cochin and bantam hens, seven types of ducks, and pheasants, countless hens, and 17 bee hives. When the livestock grew in numbers, the old barn on the back of the house was torn down, and a brand-new expanded barn was erected further back behind the house to ease the workload. They sold eggs, honey, and beeswax candles. Besides all this, they also had landscape and lawn care customers in the Prout’s Neck area for 18 years. Ann worked part time at two Pratt Abbott Dry Cleaners during this time as well. Both Ann and Leon were big Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics fans, watching many of the games. Ann belonged to the Maine Farm Bureau Association, The Maine Miniature Horse Club, The American Miniature Horse Association, and The Southern Maine Beagle Club. Ann was predeceased by her parents; and one sister, Elizabeth H. Stone. Survivors include, one sister, Jane and husband, Robert Chesebro, of Portland; nephew, Carl Ahlquist and wife, Judy, of Scarborough; nephews, Jeffrey A. Stone of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Mark A. Stone and wife, Kristen, of Franklin, Tenn.; and niece, Kathleen S. Haarbauer of Cudjoe Key, Fla.; many grandnephews and nieces also survive. Per Ann and Leon’s wishes, no services are being held at this time.

Barbara Prager Worthley ’51

Barbara Louis Worthley, of Lady Lake, FL, passed away Feb. 21, 2019.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, she grew up in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY and Amherst, MA. She attended schools in Three Rivers, QC, Canada, Stuart Hall in Staunton, VA and was a graduate of Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, MA. Her college days were spent in Briarcliff Manor, NY and UMass Amherst.

For several years she was a research assistant at Amherst College, a phlebotomist at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and a surgical nurse assistant in Wayne, NJ.

Bobbie was married for 52 years to William ( Bill ) Worthley who predeceased her in 2007.

While in Amherst she was a member of the Republican committee, the Grace Episcopal Choir, president of the Alpine Garden Club, a member of the Amherst Woman’s Club and the first woman director of the Amherst Girls Club, where under her watch the membership increased from 8 to 80 young women.

After moving to Wayne, NJ, she was president of the Wayne Elks Lodge 2181 and president of the Past Presidents.

In 1981 she gave up her medical career for Real Estate and in 1989 was awarded the coveted President’s Award for being the Top Dollar Producer in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US.  She was employed by Jones Real Estate for the last 25 years.

Bobbie and Bill also operated the Tinker’s Damn Casual Furniture store in Avalon and Stone Harbor, NJ. She had many interests including Bridge, golf, antiques, decorating and shopping.

Bobbie is survived by her sons, Brad and his wife Lee and 3 grandsons, Nick, Joe and Stephan; and Jim and his wife Donna and granddaughter, Sarah Piontkowski; and her daughter, Linn Anne Rossi and her husband Jim and grandsons Anthony and his wife Carolyn and Christopher, and 2 great grandchildren, Leo and Chase; along with several nieces and nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her sister Judith Ann Dortone.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162.

A memorial service is planned for early April 2019.

Helen Michels Feuer ’54

Helen ” Cappy” Michels Feuer passed away on the morning of January 4, 2019. Cappy was born on November 17, 1936 in the suburbs of Chicago and raised mostly in Winnetka, Illinois.

She graduated from The Northampton School for Girls and Elmira College. Six months after graduating college, she married the late Stuart Feuer in 1958. Cappy and Stuart first came to Naples in 1969, and eventually became full time residents in 1996.

Cappy was very involved with Trinity by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, as well as other charitable work in Naples. She loved Cooking, Classical Music, Traveling, Gardening, Needlepointing, Socializing and Entertaining, Reading, and Cultural Events. She also loved teaching piano and Sunday School at Trinity.

Cappy is survived by her 4 children, son and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren; Alyn and Brian (Kaitlyn), Michael and Carolyn (Michael and Alex), Polly (Saeanna), and Elise and Mary. Cappy was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Stuart Feuer.

Cappy was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother; she was an extraordinary individual and will forever be deeply missed.

Donations can be made in Cappy’s name to Trinity by-the-Cove Episcopal Church.

A service will be held on Monday, January 14, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Drive, Naples, Florida 34102.

 

Juanita de Olloqui Kenney ’42

Juanita Elena de Olloqui Kenney of Rexton, New Brunswick, passed away at the Moncton City Hospital on Nov 28, 2018 at the age of 94.

Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on March 3rd, 1924 to the late Alfonso Legorio de Olloqui and Vera Marcella Cahill. She grew up in Holyoke and attended Lovering School, Northampton School for Girls and Brown University. As a teenager she was licensed to fly Piper Cub airplanes and she developed a lifelong passion for painting. It was common to see Juanita painting into the evening hours at home or wherever her travels took her. In her later years, she often painted large format 4’x 8’ Christmas themes. Juanita always had an exceptional interest in wildlife and animals.

Juanita was a member of the Moncton City Council of Women and an early adopter of anything audio visual. She also enjoyed many outdoor activities including sailing boats, winter sports and showing horses. Juanita did not hesitate to share her skill and knowledge of painting and photography with all of her children and grandchildren and her legacy of artistic appreciation lives on in them.

Juanita was married to Dr. Francis William Kenney (MD) of Rexton, NB for 52 years . She is survived by six children : Dr. Alan Kenney (Angela) of Texas, Vera Wood ’67 (Bruce) Utah, Elena Kenney Ike-Duninowski (Karol) Richibucto Cape, Valerie Horsman (Hazen) Rexton, Dr. Mark Kenney (Rexton), Dwight Kenney (Dr. Angela Dobson) St. Margaret’s Bay, NS.

Grandchildren: Samantha Zecopoulos, Jefferey Wood, Ryan Wood, Matthew Horsman, Veronica Goodfellow, Jacob Kenney and Kyra Kenney. Great grandchildren: Kylie Wood, Luke Wood, Oscar Wood and Audrey Zecopoulos and one niece, Mrs. Donna Bross Campagna of Maryland. Juanita was predeceased by a daughter Patricia and two grandchildren Stefan Kenney and Rebecca Horsman.

Visitation will be held at Thompson’s Funeral Home, Richiboucto, on Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm, Monday 12:00 pm until time of the funeral. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 2:00 pm, Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Rexton. In addition to flowers, donations may be made to Friends of the Moncton City Hospital or to the Immaculate Conception Church in Rexton, NB. Arrangements are in care of Thompson’s Funeral Home, Richibucto (523-4252).

Elizabeth Lamoureux Gagnon ’54

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Lamoureux Gagnon passed away Monday, September 24, 2018,  surrounded by her family and her loving husband and partner of 62 years Francis J. Gagnon Jr. at Baystate Medical Center. She is predeceased by her parents, Mary and Clarence Lamaourex, a brother, Donald P. Lamoureux, and her son-in law, Michael P. Linnell ’73.

Elizabeth was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts in 1936 and attended Northampton School for Girls (Williston Northampton) in Northampton. Elizabeth worked for Pepin School for 23 years as the cafeteria supervisor. She loved working with all of the children and during her summer vacation, she worked in the family marina business in Connecticut and Florida with her husband and their three sons. She loved being on boats, traveling and spending the day on the Long Island Sound with her family.

Anyone who knew Elizabeth or came in contact with her was immediately engaged in conversation. Elizabeth had an insatiable love of life and people and cherished her friends. She loved her Irish heritage and on her 50th anniversary she and her husband Francis traveled throughout the emerald island.

Elizabeth leaves her loving husband, Francis J. Gagnon Jr., 87, of Easthampton, her four children, Brenda Linnell of Westhampton, MA, Steven and Lisa Gagnon of Los Angeles, California, James and Lorna Gagnon of Easthampton, and William Gagnon and Cesar Melo of Douglass, MA. In addition to her children, she leaves seven grandchildren, Jennifer and Joe Selfrank, Matthew and Amy Linnell, Megan and Matt Still, Joe and Alysha Linnell, James Gagnon, Chloe Gagnon and Sean Gagnon, and six great grandchildren, Audrey, Lillian, Zachery, Ethan, Ashley and Lincoln.

Elizabeth lived in Easthampton for 63 years with her loving husband Francis in their family home. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. A private memorial service will be held for the immediate family and friends at the Graham Funeral Home, 18 Adams St., Easthampton, who have honorably and proudly been entrusted with providing for Betty’s care and services.

In lieu of Flowers memorial donations may be made to the Easthampton School Department, C/O PTO, Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027.

Priscilla Parsons Finck ’43

 

Priscilla Parsons Finck, 92, died September 22, 2018 at Linda Manor Assisted Living in Leeds, MA. She was the daughter of the late Earle M. Parsons and Marguerite (Proctor) Parsons.

Born in 1926 in Northampton she was the 10th generational descendant of Cornett Joseph Parsons founder of Northampton. She attended local schools and graduated from Northampton School for Girls and Mt. Holyoke College.
Priscilla was a teacher at Leeds School after her children grew up. She is the wife of Richard W. Finck formerly of Florence. They had celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past June.

Survived by her husband Richard; sons Douglas and his wife Cherry, Roger and his wife JoAnne; daughter Marjorie and her husband John; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. There will be no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Czelusniak Funeral Home is in charge.

Harriet S. Heller ’54

Harriet Stone “Hatsy” Heller passed away at the age of 81 at the home of her sister, Mary Heller Smith, on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Elmira, NY. She was born in Elmira on October 8, 1936, the middle child of Mary Annetta Trimble and Richard Stone Heller. Harriet graduated from Northampton School for Girls in 1954, and completed her education with a BA from Elmira College in 1958. She was a longtime member of Park Church, the Junior League of Elmira, and a current Board Member and Secretary of the Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery, and Elmira College Club. Always loving sports, she worked many hours for youth tennis in Elmira. Her professional life included Director of Alumni Affairs at Elmira College, Assistant Director of Annual Giving at SUNY Brockport and Event Coordinator for E Entertainment in Hartford, CT. She is survived by her son James Richard Sophia and daughter-in-law Melanie Moran Sophia of Shaker Heights, OH; her daughter Elizabeth Stone Sophia of Marietta, GA, and predeceased by her infant son, David Heller Sophia. She leaves her grandchildren, James Trimble Sophia, Julia Stone Sophia, Michael Louis McClellan III and Sophie Caroline McClellan; her sisters and brother-in-law, Mary Annetta Trimble Heller Smith  (’52) of Elmira and Janet Whyte Heller Howell (’56) and Fred Ellwyn Howell of Amesbury, MA; along with several nieces and nephews. Those of us who loved Hatsy knew she had her first cancer operation when she was 19 years old and had 63 years, most of her lifetime, living under the menacing shadow of this illness. Despite this, Hatsy always liked to have fun, to be out and about wherever she was. Always an excellent correspondent, she kept in touch with close friends and family from all segments of her communities throughout her entire life. She was curious, energetic, generous, and sensitive to the needs of others, always did her part and was a good and thoughtful friend to many. These stellar qualities held her in good stead at the end of her life as many came to help her, to care for her, to love her through the end days.

Nancy Traill Soderberg ’40

Nancy Soderberg, whose life was characterized by her devotion to her family; her commitment to service, especially to public libraries and to the Girl Scouts; and her enthusiasm for outdoor endeavors, particularly swimming, sailing, and picnicking, died on June 23, 2018 in Camden, Maine. She was 96 and had recently moved from her Camden home to the memory care unit at Quarry Hill, where she died. Nancy Traill Soderberg was born on March 16, 1922, to Mabel White Traill and Frederick Balcolm Traill in Spencer, Massachusetts, where she grew up and graduated from David Prouty High School. After a gap year at the Northampton School for Girls, she attended Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, graduating in 1944. She worked for two years at the Harvard Medical School and then joined the American Red Cross, serving that organization on the island of Okinawa (now part of Japan), South Korea and outside of Hartford, Connecticut. In 1950 she married Carl Richard (Dick) Soderberg, Jr., with whom she had five children. Her husband’s work took the family to many places, including, chronologically, Lincoln, Massachusetts; Old Greenwich, Connecticut; Houston, Texas; New Canaan, Connecticut; Lake Forest, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Concord, Massachusetts; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. With every move, Nancy, well served by her unfailingly positive spirit and keen managerial and organizational skills, energetically established the family, connected with the community, became an active member of the local Episcopal Church, and supported the Soderberg family’s love of sailing, on oceans and lakes across the Americas. When living in Minneapolis, Nancy, always eager to learn, earned a master’s degree in children’s literature at the University of Minnesota, which informed her future involvement with libraries and bookstores (and with her grandchildren). Drawn to Maine by the opportunity for great sailing in a beautiful seaside location as well as proximity to family, they moved from Brazil to South Brooksville, Maine when Dick retired in 1988, and to Camden in 2003. In both places Nancy relished welcoming her children and their families to yet another community she called home. Her survivors include her husband of 68 years as well as their five children: Lisa Soderberg (Richard Brown) of Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Carl R. Soderberg of Simsbury, Connecticut; Leif G. Soderberg (Jill) of Lake Forest, Illinois; Inga Soderberg-King (Jeff) of Gloucester, Massachusetts; Erik T. Soderberg of Bedford, New York. Ten grandchildren and one great granddaughter also survive her. She was predeceased by her brother Frederick Balcolm Traill. The family is grateful to the cadre of loving caregivers who attended Nancy in her final years.

Susan Reeves Whalen ’60

Susan Reeves Whalen passed away Monday, August 13, 2018 at her home in Arlington, MA after a long illness. Daughter of Helen Manley Reeves and Dr. Edgar Earl Reeves, she was born May 14, 1942 at the House of Mercy in Pittsfield.

She was a graduate of the Northampton School for Girls and majored in social work at Simmons College in Boston. She nurtured a lifelong passion for caring for the disadvantaged, serving as an outspoken advocate, both professionally and personally, for the rights of children with special needs. Among the many causes and accomplishments of her life, Susan founded and directed the Conway, NH School for People with Special Needs as well as the Conway Regional Day Camp, and she was appointed to the first Board of Directors for Hospice of Berkshire County. She contributed as an editor to the Compassionate Friends Newsletter, a nonprofit organization for the bereaved, and was a recipient of the “Foster Parent of the Year” by Specialized Home Care. She volunteered at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baystate Medical Center, where she learned to care for medically compromised infants. In the course of her work and in raising the family that meant so much to her, Susan’s life touched many people, and her deep commitment to be ever mindful of the needs of others will endure as a legacy to those who knew and loved her.

Susan was the beloved wife of the late Kearons J. Whalen, III, whom she married in Pittsfield in 1973. They lovingly raised twelve children on Snow Goose Farm in Lanesborough, where she instilled in her family a love and respect for nature and the care of animals. Later in life, she was rarely seen without the companionship of her pets, especially her devoted dog Maggie. An avid reader and writer, she contributed articles to the Berkshire Eagle Sampler and was the author of a novel, Murder on Houseboat Row, inspired by her second home of Key West, where she was active in the arts and marine conservation.

She is survived by eleven children – Geoffrey (Hilary) of Wayne, PA; Eliza (Marco) and Richard, both of Holyoke, MA; Joshua (Leann) of Ballston Lake, NY; Rachel of Oakland, CA; Oliver (Ellen) of Houston, TX; Kearons (Barrie) of Arlington, MA; Reeves (Jenni) of Castle Rock, CO; Jessie of Pittsfield, MA; Ben, and Prudence, both of Arlington, MA. She was predeceased by a son, Joseph, and her sister Marsha Reeves Snyder of Pittsfield, MA. She leaves two sisters, Sally Reeves Edmonds of Cambridge, MA and Robin Reeves Colt (’57) (Sam) of Walnut Creek, CA, as well as fourteen grandchildren.