Anthony B. Miniuks
Store Owner, Salesman
ORANGE - Anthony B. Miniuks, 85, of 19 Silver St., Greenfield, and formerly of Orange, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004 in the Poet's Seat Nursing Home, Greenfield.
Born in Orange on April 17, 1918, a son of Anthony and Constance (Gailiunas) Miniuks, he grew up in Orange and graduated from Orange High School in 1936.
As a young man he enjoyed sports and was a skilled hockey player.
A veteran of World War II, he served with the United States Army from 1941 until 1943 and was honorably discharged after sustaining serious injuries in the line of duty.
He was a skilled and enthusiastic salesman all of his working life. First employed at the Orange Clothing Store several years, he later was a sales representative in New England and upper New York State for Dunham Brothers Shoes of Brattleboro, Vt. He also had been a sales representative for Ballband Shoes and the Endicott Johnson Company.
In 1963 he purchased Ward's Store in Orange which specialized in women's and children's apparel and operated the store until 1970. After moving to Greenfield in 1970, he worked at Wilson's Men's Clothing Dept. 10 years until retiring.
Remaining active in retirement, he repaired push lawnmowers, gardening tools along with numerous other items which he sold at garage sales at his home.
He enjoyed his family, fishing, hunting, hiking and cutting wood.
A member of the Blessed Sacrament Church and former member of St. Mary's Church, Orange, he had been a member of American Legion Post 172, Orange, more than 50 years and its Last Mans Club of World War II.
He leaves his wife of 43 years, Louise M. (Nolan) Miniuks; two sons, Andrew Miniuks and wife, Christa of London, England and Charles Miniuks of Lunenburg; a granddaughter, Theresa Ann Miniuks of London; a sister in law, Lucille Miniuks of Athol and a niece, Barbara Miniuks of Chelmsford.
He was predeceased by three brothers, Casimer Miniuks in 1960, Joseph Miniuks in 1981 and John Miniuks in 1996.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 23 from Witty's Funeral Home, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary's Church.
Burial will follow in South Cemetery, Orange.
There will be a calling hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday morning in the funeral home.
Anna W. Clarke
Church Member
ATHOL - Anna W. (Upham) Clarke, 94, of 821 Daniel Shays Hwy., died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004 at Quabbin Valley Healthcare on her 94th birthday.
She was born in Hyde Park, on Jan. 21, 1910, the daughter of George M. and Cora E. (Vickerson) Upham. She grew up in Waltham and had lived there more than 50 years, graduating from Waltham High School. She later moved to Barre where she lived for several years, Gilbertville for five years, and for that past six months at Quabbin Valley Healthcare. She was a member of the Emanuel Methodist Church in Waltham and enjoyed gardening, plants, reading, sewing and cooking.
Her husband of many years, Walter Ford Clarke died in 1958. She leaves a daughter, Shirley A. Chambers of Athol; a son, Robert G. Clarke of Wilmington, NC; three grandchildren; four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by five brothers; Roger A. Upham, George O. Upham, Robert Y. Upham, Gilbert M. Upham, Maurice L. Upham and a sister, Doris Upham.
Private graveside services at Glen Valley Cemetery in Barre will be held at the convenience of the family.
There are no calling hours.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Higgins - O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol.
Frances I. (Chew) Evans, 81
OXFORD - Frances I. (Chew) Evans, 81, of Old Dudley Rd., died Wednesday, August 4, 2004, in St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center, after a short illness. She was predeceased by her husband, Albert E. Evans Jr. of Oxford, who died in 1970. She is survived by her son, Bruce E. Evans and his wife DeeAnn of Brookfield; three daughters, Lynn K. wife of Paul Hast of Oxford, Dale A. wife of Fred Cormier of Spencer, and Ivy L. wife of Cliff Jefferson of Leicester; a brother, Edward H. Chew of Shrewsbury; a sister, Alice M. Jones of Shrewsbury; ten grandchildren, nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by a daughter, Cathy J. Evans, who died in 1973, and a sister, Edna Aldren of Worcester. She was born in North Providence, RI, the daughter of the late Savile and Alice V. (Longthorpe) Chew, and has lived in Oxford since 1961. She graduated from Commerce High School in Worcester in 1941.
Mrs. Evans worked as a secretary in the purchasing department at the former Rexnord Corp. of Auburn for 10 years, retiring in 1984. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in Oxford, was a member of the women’s fellowship, and served on the Memorial Fund Gifts Committee. Mrs. Evans was a recent member of the Red Hats Society. Her interests included traveling, baking, quilting, and cross stitch, and she especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 7, 2004, in the First Congregational Church, 355 Main St., Oxford. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours will be Friday, August 6, 2004, from 6 - 9 p.m., in Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund, c/o First Congregational Church, 355 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540.
Eileen C. Buckley
Nurse's Aide
ATHOL - Eileen C. (Deere) Buckley, 95 of 1820 Main St., died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004 in the Athol Memorial Hospital.
She was born in Lake Orion, MI, on Sept. 12, 1908, the daughter of the late Abraham H. and the late Clara M. (Cribbins) Deere. She grew up in Lake Orion and was educated there.
She was a resident of Athol for 70 years. Mrs. Buckley was a homemaker; she worked at the L.S. Starrett Company and as a nurse's aide for Dr. O'Hara for several years.
She joined the Themis Chapter #30 Order of the Eastern Star on May 4, 1945 and was Worthy Matron from 1954 to 1974. She served the Grand Chapter as Deputy Grand Matron in 1955 and in 1975 Grand Esther Order of the Eastern Star. She was affiliated with Athena Chapter #25 in Orange. She was a member of the Ahlem Temple #84, Daughters of the Nile, Springfield, and was Worthy High Priestess in 1956.
Mrs. Buckley was a member of the Athol Congregational Church for over 50 years, and served as deaconess for several years.
She leaves a son, Paul F. Buckley of Gardner; four granddaughters, Kim Cavanna of VT; Michelle Troiano of Gardner; Karen Wetherby of Amherst; Janet Richardson of Athol; a grandson, Paul Buckley, Jr. of Orange; 11 great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. Her husband, Francis A. Buckley who died in 1991 and her daughter, Yvonne Buckley who died in 1944 predeceased her.
Friends may call Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 am to 11 a.m. at Fiske Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Fiske Funeral Home with Rev. Harold V. Lloyd, Jr. Pastor of the Athol Congregational Church officiating.
Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be sent to Athol Congregational Church - Memory Book 1125 Chestnut St., Athol, MA 01331.
Joy Lyford
Active In Church
PETERSHAM - Joy (Parsons) Lyford, 91, of 11 Liberty Lane, a resident of Sturbridge since 1976, and former resident of Petersham, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2004 at the Brownway Residence in Richmond, Vt., after a long illness.
Her husband of 40 years, Walter H. Lyford Jr., died in 1979.
She leaves five children and their spouses: Lois and Clark Adams of Jericho, Vt., Forest and Diane Lyford of Northborough, Robert and Teresa Lyford of Concord, N.H., Stantial and Penny Lyford of Portsmouth, NH, and Janet and Keith Polk of Nottingham, NH; nine grandchildren and five great - grandchildren. She also leaves two brothers, Gail F. Parsons, of Detroit, MI, and Forest L. Parsons Jr., of Wakefield, RI. A third brother, Leroy Parsons, died in 1962.
She was born in Berlin, WI, in 1912, to Dr. Forest L. and Abigail (Forward) Parsons. Before moving to Sturbridge, she had lived in Petersham, Fremont, NH, Glendale, MD, and Durand, MI. She had a bachelor's degree in sociology from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI, and a master's degree in religious education from Andover - Newton Theological Seminary.
Her life centered on her family and church. Music also was important in her life. She was a member of the Federated Church of Sturbridge where she was a deaconess and served on several committees. Other church activities during her lifetime included Sunday school teacher, Christian education director, youth director, choir director, and missions chairman at the American Baptist Churches in Athol, Brentwood, NH, and Hyattsville, MD. She was the former president of the Pioneer Valley Baptist Missionary Society and was an active PTA member in Petersham, and earlier in Fremont, NH.
For several years she drove Sturbridge - area cancer patients to hospitals for treatments.
She corresponded regularly with friends and relatives from around the world.
A memorial service will be held at the Federated Church of Sturbridge, Route 131 and Maple Street, on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Baptist Women's Ministries, attn. Beverly Adams, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482 - 0851.
Sister Rolande St.Jean
Was Educator
PETERSHAM - Sister Rolande St.Jean (Sr. Eustelle - de - l'Eucharistie), 88, of the Sisters of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at UMass Medical Center, Worcester, after a brief illness. She professed 65 years of religious life.
Born in Lowell, she was the daughter of William and Leda (Lajoie) St.Jean.
Sister St.Jean's teaching career includes experience on the primary, secondary and college levels in Lowell, Southbridge and Salem, as well as in both the Bilingual Course and the College de Notre Dame de l'Assomption in Nicolet, P.Q.
In the field of administration, Sister was principal of St. George School in Chicopee Falls and General Supervisor on the elementary and secondary levels of the schools of the Worcester Diocese for 11 years. During this time she served on the planning committee for Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I, poverty programs for Worcester public and non - public school children and on the Educational and Cultural Task Force of the Worcester Model Cities. She was also a member of the Diocesan School Board, the Senate of Religious and the Liturgical Commission.
Within her congregation, Sister Rolande served as Provincial Councilor, Assistant Provincial Superior, and the Director of Education. She translated into English the "Constitutions and Statutes" of the Sisters of the Assumption.
Sr. St.Jean is survived by her nephew, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Juan, M.D. of Bronxville, N.Y.; several grand - nieces and nephews, as well as cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hemenway of Shrewsbury. She is predeceased by her religious sister, Bertha St.Jean, and her other siblings.
Calling hours at Assumption Residence are from 2 to 7 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 22. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m., in the Chapel of Assumption Residence. Burial will be in the East Street Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Assumption Retirement Fund, 211 N. Main St., P.O. Box 1218, Petersham, MA 01366.
J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home of Athol is directing the arrangements.
