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Ester D. Farrington
Former Athol Resident
PEABODY - Esther C. (Twarogowski) Farrington, 89, formerly of Athol, died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 in the Rosewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Peabody.
She was born on Dec. 25, 1912 in Salem, the daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Smerczynski) Twarogowski. She was educated in Salem and graduated from Salem High School. She resided in Peabody; Utica, New York City, she grew up in New Canaan, Conn. Her father, Webb William Weeks, was an eye surgeon and professor at Columbia Presbyterian, and her mother, Ruth Thayer Weeks, was the daughter of Harry Bates Thayer, president of Western Union Telegraph Company and AT&T Corp.
From early on, she proved herself a rebel against the life of privilege into which she was born. Her grandfather Thayer referred to his granddaughter as "my Bolshevik" and said, after one of her remarks at Sunday dinner, that "paint is stale by comparison" to her.
What she treasured from her background was the outdoor life, especially time spent riding horses, in particular her beloved "Chimney Corners." She rode competitively and also drew horses constantly, to the occasional consternation of her school teachers.
She attended The Low and Heywood boarding school, and would fondly recall to her children the kitchen raids and other shenanigans she got into with the other girls. Her classmates voted her "Most Temperamental."
After Low and Heywood, she started at Skidmore College. She left after a year to pursue a nursing degree at Norwalk General Hospital because she hoped to graduate in time to serve in World War II. She missed the war - graduating on VJ Day - but it was while she was caring for returning soldiers that she met her future husband, Warren E. Preece, who was in the Army.
Up to then, her mother had mostly battled her choice of boyfriends - saying Deborah had a case of "reverse snobbery" - but she warmly welcomed Warren, even though he came from a middle - class background in Norwalk. She appreciated the fact that Preece had graduated from Dartmouth College and "he didn't say 'dese and dose,'" Mrs. Preece's brother, John, recalls.
They married in 1947. Mr. Preece served as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour and as press secretary to Senator Thomas Dodd. The Preeces later left New Canaan and moved to Chicago, where Mr. Preece taught at the University of Chicago. Recruited to work at the Encyclopaedia Britannica, he eventually became the Editor - in - chief. His work took the family to The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara, Massachusetts to an eighteenth century coaching inn in North Orange. From then on, the Preeces were rarely apart except for a spiritual retreat Mrs. Preece took to the island of Iona, in Scotland.
"We just preferred to be together," Mr. Preece says. They had lived in so many places and through so much, he said, that they had learned to rely on each other.
They moved to Key West, Fla., in 1995. Mrs. Preece became active at St. Paul's Episcopal Church where she served on the Altar Guild and as a member of the Daughters of the King. She became a member of Integrity, an organization supporting gay and lesbian participation in the Episcopal Church. She also volunteered at Key West's Hospitality House and a local soup kitchen.
The Preeces remained in Key West until April, when Mrs. Preece was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After that, until the end, Mr. Preece stayed by her side.
In addition to her husband, her three children, and her brother, Mrs. Preece is survived by her five grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church, 15 Park Ave., Athol. A reception will follow immediately, at the church.
Donations may be made to the Memorial Fund at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 128 Chester Pike, Norwood, PA, 19074.
The Mc Ilvaine Funeral Home, 3711 Midvale Ave., Philadelphia, Penn. is handling arrangements.
John S. Butler
Real Estate Agent
ATHOL - John S. Butler, 38, of 521 Shawmut Ave., Boston, formerly of Athol, died on Monday, Nov. 25, 2002, in the Boston Medical Center after being stricken ill.
He was born in Athol on Sept. 22, 1964, the son of Joseph A. and Claire J. (Anderson) Butler.
He grew up in Athol and graduated from Athol High School in 1982. He graduated from the University of Florida, Bernadette Litchfield of Athol, Teresa Gallagher of Athol; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, from the Fiske Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Burial will private.
Calling hours will be held Friday, Nov. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Camp Wiyaka c/o Athol YMCA 545 Main St., Athol, MA 01331.
Hall Services
ORANGE - Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002 in Witty's Funeral Home for Wilfred F. Hall, 82, formerly of Burrill Avenue, who died on Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 in the Leo P. LaChance Center, Gardner. The Rev. Andrea Hoslett of the Bethany Lutheran Church officiated.
Laurie Dornig read from the Old Testament and Dick Hall sang a solo, "The Last Mile of the Way." Kristina Peterson was the organist.
Private interment was in the Forest Hill Cemetery, Fitchburg. The pallbearers were Bryan Hall, Edward Dornig, Paul Crocker, Sandra Hall, Hilary Hall, and William Ruby.
Phyllis F. Bariloni
Homemaker, Collector
ATHOL - Phyllis F. (Clopp) Bariloni, 81, of 821 Daniel Shays Hwy. (formerly of Pleasant Street, Orange), died on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare.
She was born in Brownsville, Oklahoma, lived in California and for Lee Stangvilla in Athol for several years. She enjoyed doing crafts, tole painting and collecting antiques.
Her husband of 43 years, Dominic J. Bariloni Sr., died in 1988. She leaves three sons, Dominic J. Bariloni Jr. of Freemont, Calif., five grandchildren, Justin Rich, Titan Bariloni, Lindsay Bariloni, Alyson Bariloni - Smith and Ciera Bariloni; two great grandchildren, Trevor Rich and Camren Bariloni. Two brothers, Glenn and Elmer Clopp, predeceased her.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 at 11 a.m. in Higgins - O'Connor Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ralph E. Brown, former associate pastor of the Athol - Orange Baptist Church, officiating.
There will be a calling hour from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Gardner Visiting Nursing Association, Hospice Program, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440.
