Shelburne Falls & West County Independent

06/02/2026

Paul Delman Atherton

A celebration of life will be held for Paul Atherton on Sunday, June 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Mary Lyon Church in Buckland.

Paul was 84 when he passed away on Feb. 26 in Beverly Hills, FL.
He was born July 22, 1941 in Northampton and raised in Buckland by his parents, Robert Atherton and Pauline {Packard} Atherton.

Paul attended Arms Academy and was drafted to the U.S. Army. Paul worked for one employer, AGWAY, for over 30 years before retiring from Greenfield Farmers Exchange in 1989 as store manager.

Paul moved to Florida upon retirement; there he worked on Citrus Hills Golf Course for many years.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Susan Atherton.

He is survived by his wife, Corrine G. Atherton; his brother, Lewis Atherton; and sister, Shirley Davis. Paul has two sons, Michael P. Atherton and Raymond R. Atherton; a stepson, Edward Connery (Yvonne); two granddaughters, Felicia Atherton and Megan Milewski (Atherton); seven great grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren; two nephews, Luther Davis, Ethan Davis; and one niece, Katherine Whipple.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hernando United Methodist Church in Hernando, FL.

06/02/2026

Jill Selleck
SHELBURNE FALLS – Beloved wife and mother, Jill Elaine Selleck, of Shelburne Falls, died unexpectedly on May 22, 2026, peacefully and surrounded by her family.

She was born Dec. 11, 1951 on a dairy farm in Mountain Lake, Pennsylvania.

Jill graduated from Penn State University and Elmira (NY) College.

She was an award-winning florist and business woman in Towanda, PA. She was active in the Towanda Area Chamber of Commerce Revitalization Committee and played a key role in the restoration of an 1886 opera house, now the Keystone Theater.

Later moving to New Jersey, she worked in social services and taught middle school math. Of all the places she lived, she left the biggest part of her heart in Maplewood, NJ.

Jill was an activist for LGBTQ rights and served on the board of directors for Family Equality. She was instrumental in creating the first “Family Week” in Provincetown, MA, now in it’s 32nd year, and the largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ families in the world. Jill and her family were profiled on NBC Nightly News and in the Newark (NJ) Star Ledger.

Jill loved sports — watching and playing them. She was a letter athlete in college and loved to watch the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Boston Celtics.

She was a skilled potter and enjoyed creating raku. She spent many happy hours in her gardens, where there was always something new and different to plant and nurture. She was an excellent cook who loved feeding her family and friends. She treasured dogs throughout her life.

She was predeceased by her mother, Alma Norton Selleck, and her father, Robert Aaron Selleck, Sr.

Survivors include her wife, Victoria Selleck; her sons, Richard (Sarah O’Brien), and Clay; her siblings, Jean Seeley (Dennis), Robert Selleck, Jr. (Edith), and Jeff Selleck (Jenelle); many nieces and nephews, including Emily Flemming (Chelsea Pro) and Cleo Flemming (Arlee Hiskey); and a large chosen family ,including James Hohman & Paul Daher, Kathy McEnerney & Valerie Onorata, Stephen Mershon & Ken Cobb, Steve Nasuti & Paul Squires, and Elizabeth & Jim Sokoloski.

Donations in Jill’s memory may be made to Rowe Camp and Conference Center (rowecenter.org) and the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls (bridgeofflowersmass.org).

There will be a memorial service later this summer.

05/27/2026

Dianne R. Field

ASHFIELD – Dianne Ruth Dickinson Field, 84, passed away at home with her devoted family by her side, on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

She was born Feb. 15, 1942 to Cecil Merton (d.2004) and Marion Jane (Hibbard) Dickinson (d.1953). Dianne was educated in Whately schools and graduated from Frontier Regional High School in 1959,and Franklin County Public Hospital School of Nursing in 1962.

She worked at Green Meadows Nursing Home, Farren Memorial Hospital, and Baystate Franklin Medical Center, retiring in 2004.

Dianne married Douglas Merril Field of Ashfield, in 1964. Dianne is survived by her daughters; Kristine Herdman, Suellen (Dennis) Bellows and Deborah Field; four granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; her sister, Jean Olanyk; and brothers, Richard, David Dickinson, and Tony Contakos.

She was predeceased by her brother, Bill, and brother-in-law, Tom Olanyk.

Dianne was a member of the Junior Ladies Circle and Ladies Circle. She led and assisted with leading the Ashfield Girl Scout groups when her daughters and granddaughters were interested.

She co-directed Ashfield Ambulance from 1983 to 1989 with her husband, Doug, later serving in the Ashfield Firefighters Auxiliary.

She served with the Hilltown Churches Food Pantry before COVID.

Dianne was an avid knitter and knit many hats and mittens for Sanderson Academy and New Haven (CT) Veterans Hospital as well as knit socks, sweaters and lap blankets for family and friends. She loved to read and could often be seen with a book in her hands.

Visiting hours will be Thursday, May 28 from 4-6 p.m. at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, Shelburne Falls. All other services will be private.

05/27/2026

Fix-It Day June 13

West County Fix-It Day will take place on Saturday, June 13 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Colrain Central Elementary School.

Volunteer fixers will help mend small appliances, bikes, lamps, clothing, furniture, jewelry, sweaters, tools, and more. Kids can learn hands-on skills with Mr. Mike and there will be a free table.

Repairs and consultations are free; donations to Griswold Memorial Library are welcome.

05/27/2026

Carol Elizabeth Cone

October 20, 1941 – April 13, 2026

SHELBURNE FALLS — Carol Cone was born on Oct. 20, 1941 in Springfield, MA. She was the beloved daughter of Marjorie and Irwin Cone, niece of Miriam Pepperill, and sister of John I. Cone.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Walton Ford Chapman.

Carol was known for her endless enthusiasms, her talent for friendship, her sense of humor, and her ability to make anything grow. She had a flair for fashion, which aimed at delight.

In her 70s she set a trend by ringleting her hair with streaks of fuchsia and aqua. Friends painted portraits of her and a striking painting of her from the 1980s, with spiky, cropped hair among tropical flora and fauna, hung in the stairway of her Victorian house on Main Street.

Carol read and wrote poetry, hosted poetry workshops and reading groups, worked in Arm Library, and read the work of others with sharpness and generosity.

Wherever she lived, luxurious ferns, begonias, succulents and herbs seemed to emerge magically from her green thumbs.

Carol got her undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke and her MA in psychology and counseling at Antioch New England Graduate School.

She was a social worker who served victims of domestic abuse. She had a heart for women who had been in difficult circumstances and was always ready to listen or to connect someone in need with resources.

Carol loved Shelburne Falls and helped to shape its distinctive character. She and Walt lived on Main Street throughout the 1980s and '90s and, for many, they were as synonymous with the town’s character as McCusker’s Market, the Foxtown Diner, or the Bridge of Flowers.

Carol embodied a particular breed of New England rebel in whom a countercultural spirit met a fierce work ethic, a no-nonsense attitude, and a zeal for the zany.

She and Walt met at a commune in Heath, a rural experience that they’d keep alive at their farm in Buckland, Hog Hollow, where they lovingly restored the farmhouse that had once been the 18th-century residence of Mary Lyon, a pioneer of women’s education who was also one of Carol’s ancestors. There Carol and Walt tended an impressive organic farm, cut their own firewood, and rode his-and-hers John Deere tractors.

Carol made new friends until the end and she was always inspiring gatherings with new ideas. She loved to get together to play Rummikub and drink quarantinis during the pandemic, and to find spicy twists to put on a Mojito or a Cosmopolitan. She was easy to buy gifts for because she liked collecting things; for years it was flamingos, then pigs in honor of Hog Hollow.

Carol was a beloved aunt to Danielle Chapman and Christian Wiman, great-aunt to Eliza and Fiona, sister-in-law to Gayle Chapman Harmes, and cousin to Clare Chapman and Rhea Banker.

She also loved and understood animals with an uncanny empathy and was the devoted mom of several inimitable cats, including Maley, and Rosemary. In later years, she and Walt adopted dogs, Moses, and then Maggie Mae, trusted and beloved companions to them both.

While illness circumscribed the last years of Carol’s life and she lost touch with many friends, she touched the lives of many in Shelburne Falls and beyond and will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life for both Carol and Walt will be announced in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Mary Lyon Foundation.

05/21/2026

05/15/2026

Nancy A. George

GREENFIELD – Nancy “Nana” A. George, 91, of Harrison Ave., passed away May 8, 2026 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.

She was born in Colrain on Jan. 6, 1935, the daughter of William and Celia (Perrault) Tetreault. Nancy attended and graduated from Arms Academy.

Nancy was an assistant manager at Millers Falls Credit Union, retiring in 1997.

She took great pride in raising her three children, Gary George (Cathy), Linda Momaney (Mike), and Jeffrey George (Janice) and her grandchildren, Katelyn Mankowski (Dylan), Jordan Momaney (Mickey), Evan Momaney, and Adyson George — all whom were the light of her life. Nancy also thoroughly enjoyed time with and loved very much her great-grandchildren, Maddix, Madeline, Maura, Weston, and Maverick.

Besides her parents, Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Raymond K. George; her sister, Eleanor; her brother, Gerald; her niece, Gayla, and many family members and friends in her 91 years.

Funeral services will be were held Friday, May 15 at Kostanski Funeral Home, Greenfield. Burial followed at Arms Cemetery in Shelburne Falls.

Family was everything to Nancy. She hoped and prayed everyday that everyone take a moment to spend time with their loved ones.

May God bless you and keep you safe, Nana. You will be missed.

To leave a condolence message, kostanskifuneralhome.com.

05/15/2026

Virginia Peck
SHELBURNE — Virginia (Howe) “Ginny” Peck, 87, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026.

She was born in Greenfield on March 12, 1939, the daughter of Orrin and Hazel (Stevens) Howe. She grew up in Gill and graduated from Turners Falls High School and later from Greenfield Community College.

She served as the treasurer for the town of Shelburne for many years. She later served as treasurer for the Franklin County Technical School, a position she truly enjoyed.

She also assisted with the Peck family farm, known as Valley View Orchards ,where she worked in many capacities including as an orchard manager for Jamaican laborers, in the packing house, and as bookkeeper/ executive assistant.

She was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church of Shelburne and Shelburne Grange #68, serving on various committees for both.

She was a very loving wife and mother and took pride in her family.

At home she enjoyed knitting, reading, gardening, and taught sewing for 4H.

She traveled frequently with her husband, Marvin, and also with their daughter, Deborah’s, family. Sadly, Marvin unexpectedly predeceased Ginny on Sept. 5, 2012.

She found happiness again with her second husband, James Merriott, and they enjoyed 10 years together.

Survivors include her husband, James Merriott; daughter Kathleen Pease and her partner Armand Valois of W. Brookfield, MA; daughter Deborah Shelmidine and husband Jim of Norwood, NY; son David Peck and wife Kathleen of New York City; brothers Robert Howe and partner Linda and Richard Howe and wife Jackie; grandchildren Eric Meissner, Samantha and husband Chris Pimentel, Nicholas Shelmidine, Jason Shelmidine and Le Shelmidine; great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Josephine, Dominik, Caia and Gideon; and several extended family members as well as her beloved cat, Danny.

In addition to her husband, Marvin, Ginny was predeceased by a son, Charles Marvin, and brother, Steven Howe.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 16 at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Shelburne. Burial services will follow in Skinner (East Shelburne) Cemetery with a reception following at the Fellowship Hall. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to United Leukodystrophy Foundation (https://ulf.org/tribute-giving/) in her name.

05/09/2026

05/06/2026

Annmarie Waldsmith

COLRAIN - Annmarie Waldsmith of Colrain left all who knew and loved her on May 2, 2026 due to a sudden and unexpected catastrophic medical event. She was 42 years old.

We will miss her energetic personality, her boundless creativity, her wicked sense of humor, unique problem solving, her very quick and forthright wit, and her overflowing love for everyone she cared about, humans and animals alike.

Annmarie spent her first years in Burlington, MA and Ashby, MA. She moved with her family to Sudbury, MA during elementary school, and graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in 2002. There she left her mark on the L-S student radio station and the drama productions she acted in or served as support staff for. After graduation, Annmarie joined City Year Boston working with inner city children and on city park rehabilitations, mainly in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood.

After completing her City Year commitment, Annmarie spent the next several years as a nanny, helping raise Ava and Tierney. A chance encounter while riverside fishing with a friend led to her marketing for Pearls Premium Grass Seed. She traveled up and down the north and central Atlantic states pitching the product and holding seeding workshops. Raised on a hobby farm, this job reinforced her love of growing things and led to the realization she could make a career stemming from that love.

Annmarie remained in the "plant" business the rest of her life. She spent several years at Mahoney's Garden Center/Brighton. There she worked her way up to greenhouse Mmanager, returning for many years during Christmas tree season after moving to western MA.

While living in Brighton, she honed her skills as a pool player, a game she enjoyed playing with her Dad. Partly due to her skill, her team made the APA Amateur Team Championship in Las Vegas twice — once when she won the final qualifying match at eight months pregnant during the lunch break of her birthing class.

Annmarie moved to Colrain with Bo when he was six months old, living with her mother until her death.

She worked on the gardening crew for Snow and Sons for several years. Wanting to be more involved in garden planning and installations, she hired on with Green Mountain Gardening in Vermont for a couple of seasons before starting her own boutique gardening business, Garden Gnome, LLC, two years ago.

She was the beloved mother of William "Bo" Cahill and is also survived by her mother, Ingeborg "Bing" Waldsmith and her brothers, Brendan Waldsmith (Giselle) and William "Jake" Waldsmith, III (Kate Durand).

Her father, William "Bill" Waldsmith, Jr., predeceased her in 2013.

Other special people in her life included James Cahill, Uncle Roy Thomassen, her cousin besties Eleanor and Aaron Lowry, and her new love, Scott Turner. Along with her immediate family, several aunts and uncles, numerous extended family members, and a whole lot of friends will miss her 'til the end of their days.

If you knew Annmarie and would like to celebrate her life, please join us for a casual gathering by the river on Saturday, June 20 at The Flat, 15 Franklin Hill Road, Colrain, MA beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The most appreciated expression of condolence would be an offering of your favorite, non-invasive perennial plant or a small-at-maturity flowering shrub to include in a memorial garden.

Monetary donations in Annmarie's memory may be made to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 11 French Drive, P.O. Box 598, Boylston, MA 01505-0598. Checks to the Garden should be made out to the Worcester Horticultural Society.

The family extends its grateful thanks to Johnson Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls for their compassionate and professional handling of final arrangements.