ARLEVE E. (BUSKEY) JONES
May 17, 1932 ~ June 17, 2020 (Age 88)

Arlene Buskey Jones has left for the next chapter of her life on June 17th.

She was born in Winchendon on May 17, 1932 to Arthur and Martha Liimatainen Buskey and lived there for a few years until they moved to Athol. Arlene graduated from Athol High School with honors in the class of 1950.

While in school, she worked in the office at Tyler Sash and Blinds. Following graduation, she moved to Keene, NH where she worked in the office of the Miniature Precision Bearing Co.

In 1951, she married Russell Jones and lived in Orange, MA for 23 years where they raised 3 children. During this time, she worked in the office at Eastern Furniture.

In 1974, they bought one of the oldest houses in New Salem, MA and restored it and lived in New Salem for many years before moving to New Mexico. Arlene joined the Central Congregational Church in New Salem and worked on some of the committees there.

While in New Salem, Arlene took up painting and joined the Deerfield Valley Art Association and showed her works in oil and watercolor in several art shows. About this time she became interested in genealogy and spent 40 years tracing ancestry. By doing this, she located her lost cousins in Finland and for their 25th anniversary Russell and she went there. Two more trips followed and some cousins visited them in New Salem.

Both Arlene and Russell were instrumental in organizing the Athol Flotilla of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and were active in teaching safe boating classes in Western Massachusetts. They became enthusiastic cruisers and spent many weeks along the New England Coast, on lakes and on the Rideau and Trent Severn Canals system in Canada. During this time they also, along with friends, cruised the Llangollen Canal in England and Wales.

Following their days of boating, they enjoyed traveling in their RV, crossing the country many times.

In 1991, they moved to Deming, New Mexico where they enjoyed their love of crafts. Arlene took up lapidary, silversmithing, as well as ceramics and won ribbons with ceramic pieces at the annual show in Albuquerque.

Alongwith many new friends, they enjoyed old time fiddle music and joined the Old Time Fiddle Music Association and always attended the weekend contests held in T or C.

With health issues on the horizon, they moved back to Massachusetts and settled in Chicopee. Russell spent time in a nursing home and after celebrating their 68th anniversary, he passed away in June 2019.

Survivors include a son, Corey and his wife Heidi, who live in Vermont. Also a son, Steven and his wife Alison, who live in Colorado. A daughter, Sally, who lives in Chicopee, and two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also a brother-in-law, Dick Jones and his wife Fran, who live in Ohio.

There are no calling hours.

Services and interment at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, MA will be private.

Witty's Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, MA is assisting the family.

You may offer your sympathy online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

JEANNETTE M. FRENCH
April 10, 1920 ~ June 22, 2020 (Age 100)

E. TEMPLETON - Jeannette M. (Meunier) French, 100 of 182 South Main Street, E. Templeton, died Monday, June 22, 2020 at home.

She was born in Hardwick, MA, on April 10, 1920, the daughter of the late Noe and the late Bernadette (Boulais) Meunier.

She attended Gardner schools and resided in Winchendon for 46 years. She worked in upholstery for furniture manufacturers and was a resident of Templeton since 1997. She was a former communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Gardner. Jeannette enjoyed growing and maintaining her flower beds, picking from her blueberry bushes, and sharing the bounty with others. She also loved watching ‘The Price is Right’ as well as spending time with her family.

She leaves four daughters: Janice Bulawan of Hawaii, Brenda Rushford and her husband Keith of Winchendon, Pamela Morais of Winchendon; and Gail Grennell and her husband David of E. Templeton, one son, David Begor of Concord, VT; one sister, Claire Albee of Gardner; 11 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Stanley C. Begor; by her second husband, John C. French; by six brothers, George Meunier, Rheo Meunier, Roger Meunier, Romeo Meunier, Andrew Meunier, and Raymond Meunier.

A private graveside service will be held in St. Joseph Cemetery. There are no calling hours.

To send an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com.

Mack Family Funeral Home 105 Central St., Gardner is directing arrangements.

JAMES A. LEMMER
March 6, 1972 ~ June 18, 2020 (Age 48)

WINCHENDON - James A. Lemmer, 48, of 27 Old County Road, died peacefully Thursday, June 18, 2020 in UMASS Memorial Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester.

He was born in Winchendon on March 6, 1972, son of Robert A. Lemmer of Winchendon and the late B. Ruth (O’Malley) Van Zandt. James had attended Montachusett Regional Vocational High School.

James worked as the custodian of The United Parish Church in Winchendon. At one time he owned his own construction business and had worked for Leslies Pool Supply. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family.

He leaves his wife of 23 years, Heidi A. (Swaney) Lemmer; three children, KasSandra Fales of Indiana, James A. “J.J.” Lemmer of Winchendon and Joshua A. Lemmer of Winchendon; his father, Robert A. Lemmer and his wife Pat of Winchendon; three grandchildren, Cody, Alexandria and Hannah; his siblings, Cheryl deOliveira of Fitchburg, Bonnie Batchelder of Winchendon, Christy Maillet of TN, Marc Lemmer of TX, Steven Lemmer of TX, Matthew Lemmer of OH and Jennie LeBlanc of Winchendon; his step siblings, the late Adam Morris, Tisha Conlon of Barre, MA and Shawn Morris of Jaffrey, NH and many nieces and nephews. A brother, Robert A. Lemmer Jr., preceded him in death.

A Celebration of Life for James will be held at a future date.

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon is directing arrangements.

MARIE CAMPBELL HARDY
October 16, 1926 ~ June 1, 2020 (Age 93)

Marie Campbell Hardy passed away on June 1, 2020 with her daughter and granddaughter by her side in Long Beach WA where she had resided for the last 12 years.

Marie was born in Troy New Hampshire to Artemus and Agnes Campbell on October 17, 1926. She grew up in Winchendon, MA and later moved to San Diego, CA.

Marie has four children and was best known for her love of family, teapots and her famous brownies.

She is survived by her brother Leroy Campbell, her son Charles Hardy and daughter Cathy Tenney, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and two great great granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Charles Hardy, her second husband, Harold Hoffman and her daughters Cheryl Hardy Gravette and Candace Hardy.

Her ashes will be laid to rest in San Diego Ca with her husband Charles Hardy and Daughter Candy. The remaining ashes will be spread with her Daughter Cheryl in Long Beach WA.

ELIZABETH T. "BETTY" OWEN
May 13, 1929 ~ June 18, 2020 (Age 91)

WINCHENDON – Elizabeth T. “Betty” Owen, 91, of 207 Pearl Street, died peacefully at home Thursday, June 18, 2020 with her family at her side.

One of eleven children, she was born in Bath, ME on May 13, 1929, the daughter of the late William A. and Eleanor Theresa (Foster) Hill Sr. Betty lived in Bath for most of her life until moving to Winchendon three years ago.

Betty worked in shoe sales for many years, first working for Endicott Johnson and later Lamey-Wellahan Shoe Store in Maine. She loved to crochet, play scrabble, cards and games.

Her husband, Maurice H. Owen, died in 1990. She leaves her children, Margaret E. Lattrell and her husband Harry of Winchendon, with whom she lived, Maureen P. Owen and Michelle Parkinson of Old Orchard Beach, ME and Ruth E. Bendlak and her husband William of Bowdoin, ME; a sister, Alma Hill of CA.; five grandchildren, several great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by a son, Richard P. Owen and a stepdaughter, Barbara E. Owen Sawyer.

Funeral services and burial in Maine will be private.

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon is directing arrangements.

PETER CARLETON SHUMWAY
April 22, 1939 ~ June 20, 2020 (Age 81)

Peter Carleton Shumway was born on April 22, 1939, in Buffalo, NY, to Warren Davis Shumway and Marion Mcllroy Shumway. He died at his home in Santa Fe on June 20, 2020, from complications due to Parkinson's disease.

Peter attended East Aurora High School and Vermont Academy, and he received a BA from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. Peter received his MA from Smith College in Northampton, MA, where he met his wife, the love of his life, Elizabeth Shartel Jopling. They were married in her parents' home in Oklahoma City in 1970 and were ecstatically, happily married for almost 50 years.

Peter taught theater and speech curses on the secondary and university levels at The Winchendon School, Smith College, Holyoke Community College, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Rose State College, and the University of Oklahoma. He was the technical director for the Louis Tupler Dance Company of Washington, D.C. In 1978, Elizabeth (Beth) and other women in Oklahoma City founded Prairie Dance Theatre, which Peter joined as a technical director, narrator, and co-creator of original children's shows. Peter toured with the company for over 20 years in 10 states, including New Mexico. For Prairie Dance Theatre, he designed and ran performances, children's shows based on American Indian stories and teaching residencies. Peter took the company to Cambridge, MA, and to the Houston International Festival twice, as well as performing for three American Indian Nations (Cherokee, Lakota, and Navajo).

He was also an accomplished abstract painter, and his home with Beth is filled with his colorful and whimsical works as well as works by many other contemporary and American Indian artists.

Peter was a life-long practitioner of the internal martial arts, particularly T'ai Chi. He helped to teach many students in Oklahoma City. He also shared his meditation practices and his spirituality with others. While at college in Middlebury, Peter was head of the Mountain Club and one of the keepers of the Long Trail. Peter found that on regular basis, he had to corral and return the terrier dogs of the famous poet, Robert Frost.

Peter was known for his dry humor and wit, as well as his creative mind. Following his thoughts was a mental exercise for his friends. He was a natural storyteller and perfect narrator for the children's shows. A friend once said that sometimes you had to take Peter not with a grain of salt but with a box of salt. His humor and his incisive, inquiring mind will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Beth of Santa Fe; his sister, Julia Elizabeth Frishett and her husband, John Carroll Frishett of Boise, Idaho; and their children, James Frishett, his wife, Tina and son, Ben, also of Boise; and Sharon Frishett Maleze, her husband, Patrice of Washington, D.C. He is also survived by his dear emotional support dog, Max and ornery cats, Tux and Tai. Beth also thanks Egis Complete Care for Peter's wonderful caregivers, most recently Jim, Francisco, Raquel, Janet, Peter, Elvia, and many other wonderful caregivers throughout the years.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions, funeral arrangements will be private. In the future, a memorial to Peter's life will be in production. If desired, donations in Peter's name may be made to Prairie Dance Theatre (prairiedanceokc.org), The Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation (michaeljfox.org), or the Krishnamurti Foundation in Ojai, CA (kfoundation.org). "Serving families for over 50 years" Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600. Please sign our guestbook for the family at: www.berardinellifuneralhome.com