Shelburne Falls & West County Independent

09/17/2026

Helen Doe Rowan Call

COLRAIN — Spunky, curious, and stubborn — three words that described our mother perfectly, right up until she passed from this world on Sept. 15, 2026 at Baystate Hospital in Greenfield.

Helen was born in Enid, Oklahoma on March 23, 1936, to Ernest and Bessie (Hajek) Rowan. She grew up on a farm just outside Ponca City, Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Those early years shaped her in many ways. She often spoke of farm chores, having a mother at home, making do with what you had, and the simple pleasures of growing up close to her grandparents.

After attending primary school in the Blackwell area, Helen graduated from Ponca City High School and went on to earn a music degree from the University of Oklahoma City. Music remained a constant and joyful part of her life. She continued to explore music throughout her life by learning to play an extraordinary variety of instruments. By the end of her life she could play the string bass, clarinet, organ, piano, harp, and even the bagpipes.

After living in several places around the country, Helen eventually found her home in western Massachusetts. There she met and married the love of her life. Together they moved to Cloud Nine Farm in Colrain and ran Call Opticians in Amherst until the early 2000s. Cloud Nine Farm was a perfect fit for Helen, offering the farming, the woods, fresh air, and outdoor life she loved.

Helen will be remembered for her independent spirit, endless energy, inquisitive nature, determination, and love of learning. She was never afraid to ask a questions or try something new, and her many interests and adventures reflected a life lived with curiosity and enthusiasm.

She is survived by her children: Karen W**d of Wisconsin, Pamela (Terry) Thomas of Colorado, Frederick (Judy) Call and William Call of Colrain, and Byron (Mikayla) Call of Bernardston; her grandchildren, Jeremy (Jo Anna) W**d of Minnesota, Alex Eichler of Colorado, Jackie Call of Vermont, and Aiden and Samuel Call of Bernardston; her great-grandchildren, Matthew and Rachel W**d of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister, Lajo Kohler; and her granddaughter, Sophia Call.

At Helen’s request, there will be no burial or memorial services.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to the staff at Regal Care and Baystate Hospital for the kind and compassionate care they provided Helen during the last months of her life. Special thanks go to Melissa Janes for her companionship, support, and friendship over the last several years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Helen’s name to the Young Farmers Coalition (support.youngfarmers.org).

09/14/2026

Emilianna Streeter

ASHFIELD — Emilianna (McCoy) Streeter, 85, of Plainfield Rd., Ashfield, passed away on Sept. 11, 2026.

She was born in Northampton, MA on June 10, 1941, the daughter of Donald and Helen (Eames) McCoy. She graduated from Williamsburg High School and attended business school.

She worked on the Streeter Farm in Spruce Corner for many years, from daily chores to bookkeeping.

She was a people person who was well liked by those who met her. She enjoyed doing crafts of all kinds.

A loving and devoted Mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, she cherished all of her family.

She leaves behind include her children, Helen Fain and her husband, David, of Shelburne Falls, Heidi Streeter of Greenfield, Howard Streeter, Jr. (Tammy Gilbert) of Ashfield; her grandchildren, Tarah (Jason) Perna and Michael (Tracy) Fain; and her great-grandchildren, Olivia, Mia and Kyrsten.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Streeter.

It was her wish that services be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ashfield Fire Dept., 420 Main St., Ashfield, MA 01330 or Highland Ambulance, PO Box 842, Goshen, MA 01032.

09/12/2026

North Nicholson Nartowica

COLRAIN – The family lost a very special and beloved soul with the passing of North (Nicholson) Nartowicz on Aug. 30, 2026.

North was born to Lloyd and Esther (Trippett) Nicholson in Whitefield ,NH on June 22, 1937. Her parents affectionately named North after the North Twin Mountain and North climbed the mountain of life with the sweetest of love and the spirit of a champion.

North moved to Long Island, NY as a child and later to Bernardston, MA, where she attended the one-room, South Street School.

North graduated in 1954 from Powers Institute in Bernardston as class salutatorian and was honored with several awards, including the Character Award and, most dear to her, the Athletic Award. While at Powers she participated four years in several sports and was captain of the basketball team, the same team that was victorious at the 1954 State Championship. To her final days she spoke fondly of several teammates that she kept in touch with.

She graduated from Northampton Commercial College and began work in the public relations office at Northfield Mount Hermon School. After raising her much loved children, she returned to work for 27 years at Greenfield Supply Company as clerical staff.

On April 2, 1956, North married Charles Nartowicz, living in Bernardston until 1959, when they moved to Colrain, where they raised their four children: Julie, Charles, Jr. (Sonny)(Kris), Lisa Jablonski (Skip), and Alan.

North was also a Boy Scout Cub master and helped teach Sunday school for a few years at Shelburne Congregational Church. North could be found at all of her children’s sporting events for many years and also enjoyed watching the Red Sox and UConn women’s basketball.

For many years North was her husband, Charlie’s, best supporter or scorekeeper for his softball games. When the time came for Charlie to retire, they purchased a boat and named it North Wind. North loved spending time on the boat with family at many lakes in VT, NH, NY & Canada, especially Newfound Lake, NH. North also enjoyed time spent at the ocean, including trips with the four children to Gloucester, MA, on Long Island Sound with her aunts as a child, and later trips to St. Thomas, VI.

North’s most precious time was spent with her 10 grandchildren: Curtis, Travis, Brad, Carly, Tiffany, Shanna, Kyle, Lucas, Rockson and Nicholas. As time went on ,there came 19 special great-grandchildren and five step-great grandchildren; each time a new child entered the family ,North could be found holding them close.

North was married to Charlie for 55 years. They often spent quiet moments on long walks in the woods or on the pool deck, enjoying the mountains views.

North treasured her daily walks on her dirt country road, especially when meeting friendly neighbors on her path.

North found much solace and peace in sipping her hot tea while sitting on her yard bench, soaking in warm rays of the sun and listening to the songbirds she fed.

North’s husband, Charlie, predeceased her in 2011. She is survived by her four children; her sisters, Peggy Toepel of Washington state and Phoebe Woodard of Erving (Gerry); and a brother, Bennet (Nick) (Renee) Nicholson of NH. North also leaves behind several beloved nieces, especially Hayley, who helped with her care; and nephews and cousins.

Graveside services will be private. There will be a Celebration of Life for North on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. at Burnt Hill Blueberry Farm, Heath. If inclement weather occurs ,the service will be held at Heath Union Church, Heath.

Donations in memory of North may be made to the Commission for the Blind,c/o Chief Finacial Officer, 40 Brood St., Boston, MA 02109.

Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield is assisting the family with arrangements.

09/09/2026

Michael Chrisman

Michael "Mike" Anthony Chrisman, age 81, died June 24, 2026, in Antigua, Guatemala. Born April 7,1945, in Lake Forest, Illinois, he grew up in Bloomington, IL.

His father, Robert Anthony "Tony" Chrisman, was a dentist and his mother, Ruth Marie Osborne, a talented dancer and musician as well as homemaker. Mike loved winter vacations in Florida, worked summers in the cornfields, attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and earned a degree from Lake Forest College. Later, he received an MFA in poetry from UMass/Amherst and an MS in rehabilitation counseling from Boston University.

During his many years in Heath, he enjoyed parenting and gardening, survived home renovations and winters, served on the school committee, and juggled a complicated life.

Following his retirement to Antigua, where "every day was like paradise," he developed many friendships and delighted in having time to write and make music; he was known as "Piano Mike" and "Poetry Mike."

Although he had a long career in human services and crisis counseling and management, Mike's heart was always in poetry, writing, and music. He also loved travel, comedy, baseball, UConn women's basketball, history, art, cooking, a good espresso, and watching the world go by. Always curious, he was a knower of birds, stars, dates, baseball statistics.

Passionate about family history, he worked on genealogy for many years, preserving family photos and stories from several generations.

He campaigned for Gene McCarthy, went to Woodstock, avoided the draft, and celebrated John Lennon's birthday annually, believing it should be a national holiday.

Among much other work, he wrote a cycle of poems on the Etruscans and a contemporary and straightforward version of the Old Testament. His Little Stories: New Poems was published by La Cuadra Press in 2013, and he released an album, "Walking the Windy High Wire," in 2003.

He is greatly missed by his daughter, Siena Chrisman, of Brooklyn, NY; stepdaughters, Moriah Sterling and Bethany Clark, both of Easthampton, MA; sister, Cynthia Shelton, of Bloomington, IL; brother, Jay Chrisman, of Downs, IL; and numerous family members, in-laws, and friends across the US and the globe.

A Celebration of Life was held in Antigua, Guatemala, on Aug. 18 and another will take place in Massachusetts on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. at Bombyx Center in Florence, MA with a reception to follow.

Donations in his memory can be sent to Nursing Heart, Inc. (https://nursingheart.org/)

09/09/2026

Jeffrey D. Clairemont
CONWAY – Jeffrey D. “Puma” Clairemont, of Conway, passed away on Aug. 21, 2026 at Mercy Medical Center just one week shy of his 70th birthday. He was born on Aug. 28, 1956.

Jeff was a loyal friend, devoted father, and grandfather, and a man who dedicated much of his working life to public service. He was trustworthy, dependable, and hardworking — someone his family and friends could always count on to be there when they needed him.

Jeff served in the United States Navy from 1973 to 1979 aboard the USS Leahy. Following his honorable discharge, he began a long career in public service, continuing his commitment to serving others.

But a life is about far more than a career, and those who knew Jeff best will remember the things that mattered most to him.

They will remember how deeply he loved his children and grandchildren and the genuine joy he found in spending time with his granddaughters.

They will remember his love for the menagerie of wildlife around his Conway home and the care he gave them year after year.

And they will remember that friendship meant everything to Jeff. Peter and Pam Korenewsky were among his closest friends since childhood and throughout the years they surrounded him with love, support, companionship, laughter, and, importantly, fun.

Jeff is survived by his wife and best friend, Kimberly Clairemont (Lyons); his daughter, Samantha Ann Kliemisch, and her husband, Kyle, of Highland Lakes, NJ; his son, Evan Jeffrey Clairemont, and his wife, Brittany, of Leicester, MA; and his beloved granddaughters, Kianna Kliemisch and Hailey Clairemont.

He was predeceased by his parents, Winona and Gary Clairemont, and his brothers, Glenn and Timothy Clairemont.

The final years of Jeff’s life brought illness and with it, another group of people who became an important part of his and his family’s lives. His family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care he received from the team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and especially from Mackenzie and the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care Yankee Family in Greenfield.

The family would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Jeff’s close neighbors, Danita and Marilyn, and Troy and Lori. Their steady friendship, kindness, support, and love meant more than words can express.

Jeff loved life. Even in the face of cancer, he fought hard to remain a part of it — for the children and grandchildren he loved, the friends he had kept for decades, the animals outside his door, the years he spent in service to others, and all of the ordinary moments that, taken together, made up nearly 70 years of a life well lived.

We will miss him deeply and we will always remember the love, friendship, laughter, and memories he left behind.

Services for Jeff will be private.

09/02/2026

James “Tunnel” E. Valiton

BUCKLAND – James “Tunnel” E. Valiton, 75, passed away peacefully on Aug. 13, 2026.

Born on Feb. 27, 1951, he was the firstborn son to Barbara (Burton) and Wallace Valiton.

Alongside his siblings, John, Janice and his late sister Joan, he grew up in Buckland, attending Mohawk Trail Regional School, where he was known to be a talented athlete, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track.

James was a man who found happiness in the simple things in life; he had a deep appreciation for the outdoors, home, working, and family. He valued friendship deeply and cherished those he grew up with. He was known for telling stories, enjoyed cooking, gardening and rooting for the Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.

James worked construction in his younger years, but settled close to home as a machinist making quality tools until he retired from Mayhew Steel Products in Buckland.

James was a member of the Rod and Gun Club, where he enjoyed spending time at summer set camp. He was an active member of the Eagles Club in Buckland.

Above all, James enjoyed being surrounded by the people he loved and the freedom to live his life the way he wanted. His love for his roots and tradition were evident in the way he lived.

James is survived by his daughter, Jennifer; his granddaughter, Nyiah James; his brother, John and sister, Janice; his nephews, Ian and Mason, and many cousins, as well as many friends.

He won the hearts of many and will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m. in Plain Cemetery, Ashfield, with Jack Cooper officiating.

A celebration of James’s life will follow at 1 p.m. at the Eagles Club. Family and friends are invited to gather together to remember James, share stories, and celebrate the life he lived and the people he loved.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home, Shelburne Falls.

09/02/2026

David E. Shields
BUCKLAND — David E. Shields, 77, of Elm St., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.

He was born in Greenfield on Feb. 19, 1949, the son of Edward and Gertrude (Jones) Shields. He was a member of the first graduating class of Mohawk Trail Regional High School in 1967.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Vietnam War. He was an airplane electrician and achieved the rank of sergeant before his honorable discharge in 1974. He continued his service at the Westover Air base as airplane electrician for over 20 years. He was proud of his service and devoted time to veteran service groups.

He was a member of the Charlemont Lions Club for more than 40 years. He was involved in many club activities and regional events for eye research.

He is survived by his brother, Tom Shields, of Charlemont, many cousins, and acquaintances over the years.

He was predeceased by his longtime companion, Beverly Greenough, in 2017.

A visiting time will be held at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church St., Shelburne Falls on Friday, Sept. 4 from 12-12:45 p.m. A graveside service with military honors will follow in Arms Cemetery at 1 p.m.

09/01/2026

08/28/2026

Sarah Looman

Sarah Ellen (Smith) Looman, 97, of Shelburne, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Aug. 24, 2026.

She was the daughter of George Edmund Smith and Violet Reola (Page) Smith, born on the family farm on Sept. 25, 1928.

She graduated from Sanderson Academy and finished her college education at Providence Bible Institute in Rhode Island, graduating in 1949.

Following her graduation she returned to the family farm to keep house for her dad and two brothers after her mother died on Jan. 1, 1950. For the next 16 years, as she said in her own words, “I was living at home, helping where needed, and waiting for the Lord to show me my next step in life.” It was in those years that mom hosted many “Good News Clubs,” sharing the Gospel to children in the local communities. Maintaining a very active schedule between church, farm, and babysitting jobs.

Mom married on April 23, 1966, to Michael Looman, giving birth to two sons, John in 1967, and David in 1969. In 1976 she became the primary caregiver for both her boys, often playing catch with them and rooting them on at their games, always making sure they had rides to games and food on the table.

In 1984, Mom once again reinvented herself as a caregiver to local elderly in need, which subsequently led to her caring for Alcid Miller, known to most as Junior, for 18 years. It was here that she again enjoyed moments of great joy as Al came to know the Lord before his passing.

Besides her mother and father she was predeceased by her older sisters, Katherine Mary Parry and Reola Frances Smith, and younger brothers, Edmund Francis Smith and Homer Ellis Smith.

She is survived by her sons, John (Laura) Looman and David (Amy) Looman; grandchildren Jacob (Heather), Luke (Sara), Erika (Ryan), and Brooke.

The family would like to thank two special people in mom’s life, her niece, Charlotte Waynelovich, for her devotion to mom’s health and care over much of the last decade, and Mr. Reginald Lynde who was a steady source of transportation and friendship to mom for many years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First Baptist Church in Colrain, where she was an active member for over 60 years as well as organist for over two decades, attention to Rick Grant.

A Sept. 3 funeral at 5 p.m. is planned, with visiting hours beginning at 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Colrain.

08/24/2026

Mary Paine Caron

CONWAY – Mary (Polly) Paine Caron, formerly Mary Bradford Paine (yes, an 11th direct descendent of William Bradford of the Mayflower), passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, surrounded in love and presence by her husband Gary; her children, Alexandra, Brendan, Lindsay, and Tyler; and their spouses, Jimmy, Kristin, Katie, and Sharon; her grandchildren, Delaney, Riley, Mackenzie, Matthew, Madison, Mason, Jackson, Logan, Maxwell, Lillian, William, and Elijah; and her siblings and their spouses, David Paine (Gheraldine), Alexander Paine (Cathie), and Elizabeth (Lee) Bell (Mike).

Polly was born on July 12, 1948 in Boston. She was the daughter of the late John and Jane (Patterson) Paine.

Polly was a loving wife, an amazing mother, a devoted grandmother, and an adored teacher of young children. Her career teaching in the infant and toddler program at Smith College Center for Early Childhood Education spanned over 27 years. Families would even attempt to time their pregnancies so that their infants would be lucky enough to have Polly as their caregiver. Polly was a natural at nurturing young children, and she enjoyed helping parents learn and grow as they raised their families.

Polly always saw the glass as half full. She recognized and nurtured the good in everyone. Her laugh was one of a kind, and her smile was infectious. Her warmth, optimism, and ability to make people feel cared for are qualities she passed on to her children and grandchildren. Her family was her greatest pride and joy and she leaves behind a beautiful legacy of deep family devotion.

A celebration of Polly’s life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Orleans, MA. Family and friends who would like to join are warmly invited to reach out to a member of the family for details.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to donate in Polly’s memory are asked to do so to the Dakin Humane Society. www.dakinhumane.org.