Obituary of Claire Ellis Rieff

" Claire E. Rieff, 77, of N. Liberty St. died March 19 in Port Orange, FL. Born on August 24, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Helen E. (Wetherwell) and Harold White, Sr. She graduated in 1942 from West Springfield High School. Claire has lived in Belchertown since 1949, where she and her husband “Oakie”, owned and operated Oak Ridge Farms. She has resided in Port Orange, FL during the winter since 1987. Retiring in 1986, Claire worked as the branch manager and assistant treasurer at the Ware Co-Operative Bank in Three Rivers for 26 years. She was a member of the North Hadley Congregational Church. Claire leaves a daughter, Susan and her husband Daniel Rudy of Belchertown. She is also survived by a brother, Harold White of West Springfield, a sister Shirley Utley of West Winfield, NY, several nieces and nephews, and her beloved dog Rascal. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Alva “Oakie” Rieff (1998), as well as a son David (1982). A funeral service will be held Monday at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in South Cemetery. A calling hour will proceed the service from 9-10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Pathfinder MVIP Scholarship, 240 Sykes St., Palmer, MA 01069. "