4 seniors raise funds in memory of late friend's love of theater

After losing a friend to leukemia earlier this year, four senior citizens in Springfield are honoring that friend’s love for theater by raising funds for senior center trips and to add to a memorial donation in her name.

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2016-04-22 / Front Page 4 seniors raise funds in memory of late friend's love of theater By Tory Jones Bonenfant toryb@eagletimes.com The Springfield Senior Center Activities Committee, including (from left to right) Linda Roys, Judy Bastille, Carol Peebles and Sandi Tarbell, display a painting by center member Val Woodbury, donated as part of fundraising efforts begun in memory of the late Simone Murray. — TORY JONES BONENFANT The Springfield Senior Center Activities Committee, including (from left to right) Linda Roys, Judy Bastille, Carol Peebles and Sandi Tarbell, display a painting by center member Val Woodbury, donated as part of fundraising efforts begun in memory of the late Simone Murray. — TORY JONES BONENFANT SPRINGFIELD — After losing a friend to leukemia earlier this year, four senior citizens in Springfield are honoring that friend’s love for theater by raising funds for senior center trips and to add to a memorial donation in her name. The four women — Linda Roys, Judy Bastille, Carol Peebles and Sandi Tarbell — were at the Springfield Senior Center on Wednesday afternoon sharing memories of Simone Murray, who passed away in January. “She had a wonderful laugh,” said Terri Emerson, director of the club. “And a cook, oh my gosh — she would always bring something in.” Murray was French and came from Canada originally, her friends said. She also volunteered with the center’s ceramics studio, at blood pressure clinics, and helped with Christmas centerpieces, along with being “very active” in her church and community, they recalled. Murray always loved to go on the center’s trips, which have recently included outings to Quebec City and New York City. She especially loved the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, and it was one of her favorite theater trips, they recalled. When she passed away this January, her husband asked that memorial donations be sent to the senior center to help fund activities — the trips in particular, Emerson said. Some of the funds went to install shelving for the center’s ceramics studio, in the center’s lower level. When thinking of how best to use the remaining funds, which had totaled close to $1,000, the four women — who serve on the Activities Committee — suggested the money go toward the trip their friend so loved, thus reducing the cost per person and making it more affordable for any senior center member to go. The next trip, scheduled for Oct. 6, will be to the Ogunquit Playhouse and originally cost $159 for each participant. The committee decided in February to take it a step further in their friend’s memory, and continued to raise funds through a raffle for a painting, an auction, a 50/50 draw, and an indoor yard sale. “We all wanted to go really bad. It was sold out last year. So we said, why don’t we earn some more?” said Peeples. Senior Center member Val Woodbury painted the framed work of art, depicting a mountain range and flowing river, that is now available to win in the raffle. With their fundraising efforts since February doubling the original memorial donations to approximately $2,000, the committee has reduced the cost per person for the upcoming trip to $99 per person, Emerson said. They will continue to raise funds from now through June, she said. The next fundraiser event is the Fabulous Spring Auction, scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at the Springfield Senior Center.