Meleana L. Gelinas

ATHOL - Meleana L. (Adams) Gelinas, 94, formerly of Athol and New Salem, died Thursday, January 28, 2010 in the Baldwinville Nursing Home after a brief illness with her loving family by her side. She was born in Athol on February 23, 1915, the daughter of the late Clifford and the late Florence (Pelkey) Adams. Meleana graduated from the Del-Mar School of Beauty Culture in Detroit, Michigan in 1931. Upon her graduation, she opened the Peter Pan Beauty Shop at the home of her parents on Lincoln Avenue in Athol. In 1933 she married Francis O. Gelinas and in 1934 she moved her beauty shop to Main Street in Athol. Her husband assisted with the business and in the early 1950's they moved the beauty shop back to Lincoln Avenue near the family home. At the time of her retirement, Meleana had owned and operated her business for 72 years and had many longtime customers whom she regarded as her dear friends. For many years she was a member of the Athol-Orange Hairdressers Association and served two terms as its president. She was a lifelong communicant of Our Lady Immaculate Church and was a member of the Daughters of Isabella and the Catholic Women's League. Meleana enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and relatives. Her family was very dear to her and she cherished the holidays surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren. She was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and Bruins and knew all of the names of the players and the scores of each game. She also enjoyed knitting, reading, card games, and as long as she was able to do so, taking long walks around Silver Lake and her Lincoln Avenue neighborhood. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty years, Francis O. Gelinas, in 1983; by her sister, Celia Casey; by her grandson, Darryl Chaisson; and by her great-grandson, James Hartmann. She is survived by her daughter, Cecilia Shaughnessy and her husband Laurence of Hampton, NH; her son, Clifford Gelinas and his wife Barbara of New Salem; her sister, Leah Hachey of Athol; eight grandchildren, Elaine Jaillet and her husband Richard of Battle Creek, Michigan, Michael Chaisson and his wife Susan of Milford, Stephen Chaisson and his wife Anna of Manchester, NH, Mary Thilleman and her husband Timothy of Chicago, IL, Cary Chaisson and his wife Doreen of Raymond, NH, Clifford Gelinas and his wife Michelle of Athol, Heather Hartmann of Lewistown, PA, Tammy Smith and her husband Lester of Hudson, FL; She also leaves fourteen great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, seven step great grandchildren, four step great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery, Athol. Calling hours will be held Monday, February 1, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main Street, Athol. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made in her memory to Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol, MA 01331, or to Baldwinville Nursing Home Activity Fund, P.O. Box 24, Templeton, MA 01468. $(document).ready(function(){ });