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Memories

Donna E. Clifford, age 76, of Woburn (formerly of Medford) passed away on November 25, 2024, at her home in Woburn after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was the spouse/beloved life partner of the late Dorothy May Emerson (1943-2019).

Donna was born in Stoughton, MA on December 22, 1947. She was the daughter of the late Ward and Barbara (Batchelder) Clifford. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1965 and received a B.A. in Philosophy from UMass Amherst in 1970. Donna was a long-time member of the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church in Melrose, MA. She was very active in many UU organizations over the years.

Donna and Dorothy shared over 30 happy years together and were legally married in June 2004. They traveled to many places before Dorothy’s sudden passing in May 2019.

Donna worked as a professional financial advisor specializing in socially responsible investments at the company she founded, Rainbow Investment Solutions. She was affiliated with many organizations, including Zonta Club of Medford, Medford Arts Council, NAACP, MUUA and many others.

Donna loved to travel, especially to Provincetown, MA, Sedona, AZ and Hawaii. She recently enjoyed a wonderful trip to Italy. Her hobbies included photography, hiking, writing poetry, music, reading and art. She loved spending time with her family and many friends and was loved dearly by everyone she met.

Donna is survived by her son, Damian Elrod and his wife Susan of Michigan, as well as her grandson, Zade Elrod of Michigan. She is also survived by her siblings, Judy Barrette of Norton, MA, Diane and husband Rich L. Rodriguez of Santa Barbara, CA, Janet and husband John Fahey of Stoughton, MA, Joan and husband Peter Ouellet of Mashpee, MA, Ward and wife Kristina Clifford of Hull, MA and Sherri and husband Kevin Stone of Bourne, MA, as well as many nieces, nephews, uncle and aunt, cousins, dear friends and colleagues and members of Dorothy’s family who loved her very much. Besides her wife and parents, she was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Robert Barrette.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church. Please make checks payable to Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church with “in honor of Donna Clifford” on the memo line, and mail to 70 West Emerson Street, Melrose, MA 02176.

A Celebration of Life will be held in January. Details will follow once arrangements have been made.

A Graveside Service was held on Saturday, November 30th at the Cedar Brook Burial Ground, 175 Boothby Rd., Limington, ME at 3:00pm.

Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald, Finnegan, Anderson Funeral Home in Stoneham.

The Rev. Doddie L. Stone died on September 26, 2024, at the age of 89 (1935-2024). Doddie is survived by her sons Donald Stone and Craig Stone, daughter Cindy Gatioan, as well as her nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the First UU Congregation of Terre Haute.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First UU Congregation of Terre Haute, PO Box 3225, Terre Haute IN 47803, or to the Mt Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Ln, Walnut Creek CA 94596.

Notes of condolences may be sent to Sylvia Oster, 1101 E. Royse Dr., Terre Haute, IN 47802.

From Melinda Morris Perrin:

In memoriam:  It is with great sadness that I pass along this information.  The Rev. Shirley Ann Ranck, the godmother of the UU women’s spirituality movement and author of the curriculum, “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” joined the Heavenly Sisters yesterday, appropriately on Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023.  She was 92.   Shirley was a woman who dared, a great friend to those who knew her, and an inspiration to generations who followed. Quite literally, she changed my life.

carol christ“In Goddess religion death is not feared, but is understood to be a part of life, followed by birth and renewal.” -Carol P. Christ

Carol Patrice Christ died peacefully on July 14 from cancer. Carol was and will remain one of the foremothers and most brilliant voices of the Women’s Spirituality movement. At the conference on “The Great Goddess Re-Emerging” at the University of California at Santa Cruz in the spring of 1978, Carol delivered the keynote address, “Why Women Need the Goddess: Phenomenological, Psychological, and Political Reflections.”

Christ proposed four compelling reasons why women might turn to the Goddess: the affirmation and legitimation of female power as beneficent; affirmation of the female body and its life cycles; affirmation of women’s will; and affirmation of women’s bonds with one another and their positive female heritage (Christ 1979).

UUWF Board and Staff August 2007 smEllen Ann Spencer, 69, died peacefully at her home in Brookline Massachusetts, January 2, 2021. She was predeceased by her father Raymond Jesse "Bud" Spencer and her mother Anastasia Eagle Spencer of Middletown, CT. She was also predeceased by her longtime life partner Paul.
A graduate of Boston University, Ellen was an avid reader and loved to travel, especially to Europe and the United Kingdom.

Ellen retired from 32 years with UU Women's Federation in 2014. She was the Executive Administrator at that time.
Ellen is survived by her Siblings Madeline Spencer Fazzino and Raymond Jesse Spencer Jr. Both of Higganum, CT and 3 nieces and nephews and other loving family members.
A memorial is to be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ellen's name to the museum of your choice.

  1. Stalwart W&R Member Meg Bowman Dies at 91
  2. Elizabeth Fisher has passed on...
  3. Dorothy May Emerson (1943-2019)
  4. Jane Britton (1945-2019)

Rev. Dr. Shirley A. Ranck photos

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