Gretchen Hoeltzel, 56, Died; Former Westporter
Gretchen Hoeltzel, 56, of West Stockbridge MA, passed away on December 13, 2022 at Berkshire Medical Center with her husband and mother by her side.
Born in Elkhart, Indiana on July 2, 1966, she was the daughter of Rudolph L. and Mary Ball Hoeltzel. She grew up in Indiana and Westport, Connecticut, and graduated with honors from the University of Massachusetts.
She married Alan Champney of Dennis, Massachusetts in September 1994 and spent most of her married life on the Cape, where she and Alan owned and operated L'Alouette Bistro in Harwichport. She enjoyed days off at the outer beach and long walks with the many dogs she adopted. Along with Alan, she loved hosting and feasting with family and friends. She is remembered by all who knew her for her loving kindness, gentleness, and free spirit.
Gretchen is survived by her husband Alan, her mother Mary of Stockbridge, her brother Lloyd Hoeltzel and his wife Angela and daughter Sylvie (Gretchen's niece) of Secaucus New Jersey, along with several cousins and extended family.
SERVICES - There will be a Celebration of Life for Gretchen on the Cape in April. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to the family please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com
Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Jan. 21, 2023.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. North wind 7 to 9 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Light and variable wind.
Tomorrow
A 50 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tomorrow Night
Rain. Low around 36. South wind 7 to 14 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Westport Property Transfers: December 26-30th; One Property Sells for $1.2 Million
Westport Town Clerk’s Office:
Total Conveyance Tax: $3,045.00.
Total Sales: $1,218,000
Transfer:
31 Ellery Lane: $1,218,000
Governor, Lt. Governor Mark 50th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade
Press Release: Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz released the following statements regarding the 50th anniversary of the January 22, 1973, landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade:
Governor Lamont said, “For almost five decades, United States courts have protected the constitutional rights of women to make their own healthcare and reproductive decisions. Now today, in the aftermath of Dobbs, we are faced with an activist court that has decided that they know better. The courts have turned back the clock to an era that saw dangerous and life-threatening situations in which women died or were left severely injured because they could not access the medical care that they should have every right to access on their own. I am grateful to live in Connecticut, where our laws make it clear that government will not interfere in reproductive freedom. As long as I am governor, I will do everything in my power to block laws from being enacted that restrict the right to choose.”
Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said, “On this 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, rededicating ourselves to protecting women’s reproductive rights is more important now than ever. Let’s be clear, the fight to protect these freedoms did not end on Election Day. Connecticut has always been a leader in advancing women’s rights, and last year we proved our commitment by expanding upon who can provide critical healthcare to women in need. We have opened our doors to women who need care if they can’t legally receive it in their own state, and we will continue to stand on the side of women to make sure that their right to choose is always protected.”
For more information on reproductive rights in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/reproductiverights.