Lauren Eileen Tela, 29, of Montague has now found peace in the loving arms of God following a car accident in Templeton, MA on December 17, 2017.

She was born on May 14, 1988, the daughter of Eileen (McCarthy) and Thomas Tela.  She was a graduate of Turners Falls High School in 2007 and UMass Commonwealth College with a degree in music/business in 2011. Her happiest times were at UMass in the Marching Band, under the direction of her hero, George Parks, until his untimely passing during her senior year.  She actively participated in the band sorority and any other function supporting the band as well as dorm meetings while at UMass.

The past few years Lauren’s interests were in the challenges of medicine, and after attending Porter and Chester Institute she was recently employed as a medical assistant at Valley Medical in Greenfield, and was looking forward to returning to school for nursing. However her ongoing struggles with depression and pain pill addiction resulting from a back injury was a setback for her. She was compassionate, enjoyed reading and loved music. She was very bright and would often surprise us with knowledge of the most mundane subjects.

She leaves her heartbroken parents Tom and Eileen of Montague as well as a sister, Chelsea, also of Montague, and three brothers: Jeffrey and his partner Caitlin Corbett, of Greenfield, Jamie and his partner Karen Pietela, of Gardner,  and Andy and his wife Renee of Erving, as well as Uncles and Aunts Kevin and Sue McCarthy, of Millers Falls, Diane McCarthy of North Palm Beach, FL, David and Phyllis Tela of  Willamantic, CT, Carl and Donna Tela of Palmer,  Donald  and Marianne Tela of Bayside NY, Imelda Bitzer of East Longmeadow,  and  Bob and Yvette Bissell of Turners Falls  as well as several cousins and two nieces and a nephew. She was predeceased by her Uncles Brian McCarthy and Chester Tela. She also leaves her beloved Maine Coon cat, George (named after Mr. Parks).

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, December 23, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 84 K Street, Turners Falls.  Burial will follow at St. Anne’s Cemetery in Turners Falls.

Visitation will be held Saturday morning from 8:15- 9:45am at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the George N. Parks Memorial Scholarship Fund at www.alumni.umassband.com  or to the Franklin County Community Meals Program, P.O. Box 172, Greenfield, MA 01302.  Also please give a word of encouragement to someone in need.

Sympathy messages available at www.kostanskifuneralhome.com. 

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