All Obituaries

John J. Fitzgerald of Longmeadow, MA, died on November 26, 2021. He was 80. John was the second of five children born to Bridget (Buckley) and George Fitzgerald. As a youngster, he thrived in his Holyoke neighborhood, attending public school, catching pickup baseball and football games, working paper routes, and playing clarinet in the school band. He was the brother sought out for advice, the first to secure his driver’s license, the one who served as advocate. John was a reader and...

HOLYOKE Ellen (Burns) Moriarty, of Holyoke, died peacefully the night of Wednesday, November 24, 2021, at Armbrook Village Compass Memory Unit. She was born in Holyoke, the beloved only child of George R. and Gertrude (Griffin) Burns. She was lovingly raised by her mother following George’s death in 1941. She returned her mother’s dedication and loyalty, caring for Gertrude at home until her passing in 1979. Ellen graduated from Holyoke High School in 1956 and she received her...

Now you walk so bravely, you feel the pain no more, Angels have come to guide you and bring you to heaven’s door. Rene F. Belanger, 89, of Holyoke passed away peacefully on November 24, 2021 at UMASS Memorial Medical Center. Rene is now reunited with his lovely wife Janet (Peck) Belanger who predeceased him on June 29, 2021 after 64 years of marriage. Rene was born August 28, 1932 in Chicopee, MA to the late Joseph A. and Marie Rose (Menard) Belanger. Rene graduated from Saint Jerome...

Normand R. Gregoire, of Longmeadow, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 19th 2021 at the age of 88. He was born in Holyoke, MA, on September 26th 1933 to the late Oscar and Aldea (Fontaine) Gregoire. He earned his Associate’s Degree from Chaffey College in California. Norm proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1990 and retired as a SMSgt. Normand was an avid HAM Radio operator and loved to play the accordion and organ. He was the former...

HOLYOKE: Karen Lee (Moynihan) Stevenson, 70, of Holyoke passed away on Friday November 19, 2021 surrounded by her loving family.  She was born in South Hadley to the late Phyllis (Englehardt) and Maurice Moynihan, and was a 1969 graduate of South Hadley High School.  Karen worked for many years at Stop and Shop where she met many of her closest friends. Karen is survived by her loving husband of 51 years Raymond, and her five children: Scott Stevenson and his wife Ellen, Gregg...

Nieves "Jay" Aponte, 61, of Holyoke, MA, passed away suddenly on November 16th, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center. He was born on January 13th, 1960, at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, MA. He grew up in Western Mass and attended Agawam High School. Jay worked as a Stock Handler at Permalin MFG for 17 years in Holyoke and West Springfield. He later was promoted to a material handling supervisor. In 2012, he changed positions to a Stock Handler at Eversource. He enjoyed his job...

HOLYOKE:  Barbara A. (Deslippe) Chatel, age 89, of Holyoke, passed away on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center.  She was born in Holyoke, daughter of the late Henry and Lena (Duprey) Deslippe and was a 1950 graduate of Holyoke High School and attended Holyoke Business School.  Barbara retired in 1995 from New England Archives, after 20 years.  She was a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Church and was a member of the Low Vision Group in South Hadley, the...

SOUTHAMPTON:  Gerald L. Ruel, age 92, of Southampton, passed away on Friday, November 12, 2021 at his daughter’s home in Southampton.  He was born and educated in Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, P.Q., Canada.  Gerald resided here for over 70 years. He was a United States Army Veteran of the Korean War. He was a self- employed painting contractor and was owner/proprietor of CLR Decor for many years.  Gerald was the widower of Colette A. (Lemieux) Ruel, who passed away...

HOLYOKE Kenneth Lonnie Atchison, age 85, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2021 at Vero Health & Rehab of South Hadley. Lonnie was born in Long Beach, California son of the late Kenneth C. and Edna F. (Tripp) Atchison. He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1957. Lonnie was a member of the Holyoke Fire Department for 30 years, retiring in 1999. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Ellen (Quirk) Atchison; two daughters: Angela Flynn and her husband...

SOUTH HADLEY Clifford Pafford, age 64, of South Hadley, passed away November 10, 2021at Baystate Medical Center after a brief illness. Clifford was born in Manhattan, New York son of Jane (Cowen) Pafford and the late Phil Thomas Pafford. He was a graduate of the Dublin School in New Hampshire, and currently a member of their Board of Trustees, and was a graduate of Centre College. Clifford was an entrepreneur who was involved in many different business ventures. He had a love for jazz music...