All Obituaries

Anne Louise Hennessey, age 74, of Holyoke, passed away on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at Holyoke Medical Center. She was born in Holyoke, a daughter of the late Patrick J. and Anne K. (Butterfield) Hennessey, and was a 1962 graduate of the former St. Jerome High School. Anne was a retired receptionist at the Valley Opportunity Council in Holyoke, and prior to that had worked in the Records Division of the Holyoke Police Department. She was an avid sports fan; she especially loved Tom Brady...

HOLYOKE:  Mary Sheila (McCann) Ross, age 91, of Holyoke passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at Holyoke Health Care Center surrounded by her family.  She was born in Worcester, MA, daughter of the late John P. and Mary (McCormick) McCann, moved to Newton at an early age, and was educated in the Newton Schools.  A graduate of Bryant College, Sheila had lived most of her life in Holyoke.  She enjoyed playing Bridge with friends, tennis at the Holyoke Canoe Club and...

HOLYOKE Eleanor M. (Doychak) Matlak, age 94, passed away peacefully on Sunday September 1, 2019. Eleanor was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Andrew and Elizabeth (Vinney) Doychak. She is survived by her daughter, Jacqueline Cooper of Holyoke; two grandchildren: Natalie Day of Utah, and Jennifer Cooper of Holyoke; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Elizabeth Rodriguez of Floirda, and two nieces to cherish her memory. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her...

HOLYOKE Michael P. Lamirande passed into eternal life on July 9, 2019 due to complications following throat cancer. He was 66 years old. Michael was born on February 26, 1953 in Holyoke MA to his parents, Edward and Eileen Lamirande. He graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School, Class of 1971. He enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served a total of 13 years. Michael was a diehard Red Sox and Dallas Cowboy fan. He had a passion for music and was known to never miss an opportunity...

HOLYOKE Dorothy Marie (Fry) Simmons died at Willimanset Nursing Home on Sunday, September 8, 2019. Born on a farm in rural New Washington, Ohio in 1920 to John E. and Erna M. Fry, she was the last of 4 sisters and has one surviving brother "Bob" Fry living in Michigan. Dorothy was a Registered nurse and worked many years at The Providence Hospital and Holyoke Hospital as a private duty nurse. She was a graduate of St John's School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio. She married...

CENTERVILLE, MA Elsie L. (Orcutt) Geraghty, age 83, of Centerville, MA, formerly of Chicopee, passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 3, 2019. Elsie was born in Holyoke and was a graduate of Chicopee High School. She was a Clerk for many years at Facemate Manufacturing, where she retired. She was a communicant of St. Patrick Church, South Hadley. Elsie is survived by her husband John W. Geraghty; a son, Brian Geraghty and his wife Kathy of Centerville; and two granddaughters: Tayton and...

CHICOPEE Claire P. (Bessette) Gladu, age 93, of Chicopee, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday September 2, 2019 at Vero Health Center of South Hadley. Claire was born and educated in Holyoke. She was predeceased by her husband, Norman Gladu, Sr. in 2011. Claire is survived by her children: sons, Norman, Jr., Lawrence, Gary, and Jeffrey Gladu; her daughters, Donna Mandeville, Debra Rowley, and Suzanne Beyer; her siblings Albert and Gerald Bessette, and Priscilla...

HOLYOKE Lillian Hickey “Dee Dee Dear” Breen left this earth peacefully on August 30, 2019 at the age of 97, surrounded by the love of her family.  Born and raised in Holyoke, where she lived for most of her life, she was the daughter of Daniel and Josephine Hickey.  She was predeceased by her husband Roger Breen; sisters Mary Duffy, Eileen Benoit Anderson, Anna Mae Kellett, a brother, Cornelius “Buddy” Hickey, a niece, Mary Alice Duffy and her lifelong...

WESTHAMPTON James McGill, 90, of Westhampton, MA, passed away Friday, August 23, 2019 at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke with his loving daughter, Erin, at his side. He was born on February 10, 1929 to John and Eva (Forrest) McGill in Northampton.  Jim was raised on North Street in Northampton with his 7 siblings. In 1948, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and travelled throughout world. After his honorable discharge he returned to Northampton and married Bette (Duclos)...

Erika “Ricky” (Haase) Maruca Urbon, passed away on Friday, August 23, 2019.  She was born in Heinorsdorf-Grunberg, Schlesia Germany in 1926 to the late Bruno and Franziska Haase. At the age of 14 she began her apprenticeship in drafting at the Center of German Metal Works (an airplane manufacturer) in Efurt, Germany, receiving her journeyman draftsman license in 1945.  At the end of the war she moved to Frankfurt, Germany and was employed by the United States Army as a...