Attorney Maurice J. Ferriter. Holyoke, Massachusetts Maurice passed peacefully at home on Christmas Eve surrounded by loving family, loyal friends, and compassionate caregivers after a short battle with a brain cancer. Maurice was born in Holyoke in 1930 in “the Ward” and grew up during the depression with his parents, brothers, and lifelong Ward 4 friends. The family business included selling coal and wood for heat, and the power business left a mark for the rest of his life. Maurice attended Saint Jerome grammar school and high school, where he met the love of his life, Peggy Hennigan. He graduated from Holyoke Junior College, the University of Massachusetts, and Western New England University School of Law. Maurice was sworn in as a lawyer in 1957 and was a proud member of the bar until his passing. Maurice volunteered for the Army, proudly served in the Korean War and received several medals and commendations for his service. Maurice said he learned several lessons in the Army: “there are no atheists in a foxhole” and “always keep a dry pair of sox in your armpits”, to name a few. He was an active member of the Korean War Veterans Association, the American Legion, and several other veterans’ organizations. Maurice travelled to Washington DC a few years ago to be recognized by the South Korean government for his service, and to visit with other retired and active service members supporting South Korea. After the Korean War, Maurice started a law practice on High Street in Holyoke with his lifelong friend, Bill Begley. He served as Holyoke City Solicitor in the 1960’s, and during the 1970’s he wrote the legislation creating the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC). Maurice served as MMWEC General Counsel over several decades. The gas and electric businesses were bustling in the 1980’s, so Maurice opened a Boston law office. Both his Boston firm and Holyoke firm are continuing legacies to his work ethic and superior professionalism. Maurice was also a founder of the Municipal Electric Association of Massachusetts and the Northeast Public Power Association, both trade associations advocating for municipal and public owned electric and gas utilities. He was an active member of the American Public Power Association (APPA) in Washington DC, where he regularly spoke at training seminars and was honored with the APPA Person of the Year Award. Closer to home, he was a founding member of the Saint Patrick Parade Committee which honored him with its O’Connell Award, as President and as Grand Marshal. Maurice proudly marched every year in “the parade” through the streets of his beloved city, waving and greeting everyone with a tip of his hat or a gesture of his Shaleigh. As much as he loved his family, friends, country and city, Maurice loved his Catholic heritage. He was a lifelong communicant of Saint Jerome Church where he was a regular at the 12:15 Mass with his loyal friend, Pat Bresnahan. He taught CCD at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Holy Cross Parish, and served with his Peg in the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher. Maurice was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus and served meals at Providence Ministries for the Needy. Maurice also loved his annual August trip to Saratoga, originally with Bill O’Brien, Joe O’Brien and Eddie Sears, and more recently with Lynn Sears, Lynelle Sears Russell, Lisa Sears Morin and Don Morin. Maurice always “broke even”. At home, Maurice loved to sit by the fire in the winter and on the back porch in the summer with his “bride”, Peg, and enjoy their daily conversations with some Chardonnay. In earlier years, every Friday was spent at Cal’s in West Springfield, followed by a movie at the Cinemas. Maurice and Peg were world travelers and loved sharing photographs and stories of their adventures across the dining room table. Maurice loved to travel most with his family; first with his children, then grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He taught all this is a small world and we need to love our neighbors across the globe. For many decades, he cherished Sunday dinners surrounded by family. He shared stories and attentively listened as other family members told their tales. As the family grew larger, the great-grandchildren stole his heart. Maurice also cherished time at the Delaney House with dear friends Chris and George Leary, where their conversations “solved all the problems of the world.” Maurice was appointed by the Governor to serve as a Trustee of Holyoke Community College and volunteered many years as chair of the HCC Foundation. He also served on so many charity boards, there is not enough space to list them all here. He was fond of saying that if you are at a meeting, “you have to chop wood”. Maurice rolled up his sleeves and worked for all he knew and many he never met. He received the Dwight Award and many other honors for his lifetime of community service. Maurice was predeceased in 2020 by his loving wife, Margaret Hennigan Ferriter who he always referred to as his “bride”, in 1990 by his son Attorney Maurice J. Ferriter, Jr., his parents John and Aldea Brouillet Ferriter, and his brothers John, Robert and Thomas. He is survived by his children Attorney John J. Ferriter, Attorney Mary M. Ferriter and Joseph P. Ferriter MD, by his daughters-in-law, Rosalie Mengel Ferriter Moore, Attorney Deborah Desmarais Ferriter and Jennifer Trauscht VanHorn MD, by his grandchildren Emmet P. Ferriter MD and his wife Meagan Gormally Ferriter, Katherine Ferriter Hauschild and her husband James “Fritz” Hauschild, Conor Maurice Ferriter and his partner Ally Von Kannel RN, Sean J. Ferriter, Ryan Maurice Ferriter and his fiancée Shea Merriam, and Kelton J. Ferriter; and his great-grandchildren Keeley, Cora and Maury Ferriter, and Hadley and Brynn Hauschild; and his work daughter Debbie Roule Beaudry. The family would like to thank Joanne Craven Dunn RN, Debby, Ethel and Kim, for their loving care; and a special thank you to the nurses of the Glen, Ellen Donohue RN and Susan Feyre RN. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:15pm on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at Saint Jerome Church, Holyoke, with calling hours beginning at 10:30am at the church before Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored with donations to the Maury Ferriter Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation, 333 Bridge Street, Springfield, MA 01103, Jericho, P.O. Box 1039, Holyoke, MA 01041 or your favorite charity. “Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.