Daniel D. Hamel

Daniel D. Hamel, age 73, of Holyoke, MA, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2023. Dan was born in Holyoke, son of the late Donald and Doris (Boucher) Hamel. He attended Perpetual Help and graduated in 1967 from Precious Blood. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marianne (Flynn) of 53 years; his daughter, Nora and her husband Matt Mitrowski of Chicopee; his son, Patrick and his wife Jill (Beyer) of Holyoke; his daughter, Danielle and her partner, Michael Hallarin of Holyoke; his  grandchildren, Delaney and Brody; his sister, Susan Parsons and her husband, George of South Hadley; his sister, Donna Fritsch and her husband, Bernie of Springfield; his sister-in-law, Judy (Flynn) Roy and her husband Denis of Chicopee and many special nieces, nephews and friends. He is predeceased by his brother, David Hamel and his brother-in-law, Michael Flynn.

Dan worked for many years at The Digital Equipment Corporation in Westfield, MA until it closed its doors in 1993. He was able to then pursue and earn his associate degree in accounting from Holyoke Community College and worked as an Accountant for Data Profit in Holyoke before moving on to Prime Plywood & Panel in Springfield. In his retirement years, he also worked part-time at Hulmes Transportation Services, where he enjoyed driving seniors and people with disabilities to the places they needed to go. 

Dan loved spending time with his three children, especially when he was coaching them on the basketball court or soccer field. He was involved in CYO basketball at Mater Dolorosa, the Holyoke Youth Soccer League and the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League, where he developed a love for the game. When his kids grew older, he became a soccer referee for PVJSL, high school and college. He loved being out there, talking to the players and offering words of encouragement if they made a good play. The Pioneer Valley Soccer Officials Association awarded him the Jimmie Downie Award for Best Official in 2011. 

He cherished his time at Hampton Beach with his wife and kids, as well as his time spent in York, Maine. He loved going to the Saratoga Racetrack and watching the Final Four and the Super Bowl with his best friends. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants as well as the Boston Bruins. He liked to be on the golf course as much as he could and played in a League at Ledges in South Hadley. Last but certainly not least, he loved being Papa to his grandchildren and going to their soccer games. 

Dan will be remembered for his amazingly quick wit and his sarcastic sense of humor which he passed on to his kids. 

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Baystate on the M5 floor for their care and compassion during his final days there. 

The funeral will be held Monday, May 1 at 10:30 am at St. Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke. Calling hours will be held Sunday, April 30 at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dan to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, netrf.org.

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