Jean M. Topolski

Jean M. (McDonald) Topolski passed away peacefully at home on April 12, 2024, with her loving daughters by her side. Jean was born in St. Albans, VT and moved to Holyoke, MA, shortly thereafter. She was the daughter of the late Oscar and Teresa McDonald. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School and the Providence Hospital School of Nursing.  She went on to become a registered nurse spending over thirty years working at Providence Hospital, where she dedicated herself to providing compassionate care.  In the later part of her career, she devoted herself to the care of seniors, a population that was very special to her, and continued her career at Country Estates of Agawam.

Jean truly had a gift in her ability to connect with people and make everyone feel special. She was an avid gardener who enjoyed creating beautiful landscapes in her yard. The ultimate entertainer she loved nothing more than spending time with friends and family hosting holidays, dinner parties, graduations, and bridal showers.

Her family and friends were the most important part of her life. She leaves behind her daughters, Terri Flanagan Lamarre (Clem) of Dartmouth, MA and their children Jack and Julia; and Kate Flanagan McGeer (Tim) and their children, Owen, Elizabeth, and Brendan, of Longmeadow, MA. In addition, she is survived by her stepchildren: Mark, Gregory (Jen) and their children Tyler and Jason, Thomas, Alan and Karen Topolski as well as her sister, Teddie (Jim) Garrow, and many nieces and nephews and friends, who she cherished. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald Topolski and former husband Jack Flanagan, sister Carol Sharpe and brother Gil McDonald.

The funeral will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. from the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, followed by a 11:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will take place at St. Rose Cemetery, South Hadley. Visitation is Friday, April 19, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Jean to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036, bcrf.org or to the Sister’s of St. Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104, ssjspringfield.org.

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