Jeanne B. (Villemaire) Reidy

HOLYOKE

Jeanne Reidy of Holyoke and formerly of Dennis Port and Naples, FL loved summer. On Friday June 21st, as gentle breezes heralded the arrival of summer, the beautiful soul of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was lifted to heaven. Jeanne (Villemaire) Reidy was born in Holyoke on May 22,1931, the only child of the late Eli and Blanche (Gingras) Villemaire. She was educated in Holyoke and graduated from Holyoke High School in 1949. She attended the Holyoke Hospital School of Nursing. Jeanne is survived by her loving husband Roger J. Reidy Sr., whom she married 68 years ago on January 30, 1951 in Precious Blood Church in Holyoke. Jeanne was a devoted and dedicated mother who saved her truest and most unwavering love for her eight children. She was active as a volunteer for the Providence Hospital Auxiliary.  Jeanne served as a Religious Education teacher and on the Parish Council for Holy Cross Parish in Holyoke. Jeanne also was an Extraordinary Minister at St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth and at St. William’s Parish in Naples, FL. She volunteered at Naples Community Hospital. She loved her position with the Dennis Chamber of Commerce as it gave her the opportunity to share her first hand knowledge of her most favorite place, Dennis Port and the surrounding communities of Cape Cod. In 2011, Jeanne and Roger left their Dennis Port home behind after 54 years. They returned to Holyoke to be closer to their family as Jeanne’s health was slowing declining. In 2014, her family turned to Daybrook Village (formerly Loomis House) to help with Jeanne’s physical care. Raising a tribe ensured that there was not a day that Jeanne did not see her family while at Daybrook. Roger was by her side every day. Jeanne’s family offer heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Daybrook Village. Especially through the last few most difficult months and days, they unquestionably helped make Jeanne, and thereby her family, comfortable and comforted. Besides her husband, Jeanne leaves her legacy and life’s work- her 8 children: Dawn and her husband Edward McCarthy, Jr. of Saugus, Lynette Murphy, Carlene and her husband David Morton, Roger Jr. and his wife Margaret Reidy who is more of a daughter than a daughter-in-law, and Kathleen Plasse, all of Holyoke. Also, Suzanne Reidy of Needham, Mary Beth and her husband Dr. Brian Laliberte of Wilbraham and James and his wife Debi of Southampton. Jeanne had 17 grandchildren: Meghan Taggart, Bridget McCarthy and Edward (Jennifer) McCarthy III, Ryan Murphy, Brenna (Todd) McGee, Siobhan (Stephen) Sullivan, Timothy (Elisabeth), Patrick (Alyssa) and Kevin Morton, K.T., Benjamin and Jillian Laliberte, and Ashley and R. John III Reidy, and Danielle and Rebecca Plasse. She was predeceased by her grandson, Brian Reidy Morton in 1986. Jeanne also leaves 10 great grandchildren: Liam and Colin Taggart, Edward (Little Teddy) McCarthy, IV; Myles, Maille, and Mac McGee; Piper and Tate Sullivan, and Milo and Theo Morton. She is additionally survived by a cousin Robert Phelan, her sisters-in-law Claire, Marie and Janet as well as many nieces and nephews.  Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, June 26^th at 11:00 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton St. Burial will be private.  Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, June 25^th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Jeanne to Jericho, P.O. Box 1039, Holyoke, MA 01041.

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