Josephine A. (Dec) Grycel, age 98, of South Hadley passed away peacefully on Monday, May 5, 2025 at Holyoke Hospital. She was born in Holyoke, a daughter of the late Matthew and Bertha (Litwora) Dec and was a 1942 graduate of Holyoke High School. Growing up, Josephine worked for several area businesses including Sickles TV Tuners in Chicopee. After getting married and moving to South Hadley to raise her family, she worked at Friendly’s, the SH school lunch program, providing childcare, and many years at Steiger’s in Holyoke until she retired to an apartment in Lathrop Village where she lived on her own until just days before her passing. She was a loving mother and grandmother, chaperoned many school events including the SH Marching 100 Summer camp program, enthusiastically tap danced as a member of the West Side Tappers, and travelled with the Red Hat society to help bring cheer to their many events. She loved knitting beautiful sweaters for everyone and didn’t miss a Red Sox game in her later years. Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting Josephine knew that she was very warm, welcoming and full of life. Besides her parents, Josephine was predeceased by her husband, Stanley J. Grycel on December 26, 1976. She is survived by her children; Barbara A. Bridges and her husband Charles of New Durham, NH, Christine A. Rousseau and her husband Thomas of Escondido, CA, Theodore J. Grycel (his wife Tracy deceased) of Albuquerque, NM, and Edward J. Grycel and his wife Karen of Wilbraham; nine grandchildren (and partners): Kelly (Joseph) Bridges, Lorin Bridges, Tyler (Alison) Rousseau, Corey Rousseau, Angela Moreno, Nicolas Grycel, Sarah Grycel, Jacob (Ally) Grycel and Ethan (Aileen) Grycel; and several great grandchildren. Josephine was predeceased by three sisters, Jennie Dec, Bertha Baillargeon and Phyllis Pasek and five brothers, Adolph, Fred, William, Michael and Bolak Dec. A special thanks to Holyoke Hospital staff and Danielle from Holyoke VNA Hospice who made Josephine’s final hours so comforting. A memorial with visiting hours will be held on Saturday June 21 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street. A private burial ceremony for immediate family will take place at Mater Dolorosa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holyoke VNA Hospice Life Care, www.holyokevna.org or Boston Children's Hospital, bostonchildrens.org