Tessie O’Neill, 98, entered eternal care on Friday, February 6, 2026. She was born in Hatfield, MA in 1927 to Amelia and John Michalowski who emigrated from Poland. A 1945 graduate of Smith Academy, Tessie was both a cheerleader and a basketball player. Her love of music led her to join the choir, and she was an often-featured talent for the school’s minstrel shows and special events.

After graduation, Tessie went to Washington DC to work for the Department of the Navy as a stenographer for Harry S. Truman. While there she experienced many remarkable events, but one of the most impressive to her was the dedication and raising of the flag at the statue for IWO Jima.

Upon returning from Washington, Tessie worked locally as a secretary and helped her sister-in-law launch a restaurant. She married Paul M. Guerin in 1951 and together they had two children, Donna and Paul M Jr.  Tessie was predeceased by her sister’s-in-law Anita Sabourin, Estelle Dube and Theresa Keeler. 

Following Paul’s death in 1962, Tessie faced the challenges of single parenthood head-on. While maintaining her home in Granby, she returned to school and earned her LPN license in 1967. She then began a long career at Providence Hospital, eventually working in their methadone clinic, one of the first of its kind, in the area until her retirement.

Tessie was pre-deceased by her loving husband, William T O’Neill. Following their marriage in 1979, Tessie and Bill resided in Holyoke and Chicopee. They spent many happy years traveling together to Maine, Nova Scotia, and Hawaii. A particularly special milestone was their trip to Poland to visit Tessie’s relatives, an ancestral journey that remained a treasured memory for the rest of her life. Tessie is survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Miller of Holyoke and several of Bill’s nieces and nephews. Recently, Tessie lived in Belchertown at Christopher Heights Assisted Living. She was an independent resident until January of this year. She enjoyed the Christopher Heights community and many activities offered to the residents. Her favorites were bingo, making jewelry, and musical presentations (especially Sarah the Fiddler). Tessie also loved basketball and followed both the UMass men’s and women’s teams.

Tessie was blessed with a long life which she enjoyed fully. Family was always at the forefront of her priorities, and she enjoyed making memories with them. Tessie is survived by her devoted daughter and son and their spouses, Donna Roy (Larry), Paul Guerin (Darlene), three cherished grandchildren and their spouses, Raymond Guerin (Anna), Christopher Guerin (Jennifer) and Kristin Roy (Stephen Sengebush), and five treasured great grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Makayla and Raymond Guerin, Claire, and Emma Guerin as well as many nieces and nephews. Tessie was predeceased by her siblings, Helen Magdycz, Jenny Frost, Stanley Michalowski, and Edward Michalowski.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 13th, with a liturgy of Christian Burial at Saint Anne’s Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA at 11 am, with Rites of Committal and Burial immediately following at Saint Rose de Lima Cemetery, 58 Christopher Street, Chicopee Falls, MA. Tessie’s family will receive relatives and friends at a gathering at Saint Anne’s Church at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Tessie’s memory to a charity of your choice or a Mass Offering through Saint Anne’s church.