Tim Welch passed away unexpectedly at his home in Chicopee on Monday, November 18, 2024. Tim was a loving son, brother, and uncle, who was famous among family and friends for his chocolate chip cookies (and nearly any other sweet treat he'd whip up at a moment's notice).
Tim was a licensed Plumber. He started his career alongside his dad at Welch Plumbing and Heating. Tim would agree, his dad taught him everything he knew. Most recently, Tim was working at Tandem Mechanical. He was excited to be the Project Manager on a multi-million-dollar apartment complex in Connecticut. He truly enjoyed his work, but more importantly, he considered his colleagues to be his friends.
In his spare time, Tim had many hobbies. He loved hiking and biking. He went on trips with his family to Acadia National Park and Great Smokey Mountain National Park, and he incurred a few injuries while mountain biking in Vermont. He was always ready for an adventure, so no injury could keep him from hiking or biking (he once hobbled to a peak in the Smokies rather than succumb to his knee pain). He made pour art that decorated not only his walls, but also the walls of the people he loved because he gave his work as gifts. Tim was also perfecting his golf game. He golfed every Thursday night in the Ed Normand Golf League at East Mountain Country Club, where he always beat his Dad.
As an uncle, Tim would play a round of Mario Kart or frisbee golf with his nephew and young cousins the moment they'd ask. As a brother, he supported his sisters in everything they did-he cheered loudly at graduations and road races and always bought them the most thoughtful Christmas gift of the family. As a son, Tim and his parents were as close as friends. He and his father worked together for over a decade, and they spoke daily. Tim and his mom texted each morning, encouraging each other to have a Marvelous Monday, Terrific Tuesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Thunderous Thursday and Fantastic Friday (!). Sunday dinners were a frequent occurrence. He could brighten any room with a well-timed joke and never showed up without dessert.
Tim is survived by his family who love him dearly: his parents, Gary and Joanne (Sullivan) Welch, of Holyoke; his older sister and brother-in-law, Meaghan Welch and Brian Vandemark, and his nephew, Odin Vandemark, all of Salem, MA; his younger sister Kellie Welch, of Brooklyn, NY; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Calling hours will be Friday, November 22, 2024, from 3pm-6pm at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home in Holyoke, MA with a prayer service at 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Dakin Humane Society: https://www.dakinhumane.org/donate.