John Joseph Goonan

John Goonan 1929 - 2009   BELCHERTOWN - John J. Goonan, 79, died Wednesday, December 23 at BaystateMedicalCenter following a lifetime of placing his family and others first. Formerly of Chicopee, he was a lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts, and also lived in Westerly, R.I., where his summer beach home was always open for family and friends. His past employment included being a logistics manager with the U.S. Government. He was born in Holyoke, and was the son of the late Peter and Sarah (Murphy) Goonan. He attended St. Patrick's School in Chicopee and graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield and proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the John Boyle O'Reilly and Sons of Erin clubs. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann (Welch), and his children, Margaret of Hartford, John M. of Springfield, Peter and wife Lisa, and Christopher and wife Peg, all of Chicopee, Noreen and husband Ted of Savannah, Ga., Michael and wife Michelle of Huntington, James and wife Sylvie of Clermont, Fla., Deborah of Lexington, Ky., and stepsons Robert and wife Diane McCarthy of Belchertown and Steven and wife Deborah McCarthy of Ware. He also leaves his brother Michael and wife Ann of Chicopee, and his sisters, Sister Mary of Fatima of Mt. Marie, Holyoke, and Sarah Theresa O'Brien of Doylestown, Pa.  He will be sadly missed by 22 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his sister, Nora Goonan in 1987. Funeral services are on Monday, December 28, at 8:30 a.m., from the Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway, Chicopee, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m., at St. Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan St., Chicopee.  Calling hours at the funeral home are on Sunday, December 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Burial will be at the convenience of family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the ShrinersHospital, 516 Carew St.Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Please visit www.tylunasfuneralhome.com for directions and the on-line guest book.