All Tributes

CHICOPEE – James W. Davis, 86, passed away Friday, January 22, 2021 at Vero Nursing Home in Hampden with his beloved wife, Janet, beside him. Jim was born on December 17, 1934 in Ayer, MA. A son of the late James and Lillian (Legree) Davis. He moved to Chicopee in 1950 and attended Chicopee public schools. He was employed at Production Pattern for many years before entering the construction industry. Jim was a gifted man who could fix just about anything. He retired in 1992 as a...

Lillian L. (Lemelin) Bigda, 89, of Wildermere St. in Chicopee passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, January 20, 2021 at Mercy Hospital.  Lillian was born in Chicopee, a daughter of the late Arthur P. and Laura (Rouillard) Lemelin. She was a lifelong Chicopee resident and attended local schools, graduating from Cathedral High School in 1949. She worked as the office supervisor for H & R Block for 33 years before her retirement. She also worked for Garretson-Ellis Lumber...

Daniel O’Donnell, 81, of Curry Lane in the Fairview section of Chicopee passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family early Friday morning, January 15th, 2021. Dan was born in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland on July 27th, 1939, a son of the late Thomas and Nora (Carey) O’Donnell. He was raised and educated in Ireland and attended schools in County Clare. He left Ireland in 1957, immigrating to New York City, before settling in Chicopee with his family. He was married on...

Myles R. Garrigan, 97, of Smithfield Court in Springfield passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Myles was born in South River, New Jersey on September 9, 1923. At a very young age he was orphaned; his mother Mildred (Stults) Garrigan passed in 1930 and his father Miles Vincent Garrigan died in 1931. He was raised by his Aunt Beatrice Stults (Aunt Bea) and the two of them lived in a small apartment over a local garage.  He attended South River High School until his senior year when...

Lorraine U. Kotelnicki, 77, of Lyon Street in Ludlow passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center. Lorraine was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 18, 1943, a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Shalins) Kotelnicki. Lorraine worked as a Manager for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Employment & Training. She retired in 2005 after 44 years of dedicated service. She was a communicant of St. Elizabeth Ann Church in Ludlow, a member of the Ludlow Elks...

Lisa Ruth Sergienko passed away at her home in Springfield on January 5, 2021. A native of Chicopee, she was born on March 13, 1963 to Walter and Christine (Schorling) Sergienko who predeceased her. She graduated from Wilbraham & Monson Academy and Grinnell College. Lisa spent many years in the Portsmouth, Virginia area working for various companies in shipping and export logistics before moving back to Western Massachusetts. Some of her fondest work memories were of assisting the...

Helen M. Cote, 94, formerly of Yale Street in Chicopee passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, January 2, 2021 at Heritage Hall Nursing center. Helen was born in Springfield on November 19, 1926, a daughter of the late Arthur and Ida (Morin) Desilet. Helen was raised and schooled in Chicopee. Helen married Richard W. Cote and they shared 52 years of happiness, family and wonderful memories together, settling in Chicopee to raise their family. She was a communicant of Mary Mother of Hope...

Walter J. Bennett, 78, of Ellerton Street in Chicopee passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 at BSMC after a brief battle from complications of lung cancer. Walter was born in Ilion, New York on November 22, 1942, a son of the late Milton C. & Dorothy (Peltier) Bennett. He was raised in Ilion, attending local schools and graduated from Ilion High School. He furthered his education and graduated from the State Univ. of NY, at Delhi, NY. Walter had a variety of careers.   He...

Robert Ross LaFreniere, 82, of Blanan Drive in Chicopee passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve at home with family at his side. Robert was born in Springfield on September 21, 1938, the same day the Great New England Hurricane of 38’ struck New England. He was a lifelong Chicopee resident, attended local schools and graduated from Chicopee High School. He enlisted in the US Army serving honorably from 1961 to 1963 when he was discharged and returned home. Robert married the former...

Angeline M. Lajeunesse, 97, of Czepiel St. in Chicopee passed away on Tuesday morning at her home surrounded by family. Angie was born in Chicopee, a daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Robak) Czerkiewicz. Angie married Louis A. Lajeunesse on September 26, 1942 and they settled in Chicopee to raise their family.  Angie worked for Savage Arms during the War and later as a clerk for Polish National Credit Union and finally retired from Lambert-Lavoie Elementary School in the cafeteria....