All Obituaries

Westfield-Joseph (Butch) V Pitoniak Jr., 81, died Saturday, April 4, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Westfield on May 31, 1938 to the late Joseph V. Pitoniak Sr. and Anna (Kuzel) Pitoniak. He has been a lifelong resident of Westfield and was a 1956 graduate of Westfield Trade School. He worked for Foster Machine, he was an Insurance adjuster for G.A.B. and retired from Frank’s Appraisal Service in 2000. He was a member of Southwick C.C. and played in the Ed...

Joseph Niedzielski, 92, passed into the Light on Friday, 3 April, 2020 after a year of battling cancer. The fifth of the 11 children of Joseph and Sophia (Szetelo), Joe was born and raised on the family farm in West Springfield. He was a graduate of West Side High and served in the Navy toward the end of WWII. Mechanically skilled and trained, he worked in machine repair at several manufactories, ending his career at Digital Equipment Corp. Joe married Anna “Mary” Panek in 1951 and they...

Chester LaPlante, 78, of Westfield, died on Thursday, April 2, 2020, at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke after a short illness. Born in Westfield on April 4, 1941, son of the late Chester and Virginia (Holt) LaPlante, he attended schools in Westfield and graduated from Westfield Trade High School. An Army veteran who was stationed in Germany, he served from 1963 to 1965. Chester worked as a machinist throughout his life. His most recent place of employment was Roselli’s Machine...

Beaulieu, Judy Ann (Fitzsimmons) of Westfield, formerly of Lewiston ME, passed on April 2, 2020.Daughter of late Franklin W. and Bernice C. (O’Leary) Fitzsimmons.  Beloved wife of 48 years to Gerald P. Beaulieu of Westfield.  Loving mother to son Jeremy F. Beaulieu and his wife Katherine of Weymouth, and to daughter Jill M. Devoe and her husband Christopher of Marlborough. Adored “Grammy” of Christopher “CJ” Devoe and Madeleine, Fara, Fiona and...

It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of our longest serving member, Honorary Firefighter Frank Bush. Frankie has been coming to the fire house everyday for over 65 years helping in the kitchen and making breakfast for the firefighters. From day one as probationary firefighters, Frankie has personally mentored three generations of firefighters in the art of properly cooking bacon, camaraderie and respect to the senior members (of which he loved to brag that he was number one)....

Westfield- Helen C. Niemiec 91 of Westfield passed away Thursday April 2, 2020. She was born in East Longmeadow on Januay 13, 1929 to Rudolf and Marya (Dobrowolska) Niemiec. She was a graduate of Chicopee High School and resided in Chicopee for many years prior to moving to Westfield in 1988. She worked for many years at Stevens- Savage Arms and was a member of the 25 year club. Helen leaves her Nephew Tom Twardzik of Westfield a niece Linda Allard of Leominster; she also leaves three great...

Chester-Robert Paul Richards, 80, died Thursday, April 2, 2020 at home. He was born in Thompsonville CT on December 2, 1939 to the late Theopalus and Stella (Bowiek) Richards. He was a U.S. Army Veteran. He grew up Thompsonville CT and graduated from Enfield High School and was a machinist for numerous years for different companies in the area. Robert was also a bus driver in the Enfield CT area. He has been a Lion for many years his titles included Past District Governor. He was President...

Louis P. Plourde, 88, passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at the Holyoke Soldiers Home. He was born in Caribou, Maine to the late Leon and Roseanna (Paradis) Plourde. Louis served his country with the United States Air Force from 1951-1972, retiring as a Chief Master SGT, receiving many medals and decorations over his career. Louis received a business degree, and was employed by GAB Business Services in New Jersey and retired in 1993. He loved to travel and see the country in his motor...

Sophie Anne Killips, 85, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at Heritage Hall West Nursing Home in Agawam MA. She was born in Westfield to the late Ignacy and Mary Zawada. Sophie attended and graduated from the Cooley Dickinson Hospital school of nursing in 1956. She began her nursing career at her alma mater Cooley Dickinson Hospital after graduation, after taking time off to raise her children she began working at Noble Hospital in 1973 and worked for over 30 years in the nursing...

Beverly A Bishop, 78 of Westfield passed away March 30th after a recent diagnosis of cancer.  Beverly was born August 19, 1941 to the late Alma I. Rockwal and Dewy D. Besaw . She was a graduate of Westfield High School and attended Baypath College. Beverly's favorite occupation was being a mother, something she excelled at.  She also worked in the elementary school part time and later worked as an activities director and secretary at Barnard Rest Home. Throughout her life time...