Lawrence Edward Oleksak

WESTFIELD

Lawrence E. Oleksak, 96, died peacefully 3/29/2023 at Heritage Hall in Agawam, surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his wife Florence (Galliani) in 2009. A lifelong resident of Westfield, and a communicant of Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Church, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Anna (Organek) Oleksak. Lawrence attended St Mary’s schools and was drafted by the army during his senior year of high school in1943. After his honorable discharge, he was employed by Steven’s Paper Mill in Westfield, where he worked for 33 years, until it closed in 1981. He then worked as a custodian at Mittenague Church in West Springfield, retiring in 1988. He was a member of the Italian Fraternal Club and Slovak Citizen’s Club, both in Westfield. Lawrence was predeceased by his bothers William and Joseph. He is survived by his 3 daughters, Deborah Higgins and her husband Al of Lutz, FL, Doreen Gallagher and her husband Paul of West Springfield, MA, and Donna Davino and her husband Ed of Annapolis, MD., 5 grandchildren, Michael and his wife Fasha, Daniel and his wife Elizabeth, Keri and her fiancé John, Hunter and Carter, and 2 great granddaughters, Aveline and Ellery, with a third due in May, and several nieces and nephews. 

Lawrence lived in the same house in Westfield for more than 70 years and spent his life making memorable moments for his family and especially enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren. Upon retirement, he and Florence became snowbirds, living in Leesburg, FL for a few months each winter. Lawrence also enjoyed fishing, gardening, making wooden crafts and attending craft fairs with Florence, poker night and bocce at the Italian club, going to local concerts in the summer, and had the ability to easily pick up a conversation with people he did not know. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, enjoying all his grandkids’ activities and milestones, and taking vacations or road trips with his daughters. Calling hours will be Monday April 3 from 4 - 7 pm at Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad St, Westfield, MA. The funeral will be Tuesday April 4 at 10 am at the funeral home, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Church at 11 am, 127 Holyoke Rd, Westfield, with burial to follow at St Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Lawrence to the University of Miami using the link https://development.miami.edu/page.aspx?pid=749  and selecting Multiple Myeloma Research Fund or sending a check to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, 1475 NW 12th Ave, 1st Floor, Miami, FL 33136. Specify your donation to the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund. www.firtionadams.com

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