Daily Hampshire Gazette

Mr. Alan Joseph Yagmin, 76. of Adams, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. He was born in Northampton on December 13, 1947, a son of the late Joseph A. "Sonny" Yagmin, Jr. and Lucy (Wojciechowski) Yagmin. He grew up in Easthampton and graduated from Easthampton High School. He received an associate degree from the former Northampton Commercial College, and later earned his Bachelor's degree from the former North Adams State College (now MCLA). Alan was a Veteran of the Vietnam War, serving with the US Navy, from 1969 until his Honorable Discharge in 1972. Alan worked at North Adams State College and its successor, Massachusetts College of Liberal...

Maria Antonia Giuseppa (Leone) Lysick, 70, passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Baystate Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Martone, in the province of Reggio Calabria, Italy, she was the daughter of the late George C. & Rose (Severino) Leone. Mary was educated in Springfield, attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel School followed by Cathedral High School class of 1971. She was married to Peter M. Lysick, who predeceased her in 2007. Up until her retirement in 1998, Mary was employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an institutional Parole Officer serving in both Hampshire and Franklin County Houses of Correction and at the Western Mass Correctional...

Charles S. Daniels Jr. age 76 of Sunderland, passed away unexpectedly at home on Thursday January 18th. Charlie leaves behind his two children, son Jon Daniels and his wife Rebecca of Windham, NH, and daughter Lani Parnell and her husband Jay of Holyoke. He leaves his six beloved grandchildren, Tyler Parnell and his wife Allison, Connor Parnell and his girlfriend Ashley, Ryan Parnell, Alyssa, Audra and Isabelle Daniels. He also leaves his sister Elaine LeMay and her family all of New Jersey. Charlie was pre-deceased by his parents Charles S. Daniels Sr. and Evelyn (Hebert) Daniels, as well as his brother David Daniels. Charlie was born February 4, 1947 in Westfield, MA and grew up and...

Joy Adams Parrish, 73, passed away unexpectedly on January 9, 2024. She was born on February 9, 1950 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to the late Edward and Barbara (Ralph) Adams. Joy was a graduate of Seekonk High School and Johnson and Wales University. She had long career as a legal secretary in Amherst, Massachusetts. Joy was an avid reader, and besides her extensive collection of print books, she had almost 700 e-books on her Kindle reader. She also had a deep appreciation of the beauty and bounty of the Pioneer Valley, and a deep love of animals. She was a consummate gift-giver, always finding the perfect thing. She will be dearly missed by her husband of 43 years, Carey Parrish, and their...

Bernard J. Mandeville Jr. of Hinsdale, NH died on January 1, 2024 following a long illness. He was born in Northhampton, MA on July 3, 1949 to Bernard and Penny Mandeville and grew up in Florence, MA. He joined the United States Marines in 1969 and served with the 1st Division in Vietnam earning the Combat Action Ribbon and attaining the rank of Corporal. He retired from the DPW, City of Northhampton after 25 years. He delivered mail as a contractor in Plainfield, MA for several years and as a bartended at the American Legion Post #236 in Haydenville, MA for 10 years. Bernard was predeceased by his son Seth in 2023. He is survived by his wife Sharon whom he married on August 16, 2006;...

Lorraine D. Bell, 90, of Holyoke, died early Sunday morning, December 31, 2023, at home with her daughters by her side. She was born in Holyoke, daughter of the late Wilfrid and Rosanna (Labonte) Gendreau, attended Precious Blood Grammar School and Mount Notre Dame High School in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada; she also graduated from Holyoke Business School. Lorraine worked for several years in the Payroll Department of the Daniel O'Connell Construction Company until she became a stay-at-home mom to her young children. Once they attended school, she worked for several years as a Teacher's Aide for the Holyoke Public Schools, and ultimately retired after working for 34 years as a Marketing...

Louis A. Rigali, D.D.S., age 97, of Holyoke, passed away at his home on Saturday, December 16, 2023. He was born in Holyoke, son of the late Emilio and Elena (Ferralli) Rigali and attended Holyoke Schools. Lou was a United States Army Veteran of World War II. Dr. Rigali graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors in Chemistry in 1952, received his Masters in Biochemistry from there in 1953 and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Dental Degree in 1957. He began a private practice on Appleton Street in Holyoke in 1957, and in 1969 opened a larger office on South Street where he invited Dr. Robert Liptak to join him. Shortly afterward he and Dr. Liptak...

Richard George McGee, 84, of Sandwich, MA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on December 15, 2023. He was born on February 28, 1939, in Augusta, Maine. Richard, also known as Dick, is survived by his loving daughters, Beth Anne Willett and Michelle O'Connor, as well as his devoted son, Richard McGee. He was a proud grandfather to Conner and Kaitlyn Willett, Jenna O'Connor, and Matthew McGee. However, Dick experienced the heartbreak of losing his grandson, Braeden O'Connor, his son-in-law, Rick Willett, his late wife, Elizabeth McGee (Aubrey), and his partner of 16 years, Patricia Niedzielski. Dick attended Northampton High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science...

Kevin Eric Balicki, age 38, passed away peacefully December 14th, 2023 after a brief illness with his loving family and girlfriend by his side. Kev was born in Holyoke, son of John and Linda (Mierzewski) Balicki. He was a graduate of Hampshire Regional High School and obtained a BS in Marketing from UMass Dartmouth. He began his career at The Hartford, then Mass Mutual, and most recently as a Compliance Analyst at Ascensus. Kevin had a love of motorcycles and cars, especially his Audi. He had an unbelievable brother and a group of friends from grammar school right through college and to present day. He loved spending time at Otis Reservoir with family and friends boating, ice fishing,...

On December 5, 2023, we lost a special person, Shirley Caldwell Anderson. Shirley was 97 years old when she passed and while her spirit was ready to go on until at least 100, her body succumbed to a brief illness in the New London Hospital in NH under the care of her beloved daughter, Daryl Anderson Mooney, faithful son-in-law Michael Mooney and the caring nursing team. Shirley was born on November 18, 1926, in Melrose, MA to Olive Roberts Caldwell Locke and Chester S. Caldwell. She graduated from Melrose High School and continued on to UMass Amherst where she received her B.A. in English. She met her husband, Donald Lindsay Anderson, through a mutual friend who suggested Donald, a...

Newton Doran Bowdan, MD Newton D. Bowdan passed away on November 23rd. He was born on either May 23rd or May 26th, 1933, the only child of Hilda Lichtman and Murray Bowdan. He grew up in Washington, D.C., close enough to the zoo to hear the lions roaring at night. He was adored by his parents, grandparents, and four maternal uncles?Paul, Ben, Jerry and Irving Lichtman. He was a boarding student at the Bullis School (a naval academy prep school in Silver Spring, MD) where he and his roommate kept hamsters in the bureau. His father brought him home when, after he broke his leg playing halfback on the high school football team, the coach told him to run it off. Irving taught him to drive,...

Heaven took another angel home on October 28, 2023, Marilyn Elma (Long) Tibbetts of Shutesbury, with her loving son Walter by her side. Marilyn was born on March 2, 1936 to Walter James Long and Elma Edith (Lemke) Long. She grew up in the Willimansett section of Chicopee. She married Robert Howard Tibbetts on August 11, 1956. Marilyn enjoyed living in and serving the Town of Shutesbury in many capacities. Like her father, husband and son Walter, her favorite and longest lasting service to the town was on the Shutesbury Fire Department. Marilyn had many careers during her lifetime starting with clerical work at Springfield Freightlines. She managed Long's Package store in Shutesbury, owned...

Patricia A. (Brunetti) Hall, age 83, of Holyoke (formerly of Northampton), passed away on October 24, 2023 at Holyoke Medical Center. Pat was born in Holyoke, daughter of the late Albromo and Norma Mae (Gendrin) Brunetti, and attended local schools. Pat worked for Liberty Bakery and Bradlees in Northampton, but spent the majority of her working years at Amherst College where she was a College Police dispatcher. She was a communicant of Holy Cross Parish in Holyoke. Pat was the widow of Ronald N. Hall who predeceased her in 1990. She is survived by two granddaughters, Jennifer A. and Katherine L. Kieras; three great-grandchildren, Rylliam, Gemma, and Wesley, and her best friend, Dee Brace....

Joyce L. August (nee Hansher), 83, of Northampton, MA passed away on October 7th, 2023 after a short illness. Joyce is survived by her daughter, Deborah August and her partner Jason Bushey of Easthampton and her son, Jonathan of Northampton, MA. She is predeceased by her first husband, Howard August and her second husband, Herbert August both from Northampton, MA. Joyce was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 15th, 1940, the Daughter of Irving and Pearl Hansher. Joyce graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee, WI in 1958 and then studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Joyce operated the well-known seafood restaurant, "The Original Jack August's" House of Seafood, in...

Frances Giandalone, 74, passed away peacefully on September 26, 2023, at Day Brook Village, Holyoke MA. Frances was born in Eastchester NY on September 20, 1949 to Vincent and Cira (Jean) Giandalone. Most recently she was a longtime resident of Conway MA. She is survived by her three siblings, Joseph Giandalone of Northampton MA, Rose Gillen of W Harrison NY, and Anne Giandalone of White Plains NY, and her nieces Julia Watson and Jennifer Gillen of W Harrison NY. Fran had a lifelong love of learning and reading. She was an expert seamstress like her mom and made matching outfits for her nieces and their stuffed animals. She was most dedicated to her animals and always had several dogs...

Robert W. Jolly, Jr., son of the late Robert and Shirley (Chartier) Jolly, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Holyoke on Friday, September 9, 2023. Rob was a graduate of Holyoke Catholic High School, Class of 1971. He furthered his education at Holyoke Community College, University of Maine, and Ohio State University, where he received his Master's Degree in Criminal Justice. After receiving his degree, Rob was a professor of Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He lived in New Jersey for many years before returning to Holyoke after the loss of his wife, Susan. Rob was a communicant of St....

Dr. Wendy Ann Dixon passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital after battling cancer for the past 14 months. Wendy was born November 8, 1960 to Grace (Wordsworth) and George Dixon. She was the youngest of their four daughters and grew up in Stockbridge, MA on her parents' Morgan horse farm. She and her sisters spent endless hours horseback riding through the fields and the woods near their home. In addition, Wendy successfully competed with her horses on the National Morgan horse show circuit for decades. She often recalled those days as being the best time of her life. Wendy also enjoyed the ocean, hiking and skiing. Wendy had a creative and artistic side. This...

Our beloved mother, Louise Blanche Gagne Newton passed away peacefully on August 24th 2023, at Mt. Marie Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Louise was born on January 4, 1935 in Holyoke MA, the daughter of the late Lena and Arthur Gagne and is predeceased by her sister Rita. She leaves behind her dear brother, Donald Gagne of South Hadley. Louise was a smitten twenty year-old when she married James B. Newton Sr. the love of her life for 56 years. Jim was a twenty-eight year old widower with two precocious toddlers and in the early years worked in sales at the family business. She admits she had a lot to learn, but she embraced her new life with excitement and fortitude and often said,...

John Joseph O'Neill, age 86, of South Hadley, passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He was born in Holyoke to the late Martin and Nora (Scanlon) O'Neill, and was a 1955 graduate of Holyoke Trade High School. John was a United States Navy veteran, and had lived in South Hadley since 1965. He retired in 1995 after working for many years for the Highway Division of the South Hadley Department of Public Works. Prior to that he had worked at Texon Manufacturing and Piels Brothers Brewing Company. John was a member of the Hampshire County Sheriffs Association, and a lifelong member of the South Hadley Sporting Club, Holyoke Elks 902, and Granby American...

James F. Zabik, age 63, a longtime resident of South Hadley passed away on Friday, July 21, 2023 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He was born in Holyoke, a son of the late Edwin and Laura (Bartlett) Zabik and was educated in local South Hadley schools. He continued his education at Holyoke Community College where he received an associate's degree in accounting. Jim was a longtime life insurance salesman for Bankers Life where he worked for over 20 years. He was a communicant of Saint Jerome Church in Holyoke. Jim is survived by three children: Alexandria Zabik-Maki and her husband Shane Maki, James "Tory" Zabik and his wife Ann Zabik, and Andrew Zabik; three grandchildren: Mia...

Michael J. Dubuc, 81, of South Hadley, was Called Safely Home on Monday, July 17, 2023. He entered into Eternal Life unexpectedly at Holyoke Medical Center in Holyoke and joined his beloved wife, Carole, and his loving son, David. He was born in Holyoke on February 4, 1942, a beloved son of the late Valmore "Red" Dubuc and Grave (Kelliher) Dubuc. He was raised in South Hadley, graduated from South Hadley High School and had lived in South Hadley his entire life. He served his country during the Vietnam War in the United States Coast Guard, received the Antarctic Service Medal and attained the rank of Radarman Petty Officer Second Class. He was employed as a Police Officer with the South...