All Obituaries

Hildegarde Marie (Ersing) Lyon, 90, a lifelong resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Monday.  She was the daughter of the late Erhard and Luise (Waller) Ersing, born July 17, 1930.  Hilda attended the High School of Commerce and upon graduation was employed by Eastern States Farmer’s Exchange in West Springfield and Toros Omartian Oriental Rugs in Springfield.  Hilda married her junior high school sweetheart, the late...

Barbara “Mitzie” Cawley, 93, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Born in Springfield to the late Wallace and Pearl (Knox) Metcalf, she was a longtime East Longmeadow resident. She worked in the Clerical department of the former Monarch Life Insurance Co. for 21 years until her retirement. Mitzie was a faithful member of First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow. She is survived by her son David Radebaugh and his wife Dianne, daughter Nancy Caldwell, brother...

Nazih Ali Zebian passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 17, surrounded by his adoring family. He is survived by his wife Hazel of 40 years, and his children: Amanda Vasta and her husband Scott of Wilbraham; Linda Ezziddin and her husband Omar of Wilbraham; Nazih Jr. of Monson; and Joseph Zebian of Wilbraham; as well as his four grandchildren: Brayden, Sadie, Abraham and Dalia.   Born June 18, 1956 in Mdoukha, Lebanon, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1973 and settled in Springfield. He...

Lifelong East Longmeadow resident Stephen F. Reed, 66, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. Steve retired from the CT Department of Corrections after over 20 years of service. He was a faithful communicant of St. Michael’s Church in East Longmeadow, and an active member of the Springfield Elks Lodge #61. An avid sports fan, Steve especially enjoyed rooting for the NY Yankees and Giants, and spending time with his son Brendan. Steve is survived by his mother...

Peggy J. (Wills) McKenna, 76, died peacefully on Wednesday November 11, 2020, at home, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Pelham, MA to the late Richard and Rosamund (Burrows) Wills, she worked as a label machine operator at the former Ampad in Holyoke for 26 years then at Dinn Brothers in West Springfield for three years. She was predeceased by her husband John McKenna in 2011. She is survived by her three children: Veronica McKenna (Lynn Pilon) of Springfield, Joan Jarest (Ronald) of...

Elizabeth Ann (Oleksak) Sears, 75, died peacefully on Monday, November 2, 2020 at a local nursing home. Born in Holyoke to the late Matthew and Viola (Hurley) Oleksak, Betsy attended Ursuline Academy of Springfield from 1959-1963 and the Chandler School of Business from 1964-1966. She retired from New England Telephone as Supervisor of service representatives after 13 years. Betsy then raised her family in Wilbraham and enjoyed her summers at the beaches of Rhode Island and the lakes of...

It is with great sadness the family of Roberta A. (Gobeille) Harper announces her passing on November 2, 2020 at the age of 85, with her loving family by her side.   Roberta was born in Palmer, MA to Bella and Georges Gobeille in April 1935. She graduated from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing, Worcester, MA and worked as a Registered Nurse, most recently until retirement, as an Infection Control Nurse at the Monson Developmental Center.   Bobbie, as she was known to...

Richard R. Martin died peacefully in Clearwater, FL. on October 26 at the age of 75. Rich was born on September 13, 1945 in Springfield to the late Robert F. and Nancy (Basile) Martin. He was predeceased by his brothers, Butchie and Johnny.  Richard was a plumber by trade, however he was avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing, and passionate about his New England Sports Teams, especially the Patriots and Red Sox.  He leaves behind his loving wife of 33 years, Sandra...

Longtime Wilbraham resident Alfred E. Carpluk, 95, died on Monday, October 26, 2020 at home. Born in Boston to the late John and Mary (Sedelnick) Carpluk, Al served his country proudly in the Army Air Force during World War II. He graduated from Tufts University as an electrical engineer and owned and operated Yankee Electric Manufacturing for 45 years. He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years Dolores (Barry) Carpluk, their children: Stuart Carpluk and his wife Susan of East...

Barbara (Hickey) Smith-Chaffee, 81, died peacefully on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing Center. Born in Springfield to the late Robert and Barbara (Leonard) Hickey, she worked as a CNA at the former Mediplex Nursing Home in East Longmeadow and previously at Buxton. Barbara was predeceased by her husband Bruce Chaffee in 2018 and her brother and sister in law Robert Hickey, Jr. and Barbara Hickey. She is survived by her four children: Deborah C. Spaulding and her...