Richard A. Coffey

Richard A. Coffey, 95, of Wilbraham, passed away on Sunday, December 18 at Baystate Medical Center. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary Felice (Spugnardo) Coffey.
Born in Gloucester, Mass. On July 21, 1927, he was the son of the late Richard and Sadie (Griffin) Coffey. His first eight years of school were at St. Ann’s Church. He attended Gloucester High School, graduating in June 1945. In July he joined the United States Navy in a program for radar training until an honorable discharge in July 1946.
After military service he attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and in 1951 he graduated with distinction with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation, he joined Monsanto Chemical Company in Springfield, Mass., where he worked for 35 years. After retirement he provided computer services and volunteered on the Board of the Pioneer Valley Girl Scouts.
Richard (Dick) met his wife, Felice, in 1949. They were married in 1954 in Rockport at St. Joachim’s Church. In 1958, they moved to Wilbraham where they have resided since. Both have been active in St. Cecilia Parish, where he proudly served as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister and Adult Alter Server. They enjoyed 68 wonderful years of marriage.
Richard identified the three things that most affected his life: (1) The gift of faith – His foster mother, Lucy Smothers, having him baptized and sending him to the parochial school. (2) The GI Bill which enabled him to attend WPI. (3) The gift of Love – Meeting and marrying Felice and their many joyful years together.
Richard is survived by his daughter Eileen Chausse and her husband Dennis, of Springfield, and their children, Diane, Lauren and Susan plus great grandchildren (Lauren’s) Brianna, Caiden and Annalee and by his son, John Coffey of Arvada, Colorado, and John’s children, Jenna and Kelly, and former wife Debra.
Visiting hours for Richard will be on Monday December 26, 3:00 -6:00pm at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Road in Wilbraham. The funeral will take place on Tuesday December 27, at 11:00am at St. Cecilia Church. Burial to follow at the Gate of Heaven Mausoleum in Springfield. Memorial donations can be made in Richard’s name to St. Cecilia Church, 421 Main St., Wilbraham, MA 01095.