Demaris Bigos

"West Springfield, Demaris "Dee" (MacKay) Bigos, 80 years young, passed away peacefully August 23, 2012 at Wingate at West Springfield Rehab and Skilled Nursing Residence. Born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, she was the daughter of Randolph and Veronica (Berne) MacKay. She graduated from Barre High School, Barre, MA, 1949, and worked at local businesses in Palmer; Woolworths Five and Dime Department Store, A&P grocery store and retired from Jarvis & Jarvis, Inc. Dee was a secretary of the Palmer Lions Club, a member of the Monson Button Club, and belonged to three sewing groups, Westfield Courtly Quilters, The Sociable Sewers of Ludlow and the Cut-Ups of the Second Congregational Church in Palmer, which donated articles to cancer patients and shelters. Dee donated her time and cooking talents to the Open Pantry in West Springfield. She enjoyed baking, cooking, and most of all, baking bread in her Panasonic bread maker at home. She loved participating in family celebrations and spending time with her grandchildren. Another pastime in Dee's earlier years was ballroom dancing with her late friend Edward Koziol of Ludlow (2002). She was a communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Palmer, and also for the past 5 years attended the St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Springfield with her daughter. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Robert Bigos in 1967, sisters, Arline Wallace Britt of Pinellas Park, FL 2008, Yola (MacKay) Deveaux of Jacksonville, FL 2004, Faith MacKay of Barre, MA (1946). Dee will be deeply missed by her children, Shirley Midura of West Springfield, David Bigos of Gilbertville, Cynthia (Zisk) St. Cyr and her husband David of Wheelwright, and Brian Bigos and fiancé Erica Gaboury of Brimfield. Additionally, her grandchildren, Steven Midura, Melissa Midura and her fiancé Timothy Gilmartin, Jason and Thomas Zisk, Kaelynn, Gillian and Ian Gaboury, and great grandson Trevor Lee Midura survive her. She also leaves her siblings, Gloria Nowak of Three Rivers, Wilton MacKay of Alabama and Warren MacKay of Pinellas Park, Fl as well as several nieces and nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 29 at 9:30 a.m. from the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home 1475 N. Main St., (Rte 20) followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 in St. Thomas Church, Palmer. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. For those wishing, please make donations in her memory to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services , P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202. "