John W. Byrnes

"John W. Byrnes, 85, of South Hadley, MA, passed away on November 10, 2014 at Holyoke Medical Center surrounded by his beloved wife and family. He was born to the late James E. and Theresa B. (Parks) Byrnes in Holyoke, MA. John graduated from Holyoke High School in 1946 and was employed at Holyoke Mills until he was drafted into the US Army in 1951. He served at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and Fort Sill, OK, until honorably discharged in 1953. After the service, he was employed by H.P. Hood & Sons in Holyoke and Agawam in retail sales for thirty years. John had always enjoyed the outdoors, especially the family trips to York Beach, ME. A former golfer and fisherman, John more recently enjoyed gardening at their home and hiking with his wife Doris at Ashley and Quabbin Reservoirs. In his childrens' early years he was a little league baseball and flag football coach and committee member of the Cub Scouts. In later years, John enjoyed oil painting at the Holyoke Home Information Center. John was a communicant of St. Theresa's Church in S. Hadley and was always willing to help others. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 54 years, Doris L. (Tourangeau) Byrnes along with his children, John J. Byrnes of S. Hadley, Theresa M. Byrnes of Milford, CT, Michael E. Byrnes and wife Ellen of S. Hadley, along with his precious grandchildren, John and Jennifer Blodgett of Milford, CT. His siblings, James H. Byrnes and his wife Gertrude of Holyoke, Shirley Jackson of Kingsport, TN and Phyllis Baran of Sarasota, FL along with sister-in-laws, Eleanor Henden-Morel and husband Eddie of N. Billerica, MA, and Helen Epperson of Middletown, OH and brother -in-law, William Sowa of S. Hadley and many nieces and nephews also survive him. Funeral services will be on Friday, November 14 at 9:00 a.m. at Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St., followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Theresa's Church at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Donations may be made in his memory to his favorite charity, Shriners Hospital, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA or St. Theresa's Church 9 East Parkview St., S.Hadley. For details, please visit www.beersandstory.com"