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Reverend Thomas R. Champigny
5/6/2017

SPRINGFIELD - Reverend Thomas R. Champigny, 62, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, May 6, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on February 12, 1955, a son of the late Edward W. Champigny and Eva Marie (Comeau) Champigny. He attended Saint Jean the Baptist Grammar School in Lynn and graduated from Saint John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, MA. He furthered his education and attended Merrimack College in North Andover, MA before beginning his studies for the Priesthood at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA. He continued his priesthood studies at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, NY where he was ordained to the Transitional Diaconate in 1980. He performed pastoral work during the summers of 1977 to 1979 at Holy Trinity Parish in Greenfield and served as a Transitional Deacon at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Holyoke. He was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield on May 16, 1981 by the Most Reverend Joseph F. Maguire, Bishop of Springfield at the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Springfield. He celebrated his first Mass at his home parish, Saint Jean de Baptiste Church in Lynn. Father Champigny served as Parochial Assistant at the former Immaculate Conception Parish in Easthampton from 1981 to 1983 and 1985 to 1986, Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Springfield from 1983 to 1985 and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield from 1986 to 1994. He also served as Administrator of Saint Patrick Parish in Northfield in 1994 and later at the former Notre Dame du Bon Conseil Parish in Easthampton. He was named Pastor of Notre Dame du Bon Conseil in October of 1995 and served in that position until 2007. He left Notre Dame du Bon Conseil Parish on Sabbatical in 2010. Following his Sabbatical, he served as Chaplin of Providence Place, Mary’s Meadow and Beaven Kelly, all in Holyoke. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his loving brother, Carl E. Champigny who was Called Home in 2003. He leaves his loving brother and sister, Edward W. Champigny and Jean-Marie LeMieux and her husband, Richard, all of Lynn; his four cherished nephews and two cherished nieces, Zachary, Andrew, Mary and Thomas Champigny and Melissa and Christopher LeMieux; and his many dear cousins, friends and extended members of the Champigny, Comeau and LeMieux families. Father Thomas will Lie in State on Monday, May 15, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. which will be followed by a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Vigil Service at the Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel at Providence Place, 5 Gamelin Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. A Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, Bishop of Springfield on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel. His burial will take place on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 12 p.m. at Saint Jean de Baptiste Cemetery, 134 Broadway, Lynn, MA 01904. His funeral services are entrusted to the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Framingham, MA 02472 or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels
7 Chapin Terrace
Springfield, MA USA 01107
413-737-1177