SOUTH HADLEY ~ Sophie B. (Pininski) Gagnon, 88, of South Hadley, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, February 17, 2018. She passed into Eternal Life at her winter home in Naples, Florida surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family. She was born at home in South Hadley on December 31, 1929, a beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Wazocha) Pininski. She was raised in South Hadley, graduated in 1947 from South Hadley High School and was a lifelong resident of South Hadley. For over 20 years, Sophie and her late husband, Raymond enjoyed being snow birds in Naples, Florida during the winter months and for over 29 years summered in Matunuck, Rhode Island. She was last employed for the Inter-All Company in Granby. During her leisure time, Sophie enjoyed crocheting, sewing, crossword puzzles, playing cards, playing blackjack at the casinos and playing on her I-Pad. She was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. Most of all, she was a wonderful homemaker to her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Raymond A. Gagnon who was Called Home on September 21, 2012. They were married on November 24, 1949 at the former Precious Blood Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 62 years of happiness together. She leaves her four devoted children, Suzanne R. Chartier and her husband, Eugene, of Chicopee, Gary R. Gagnon and his wife, Nancy, of South Hadley, Joanne L. Snopek and her husband, Paul, of Hampden, and Michael N. Gagnon and his wife, Joanne, of Granby; her nine cherished grandchildren, Kevin LaRocque and his wife, Jill, Karen Abramson and her husband, Matthew, Laurie Benoit and her husband, Brian, Amy Skowyra and her husband, Steve, Beth Louh and her husband, Mack, Craig Snopek, Kristen Starin and her husband, Thomas, Daniel Cadorette and Eric Cadorette and his wife, Sayo; her thirteen cherished great-grandchildren, Sydney and Ryleigh LaRocque, Sara and Ashley Abramson, Collin Gagnon, Kevin Benoit, Xavier and Spencer Skowyra, Sophia and Alex Louh, Heidi Starin and Kody and Lio Cadorette; her dear sister, Dorothy McKenna and her husband, Richard, of South Hadley; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Gagnon and Pininski families. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her dear brothers and sisters, Anthony, Frederick, Leo, Walter, Steven and Donald Pininski, Nellie Boileau, Stella Meyers, Josephine Vissers and Mary Davenport. Her funeral will be held on Monday morning, April 9, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her burial will follow the Mass at Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, 152 Pittroff Avenue, South Hadley, MA 01075. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, April 8, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer, her family has requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
