CHICOPEE - Virginia S. (Scursatone) Downey, 74, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, April 8, 2018. She passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving husband, Neil. She was born in Calicoon, New York on July 12, 1943, the beloved daughter of the late John V. and Blanche A. (Rotolo) Scursatone. She was raised in Minisink Ford, NY and graduated from Eldred Central School in Eldred, NY. She furthered her education and received a Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding from Holyoke Community College. She moved to Chicopee in 1965 where she resided the remainder of her life. She served her country during the Vietnam War in the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. She was employed as a Medical Records Technician and later as an Administrative Assistant at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. She was an educator at Holyoke Community College. She also worked as a consultant at numerous local nursing homes and hospitals. Active in her Catholic faith, she was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee where she also served as a Lector and a Eucharistic Minister. She was a member of the First Battalion Fourth Marines Ladies Auxiliary Association, the East Springfield American Legion Post 420 and a dedicated longtime volunteer along with her husband, Neil, at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Her family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the medical, surgical and nursing staffs of Baystate Medical Center for their professional and compassionate care shown to Virginia. She leaves her beloved husband and best friend, Neil E. Downey. They were married on August 24, 1985 at the Holyoke House in Holyoke and were blessed with over 32 years of happiness together. She also leaves her four dear sisters-in-law, Revelle Scursatone of Liberty, NY, Barbara Downey of Chicopee, Melinda Costello and her husband, Philip Costello, Jr., of Wells, ME and Kathleen McCann and her husband, Patrick, of Holyoke; her beloved cousin, Martha Dunn and her husband, Frank, of Enfield, CT; and her many dear nephews, nieces, friends and extended family members both here and in Italy. In addition to her beloved parents, she was also predeceased by her dear brother, Peter Scursatone; and her dear brother-in-law, Richard Downey. Her Funeral will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, April 12, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located at the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Soldier On, 425 North Main Street, Building 6, Leeds, MA 01053. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
