HOLYOKE – Sandra M. “Sandy” (Merrill) Prairie, 62, of Holyoke, passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 peacefully at home with her loved ones. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut on June 10, 1958 to the late James and Jeannette (Gehret) Merrill. She was raised in Windsor, Connecticut and graduated from Windsor High School in 1976. She had lived in Windsor Locks and Springfield for many years before moving to Holyoke in 2018. Sandy worked at Hamilton Standard Credit Union, The Hartford Insurance Group, Mass Mutual and most recently Mercy Hospital. She loved helping others and was a long-time volunteer with the American Red Cross Springfield Chapter and a Multiple Sclerosis support group facilitator and advocate in Springfield. Sandy was active in the Sci-Tech High School Booster Club, PTO member and Library volunteer while her children attended school there in Springfield. She had a strong love of music which she shared with others by participating in multiple school and church choirs during her lifetime. Sandy also enjoyed watching game shows, playing tennis, attending her children’s sporting events, traveling, staying active with her high school reunion committee and working enthusiastically on family genealogy. Despite having many physical challenges related to her multiple sclerosis over the past decade, Sandy remained positive and as active as she could. She continued to communicate with and make new friends. She maintained her long-time love of Chinese food and enjoyed sending cards to friends and family for any and all occasions. Sandy had a good sense of humor and always made sure everyone felt included. Her family would like to thank the following people for their help, support and compassionate care over the years through Sandy’s long battle with MS including the staff from Mercy Life, Visiting Angels, O’Connell Home Care and Home Care Watch as well as her aides, Arianna and Lee. Sandy is survived by her husband of 38 years Roland “Rick”, her son Justin and daughter-in-law Gina, her daughter Tamara and long-term partner Michael, as well as her grandchildren Madeleine, Theodore and Delia. She is also survived by her sisters Carole (Rick) Germano and Mary Jane (Thom) Dembkoski, brother Jon (Judy) Merrill, her father and mother in-law Joseph and Jacqueline Prairie, and sisters-in-law Adele Prairie and Lisa (Roger) Smith. Sandy will also be missed by her nieces and nephews and grand-dog Benjamin. Her Funeral will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 Noon at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, February 8, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the Funeral Mass. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Please note that masks are required, social distancing must be observed and funeral home, Church and cemetery attendance are limited due to state regulations. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorial donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater New England Chapter, 101A First Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451 or to Community Crossroads, 8 Commerce Drive, Unit 801, Atkinson, NH 03811 or online at:
www.communitycrossroadsnh.org For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com