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Ned Hayward
March 18, 2021

Obituary

With deep sadness we must convey the unexpected passing of our beloved son, brother, husband, father, Ned Earl Hayward III, on March 18, 2021 after a brave and arduous five-month battle with the devastating effects of West Nile Encephalitis. Ned, 64, died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with his wife and daughters at his side. He valiantly conquered a similarly rare disease, Wegener’s granulomatosis, ten years ago with the ultimate donation of a kidney from an angel, his sister Cheryl, giving him eight more wonderful years of good health and happiness, appreciating every day to its fullest. Ned was known as the man who always did the right thing, put his family first, and truly enjoyed the simple things in life, especially just spending time with his girls. He loved being in the great outdoors, golfing, hiking, hitting the beaches of Old Orchard and Cape Cod, taking good care of his yard, walking his happy Husky, and cruising in his little red 1989 Corvette convertible, as well as relaxing on the couch watching the NY Yankees or Giants. Ned was a lifelong resident of Chicopee, a 1974 graduate of Chicopee High School, worked for Reidy Oil in Holyoke, then Williams Distributing for 35 years, retiring in 2019. He never shied away from hard work - ready to use his muscle, mind, and hands to provide, fix, or create. He was the epitome of strength and resilience, a wise, honorable soul with a generous sense of humor and an encyclopedic mind - smart as a whip, sharp as a tack - until his final day. Gone from us far too soon, but as Robert Frost wrote “Nothing gold can stay.” He leaves his devoted wife of 34yrs Francine (Jasinski), loving daughters Sophia and partner Andrew Hernandez, and Teresa and husband Michael Kagan, mother Janet (Reidy) Hayward, sisters Debra Hayward and Cheryl (and Paul) Hajdamowicz, brother Mark (and Tanya) Hayward, brother-in-law Ralph Jasinski (and partner Debra Tougas), mother-in-law Joan Jasinski, sister-in-law Lyne Hayward, nieces Megan (and Nick) Lafrenaye, Jenna and Krista Hajdamowicz, and great-nephews Eric and Nico Lafrenaye, best friend for 50yrs Charlie Geoffroy and his son Brett, his bestest-furry-friend/grand-dog Loki, many dear family members and heartbroken friends. Ned was predeceased by his father Ned E. Hayward Jr. and father-in-law Edwin C.M. Jasinski. Services have yet to be determined but will be announced in the near future. If so inclined, please send a donation in memory of Ned to the Friends of the Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013; to the National Park Service, Accounting Operations Center c/o RDMT Deposits, 13461 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, VA 20171 https://www.nps.gov/subjects/partnerships/donate.htm; or download a donation form from https://www.donatelife.net/give-to-dla/ and send to: Donate Life America, 701 East Byrd Street, 16th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219.

Services for Ned will be held Saturday March 27, 2021 at Grisé Funeral Home, 280 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA. Walk-through calling hours are from 11am-1pm, followed by a gravesite blessing at St. Stanislaus Cemetery, 800 Montgomery Street, Chicopee, MA. Anyone wishing to attend the gravesite service can meet at the cemetery or join the procession which will leave from Grise FH at approx 1:30pm. If you’d like to say something special about Ned, stories and fond memories will be welcome after the blessing. Please note that masks must be worn and all covid protocols must be observed.

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Grisé Funeral Home
280 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
413-594-4189