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Roseabell A. (Racine) Brassard
March 29, 2021

Obituary

WESTFIELD - Roseabell (Racine) Brassard, 97, of the Armbrook Village in Westfield and a former longtime resident of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, passed suddenly on Monday, March 29, 2021. She was born and spent most of her life in Chicopee a daughter of the late Paul and Cora (Gelina) Racine. After graduation from Chicopee High School in 1941, she was employed at the New England Telephone Co. in the Revenue Accounting Department for five years. She worked as a correspondent for the Holyoke Transcript Telegram, covering Chicopee news and was a well-known fashion coordinator and commentator. She wrote “City Life” as a columnist from 1993-94. She retired in 1998 as Administrative Assistant of the Adult Foster Care Program at WestMass ElderCare in Holyoke where she had been employed for 19 years. For more than 25 years, Mrs. Brassard was involved with the Chicopee Colleen Contest, having served as a judge for two years, moderator and moderator/coordinator in addition to preparing the extensive news releases identifying the colleen contestants and coronation ball information. Mrs. Brassard, with her late husband, Joseph “Gene” Brassard were the official escorts for the Chicopee Colleen and her court as they attended the many functions that go hand in hand with the competition. Roseabell was the recipient of numerous awards, including a Merit Award from the Chicopee Council of PTA’s for Outstanding Service, Outstanding Professional Woman of the city by the Chicopee Business and Professional Women’s Club and was named Woman of the Year by that organization in 1968. She was honored by the Department of Massachusetts American Legion in 1972 as recipient of the A.L. Fourth Estate Award for outstanding news coverage of veterans’ activities and community services and in 1975 received a certificate of appreciation for “invaluable services to the C&ROP Regional Nutrition Program.” Roseabell was a past president of the Fairview American Legion Auxiliary Unit 438, as well as the Chicopee Guild of Holy Family League of Charity, Degree of Pocahontas, St. Anthony’s Women’s Bowling League and former officer of the Willimansett PTA. She was also involved in Cub Scout Pack 424 at the Church of the Nativity as a den mother. She was a member of the Chicopee Falls Woman’s Club, a member of Russ’s Line Dancers, the Fairview Golden Age Club and a member of the Wednesday Afternoon Women’s Pool League. She was a past president of St. Mary’s Guild of St. Mary’s Church and was named Woman of the Year in 1990, was a former member of the Parish Council serving as chairperson from 2003 until 2009, former choir member and a Eucharistic Minister commissioned in March 1985 by Bishop Joseph Maguire. She served as an acolyte for parish funerals and was a member of Spiritual Services at Baystate Medical Center and representative to the former Deanery Pastoral Council. She was the widow of Joseph E. “Gene” Brassard who died on February 8, 1999. Roseabell was the mother of six children, Marine Major (Ret.) Ronald and his wife, Sandra of Mineral, VA, Michael and his wife, Terrie Cinq-Mars of Portland, OR, Douglas and his wife, Ilse of Leesburg, VA, Darlene Cortis and her husband, Kevin of Westfield, Kevin and his wife, Debora of Charlton and Dr. Marc and his wife, Dr. Melissa Mikami of Arnold, MD. She also leaves her 14 grandchildren, Diana, Sean, Oliver, Simon, Alyssa, Arielle, Lindsay, Joshua, Laura, Sarah, Jeremy, Brianna, Kylie and Delaney; her seven great-grandchildren, Sophia, Caleb, Scarlett, Ethan, Donnica, Annelise and Jonathan; her two sisters-in-law, Dolores Newman of Florida and Eleanor Owens of Texas; her brother-in-law, Jerry Underdahl of Minnesota; and her many nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and friends. Her Funeral will be held on Monday, April 5, 2021 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Burial will follow the Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, April 5, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. prior to her Mass. The funeral home parking lot is located in the rear. Please note that masks are required, social distancing must be observed and funeral home, Church and cemetery capacity is limited due to state regulations. Her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com

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St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels
506 Britton Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
413-533-3307