James J. Kennedy

"Belchertown- James J. Kennedy, 86, of Chauncey Walker St. passed away October 7, 2008 at Mercy Medical Center. Born March 4, 1922 in Springfield, MA, he was the son of the late Edward and Nellie (Kennedy) Kennedy. Previously residing in Springfield, James served his country during WWII in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a bus operator at the Springfield Street Railway for 39 years before his retirement in 1984 and was a gymnastics coach from 1967-1973 at Holy Name Social Center. He was a member of the local 448 Mass Transit Workers and a communicant of St. Francis Church. James leaves his wife of 64 years, June (Cordes) along with his children, James E. and his wife Colleen of Swansea, MA, Sharyn Lipski of Steuben, ME, Kathleen Cieplik and her husband Raymond of Charlestown, RI, and Barbara-Lee Nelson and her husband Karl of Wilbraham. His greatest love and joy was his 13 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. He will be also missed by his sister Eileen Flanagan of Wilbraham and her children Daniel and Mary Ellen Flangan., and sister-in-laws Vivian Roberts, Arline Smith and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. Friends and family may gather at the funeral home Thursday at 11:00 a.m. to process to St. Francis Church for a 12:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Military honors and burial will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam at 2:00 p.m. Donations may be made in his memory to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. "