Mary T. Vanasse

" Chicopee – Mary T. “Marie” (Shakarian) Vanasse, 83, passed to her eternal reward on October 18, 2005 after a brief battle with cancer surrounded by her loving family. Born in Springfield, MA on Oct. 16, 1922, she was the daughter of the late George and Clara Shakarian; her younger years were spent on the Cartier family farm in Belchertown with her four siblings. Marie graduated from Hopkins Academy and worked as a cook at Smith College, before retiring from the Belchertown State School in 1982 as an occupational therapist aide. Marie was a communicant and Eucharistic minister of St. Francis Church and was active in the Catholic Women’s Club. She was an avid golfer, bowler, gardener and cook. She married Robert N. Vanasse in 1944 and moved to Belchertown where they raised their four children. She was predeceased by Robert in 1966. In 1993 she married Daniel Riordan and resided with him in Chicopee until his death in 2005. She is survived by four children; Philip of Ware, Br. Hugh (Donald) of South Carolina, Darice of Texas and Paul and his wife Donna of Belchertown and stepchildren Daniel and James Riordan of Chicopee and Patricia Boryczka of Northampton. She also leaves a brother Albert Shakarian and his wife Josephine of New Jersey, two sisters Jennie McCullough of Belchertown and Eileen Ciarleglio and her husband Ralph of Connecticut, five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Calling hours will be Friday from 4:00-6:30pm with a service of remembrance to begin at 6:30 pm at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. A funeral service will be Saturday at 8:15am from the funeral home, followed by a Mass at 9:00am in St. Francis Church. Burial will follow in St. M ary’s cemetery in Northampton. Donations may be made in her memory to Baystate Visiting Nurse and Hospice, 50 Maple St., Springfield, MA 01102. "