Robert A. Bryda

"Chicopee, Robert A. Bryda, 62, of Cyran St. died peacefully at home on Friday, June 30 with his family by his side after a year long fight with Mesothelioma. Born in Springfield, February 19, 1944 he was the son of the late Taddeus and Helen (Greene) Bryda. Bob served his country in the Navy from 1962 – 1966 and professionally worked as a machinist at Carlin Combustion Tech. in East Longmeadow for 11 years. Very connected to his faith and church community, he served the Mountainview Baptist Church in Holyoke in a variety of capacities. Some of the ways he served his church were as an adult Sunday school teacher, as a member of the choir and song director and as a Trustee of the Church. Bob loved the old westerns, especially John Wayne movies. Growing up he enjoyed movies at the Rivoli Theater in Chicopee. He will be deeply missed by his wife of over seven years Joy (Craig) Bryda, his two children Jeffrey of and Karen both of West Springfield, along with his four step-children, Michael Houston and his wife Trista of Granville, MA, Sherry Houston , Janet Houston and her husband Bruce Nyman , and Julie Burks and her husband Jim all of KY. He is also survived by his brother Ted Bryda of Nevada and 10 step-grandchildren. Funeral services will be Monday, July 3 at 12:00 p.m. at the Mountainview Baptist Church in Holyoke, followed by burial with military honors at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Cemetery, Agawam. Calling hours will be Sunday, July 2 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St., (Rte. 116). For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to Baystate VNA & Hospice 50 Maple St. P.O. Box 9058, Springfield, MA 01102-9058. "