Josephine Calkins

Josephine (Sisco) Dansereau-Calkins, age 95, passed away at Chestnut Hill of East Longmeadow, MA. on April 25, 2026.

Josephine (Sisco) Dansereau-Calkins, originally from Whitefield, NH, moved with her family as a young girl to New Braintree, MA, where they re-established their dairy farm. A graduate of Hardwick High School, she was an active member of the New Braintree Grange. In 1951, Josephine married Noel R. Dansereau (deceased) and began raising her family in Gilbertville before moving to Bondsville. There, she took great pleasure in cultivating her flower gardens, decorating cakes and sewing. Her professional career included 15 years as a clerical worker at Monson Development Center and 10 years as a real estate agent before retiring. Josephine resided in West Brookfield, MA. after her marriage to Charles A. Calkins (deceased), where they traveled the United States together. She moved to Brimfield and Ludlow before her final residence in East Longmeadow. A pillar of her community, Josephine was always eager to help those in need. She delighted in hosting holiday celebrations with her loved ones, singing in the church choir, and took pride in knitting hats and gloves as treasured gifts. Josephine's generous spirit and kind heart will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Preceded in death by her parents, Earline (Pike) Sisco-Jones and Leonard Sisco; her four brothers, three sisters, two half-brothers, and four half-sisters; her first husband of 30 years, Noel R. Dansereau; and her second husband of 15 years, Charles A. Calkins.

Josephine is lovingly survived by her four children: Betty & Raymond Rebello of Conway, SC; Sandra & John Kopacz of Belchertown, MA; Paul & Loretta Dansereau of Belchertown, MA; and Gayle & (Andrew, deceased) Smith of Wethersfield, CT. She leaves behind nine grandchildren: Lisa, Allison, Christina, Zachary, Katie, Kevin, Sara, Laura, and Allen; eleven great-grandchildren: Kyle, Camryn, Jacob, Annahliese, Zane, Tattiannah, Madison, Charlotte, Rohan, Reza, and Florence; and three great-great-grandchildren: Margaret, Josephine, Theodore.

She is also survived by her stepson Charles; two step-grandchildren: Eric, Jacob, Ryan, and (Shane, deceased); and five step-great-grandchildren: Lizette, Lauryn, Dillon, Kendal, and London. Josephine's legacy of love and devotion to her family will continue to be cherished by all who knew her.

A burial service is scheduled for June 6 at 11:00 AM at Saint Anne's Cemetery, located at 121 East Main Street, Three Rivers, MA. A friends & family gathering will follow at Tony & Penny's Restaurant, 18 Canterbury Street, Ludlow, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made in memory of Josephine to: Macular Degeneration Research, a BrightFocus® Foundation or National Audubon Society (reflecting her passion for birds)