Mary Babski

Holyoke – Mary Babski, 91, passed away peacefully on September 3, 2025 at Mary's Meadow of Providence Place. Mary was born on September 16, 1933 to Waclaw and Aniela (Szelapin) Stankiewicz in a small rural village in Poland. After surviving forced labor and other atrocities during World War II, she immigrated to the United States in 1951 at the age of eighteen with her parents and siblings. Mary found work at factories such as the Lyman Curtain Company and Winfield Hat Shop. She earned her United States citizenship in 1960 and later graduated from Brom’s Beauty Academy. Mary’s career as a hairdresser started at Gino’s Beauty Salon and continued when she established the House of Glamour in Holyoke, which she owned and operated during the 1960s and 1970s. She specialized in the hairstyles and updos of the time and had a loyal following of weekly clients. Mary was a gifted cook, an amazing gardener, and was admired for her resourcefulness and creativity. She appreciated the wonders of nature and was an enthusiastic forager, especially for wild mushrooms. She loved her family above all else and was much loved in return. Mary is predeceased by her husband of sixty three years, Edmund Babski, as well as her parents, brothers Victor Stankiewicz and Casimir Stankiewicz, sister, Alice Jessup and brothers-in-law Albert Duczynski, Zygmunt Babski, and Ivan Retynsky. She will be deeply missed by her devoted children, Donna Scanlon (Edward) of East Longmeadow, Alice Shevlin (Robert) of Chatham, and Edmund Babski (Justine) of Holyoke. She leaves six treasured grandchildren; Neil Scanlon (Elizabeth) of Longmeadow, Kathleen Scanlon (Sam) of Philadelphia, Craig Shevlin (Pamela) of Nashua, NH, Thomas Shevlin (Erica) of Carlisle, Eric Babski of Westfield, and Sarah Szymanski (Nate) of East Windsor, and eleven great grandchildren, Conner, Hayden, Colin, Grace, Sadie, Kinsley, Natalie, Eloise, Marlie, Joseph, and Teddy. She will also be sadly missed by her sisters, Regina Duczynski, Janina Chung, Sophie Smolinski (Stanley) and sisters-in-law, Regina Retynsky, Laurel Stankiewicz, and Susan Babski. Mary will also be missed by many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Mary’s Meadow for the compassionate care Mary received during her two-year residency. Calling hours will take place on Thursday, September 11 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at Beers & Story Funeral Home in South Hadley, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church in South Hadley. Burial will follow at Mater Dolorosa Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charitable organization of one’s choice or the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, a home away from home for families with children undergoing essential and specialized medical treatment, 34 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107.