Online Obituaries

Joan K. (Cahill) Duchesne, 86, of Chicopee, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Baystate Medical Center, with her loving family by her side. Born November 20, 1937 in Milford, MA, and she was the daughter of the late James Burke and Mary E. (McMahon) Cahill. Joan grew-up in Milford, MA., with her three sisters, amongst a large, loving, extended family, proud of their Irish heritage. Joan graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Milford, MA, 1955 and she went on to train as a nurse at the Holy Ghost Hospital, Cambridge, MA. During her career, she worked as a nurse at Baystate Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center, both in Springfield. In 1959, Joan met her future husband Don at Hampton Beach, NH. They married in 1961. Together they raised a family of five children in Chicopee and along the way developed a wonderful circle of life-long friends that all raised their families together in Ward 6. Joan vacationed with her family every summer in Hampton Beach, always joined by her extended family and friends. She loved the ocean and a day out on the beach! She spent many a weekend on the beaches of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine. Joan also loved her coffee ice cream, sweets, crossword puzzles, a good game of Scrabble, shopping, her game shows and soaps. Joan had a close and loving relationship with her three sisters, collectively raising 15 children. She will be remembered for her beautiful blue eyes, smile and laughter; but most of all for her love and care of family and friends. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Donald E. Duchesne; five children, Nancy (Tom) Keyes of Ludlow, Kathryn Duchesne of Fairfax, VA, Karen Rogers of Bowling Green, KY, James (Sharon) Duchesne of Ludlow and Timothy Duchesne (Eric Howard) of Florence. She was also the grandmother of Kayla Keyes, Danielle Keyes, Jared Rogers and Jamie Duchesne and many loving nieces and nephews. She was the beloved sister of the late Maureen E. Dawes, Connie P. Polouski, and Ellen F. Cahill. She is also predeceased by her sister-in-law and best friend, Eileen Duchesne and son-in-law George Rogers. Calling hours for Joan will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 69 East St. in Chicopee from 9am to 10:30am, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Blvd. in Springfield at 11am. Entombment will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery, 1601 State St., Springfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Pl. Brookline, MA 02445 or American Cancer Society, 59 Bobala Rd. Holyoke, MA 01040.