Online Obituaries

Therese “Terry” B. (Bayeur) Skwira, 75, of Chicopee, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Care One at Redstone in East Longmeadow. She was a retired cook for the Chicopee School System School Lunch Program at the Robert R. Litwin School. Terry was born on November 24, 1942 in Holyoke and lived in Chicopee for fifty three years. She was the daughter of the late Emilien D. and Blanche M. (Dion) Bayeur. Terry was a hair stylist at the former Steigers Department Store, a clerk at the Wall Street Journal, worked at the Flower Cart at the Holyoke Mall for McClellands’s Florist and was the manager of her late husband’s polka band, Jack Skwira and the Melody Gents. Terry was a communicant of the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, president of the St. Stanislaus School Home and School Association, a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and a former member of the Rosary Society. She was a member of the Camping Association-NAFCA Springfield Chapter and President of the Chicopee High School Band. For over twenty five years, Terry was the volunteer Activities Director for all kids and adult events during the summer months, at WAC-Wild Acers Campground, Old Orchard Beach, ME. She enjoyed driving everywhere, North, South, East and West. At the Senior Center and at the Chicopee Library, she did crocheting. Terry was also a member of the “Mermaids” swimmers at the Elms College. She enjoyed crocheting many gifts and doing crafts for family and friends, camping in Maine, beach time, sewing, and ceramics. She liked having Dunkin Donuts coffee with her special friends and going on scenic route day trips and outings with her children and daughter-in-law. Besides her parents, Terry is predeceased by her husband, John J. “Jack” Skwira who died on May 27, 2003. She is survived by two loving daughters, Elizabeth A. “Betsy” Skwira of Chicopee and Donna M. Skwira of Chicopee and one amazing son, Michael J. “Mike” Skwira and daughter in law, Jennifer Turner-Skwira of Waukesha, WI. Terry is also survived by her brother, Ronald Bayeur and sister-in-law, Lynn Bayeur of Enfield, CT; her brother-in-law, Francis Skwira and sister-in-law, Kathy Skwira of Holyoke, four nieces and one nephew, four great nieces and four great nephews, cousins and many close, loving good friends. Terry’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 from the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 61 Grape St. in Chicopee Center at 9 am followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, 566 Front St. in Chicopee at 10 am. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Calling hours are on Monday from 4 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stanislaus School, 534 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013.