January 1, 1926 - October 1, 2019 U.S. Veteran
Burial Date: October 7, 2019 |
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Michael P. Quirk, 93, of Chicopee, passed peacefully on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. Mike was born in Holyoke on January 1, 1926 and raised in Chicopee. He was the son of the late Michael P. Quirk, Sr. and Mary B. (Bresnahan) Quirk. He grew up with his brother, Jack and sister, Ann. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Jack, Mike joined the US Navy in December of 1943, when he was 17 years old. Mike served in the Pacific as an electrician on board the destroyer USS Mansfield and was proud to be a “Tin Can Sailor”. After his discharge in 1946, he returned home to Chicopee and in September of 1948, he married Margaret Murphy or “Pegeen” as he called her. They had been together for 56 years when she died in 2004. Mike worked at Uniroyal until it closed and then was a Captain of Security at Baystate Medical Center and then a security guard at Solutia, a division of Monsanto until his retirement. As a first generation American, Mike was proud of his Irish heritage and held dual citizenship. He traveled to Ireland many times and still spoke Gaelic. He loved the color green and his wardrobe reflected his goal to wear something green every day. Mike had a quick wit and enjoyed sharing his limericks and humor with others. Mike was an active member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club, Irish Cultural Center, St. Patrick’s Church and after it closed, Mary Mother of Hope Church and the American Legion. Mike was a generous man and supported his church and many local charities. Mike is survived by his nephew, Kevin, his wife Pam, their children Mat, Dan and of course Madison, Mike’s “little girl”, nephew, James “Wilbur” Quirk, his wife, Pauline, their children, Brian and his wife, Tori, their daughter, Evie, Michael and Kaitlin Maxwell and her husband, Derrick and niece, Kathleen Rallis and nephew, Douglas Loveridge. Margaret’s nieces, Margie Sacco and partner, Tom Kline, Mary Mazza and husband, Joe and nephews, Tommy Sacco and his wife, Sheila and John Sacco. Besides his parents and wife, Mike is predeceased by his brother, John J. Ouirk, sister, Ann Loveridge and a nephew, John M. Quirk. The Quirk family would like to thank all the staff at the Soldiers’ Home for their excellent care, especially the staff on 3 East, 4 West and Comfort Care who listened to Mike’s stories, always treating “Mr. Incognito” with “honor and dignity” making his last days peaceful and to Sarah the Fiddler for making Mike’s love for Irish music come alive one last time. Calling hours are on Monday, October 7, 2019 at the Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home on 69 East St in Chicopee Falls from 8:30 to 9:30 am followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Carew St., Springfield at 10 am. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 01040. |