WESTFIELD: Rafael Vazquez Cruz, 83, of Westfield passed away Saturday at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico on October 23, 1931 the son of the late Delfin Vazquez and Josefina Cruz. Rafael moved to Westfield in 1953 and was employed at International Paper for forty years, retiring in 1996. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church and was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He is survived by his beloved spouse of sixty years, Maria Isabel (Lopez) Vazquez, and was a proud father of four children, Miriam Rivera and her husband Luis Rivera of Humacao, Puerto Rico, Nancy Halloran and her husband Timothy Halloran of Westfield, Jimmy Vazquez and his wife Pamela (Lindquist) of Haverhill, and Minerva Vazquez of Bristol, RI. Rafael adored his nine grandchildren, Luis M. Rivera, Jr, Nayda I. Padilla, Lyllian Ayala, Kelsey M. Halloran, Sara E. Halloran, Jamieson W. Vazquez, Nicholas J. Vazquez, Nathaniel J. Vazquez, and Sean D. McFarland, and his six great-grandchildren. He is survived by eleven siblings, and was predeceased by three siblings. His funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 am from the Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad St., Westfield followed at 10:30 am by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6pm until 8pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to St. Mary’s Church, 30 Bartlett St., Westfield, MA, 01085. firtionadams.com
