WESTFIELD – Debra Tatro passed away at her home with family on November 1, 2023. Born in Holyoke, MA January 16th, 1951, Debby grew up close to middle pond in Southwick, MA.
Predeceased by her parents Martha (Birch) Durfey and Willard Durfey, her brothers John Durfey and Ron Durfey and her sister Rose Pinder.
She leaves behind to celebrate her life her loving husband Roger Tatro of Westfield, MA, her daughter Tammy Tatro Hobbs and fiancé Eric Carroll, her daughter Michelle Wiatrowski and husband Patrick Wiatrowski, and son Jeremiah Tatro and partner Kara Placzek, her “big brother” Wayne Durfey and his wife Stella Durfey and her brother Skip Durfey and his wife Jan.
She also leaves her five beautiful grandchildren Phoebe Hobbs, Owen Hobbs, Alyssa Wiatrowski, Ajay Wiatrowski and Jaelynn Tatro. Her cat Hope will miss her love and affection.
Debby fell in love with and became best friends with Roger Tatro, and was married for 55 years. Together they raised their three children in Southwick until 2017 when her and Roger moved to Westfield, MA. Through their years together they enjoyed traveling to places in the US including favorites Tennessee, Vegas, and Lake George. They loved heading to visit cousins in Readsboro, Vt., where they were known to hit the dance floor at the family reunion. Debby and Roger loved vacationing in Aruba and Dominican Republic with family and friends.
Debby worked in Southwick for 25 years as a buyer for Comark Communications. Friendships she began at Comark carried through long after she retired from the company. She also became involved in the Red Hat Society through friendships that began at Comark and enjoyed eating and laughing with the women she met. She carried on that tradition with in a book club with her BFF Bonnie Nadeau, their children, and granddaughters.
As a mom Debby encouraged her children in various activities when they were young…carting car-fulls of kids to the rec center, cheering on endless floor hockey games, sitting through countless dance recitals, sorting girl scout cookies as the cookie mom for brownies and taking family bike rides on Sundays. Her love of children didn’t stop at her own and she took care of numerous children over the years. She enjoyed the banter of her adult children and their partners joining in the fun and art of a good teasing while camping, playing cards or a normal Sunday night dinner.
Her pride and joy were her 5 grandchildren. She enjoyed reading books to them when they were young, camping in Tolland, MA and at Burlingame in Rhode Island, hosting tea parties, sharing memories of her childhood and just the simple act of watching them grow up into people she was so very proud of.
She passed on her love of the beach not only to her children but to her 5 grandkids as well. She loved playing in the waves and collecting shells…something she did with each and every one of them. From RI vacations to her recent 55th wedding anniversary trip to Virginia Beach, she loved the sound of the ocean and the feeling of sand under her feet.
Her laughter, hugs, and loving spirit will be missed by all who knew her.
Services will be held on Saturday November 11th at the Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad Street in Westfield, MA. Calling hours will be held from 12 noon -2pm. A Service will follow at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
