The family of Westfield police officer Jose Torres arrives at Westfield State University during his funeral procession in 2012. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – It is never easy to say goodbye to a loved one and this weekend is poised to be one of the toughest in recent memory for the untold hundreds of city residentts who will pay their final respects to Westfield firefighter Kevin Regan, whose funeral will be held Saturday at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament on Holyoke Road at 10 a.m.
He will be laid to rest immediately thereafter at St. Mary’s Cemetary.
Regan, a 43-year veteran of the Westfield Fire Department, was 62 years old when he and his fiancee Lynda Cavanaugh were struck by a van in Yarmouth on the evening of December 27.
Cavanaugh was airlifted to a hospital in Boston and Regan was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
James R. Adams, funeral director at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, has been tasked with handling the accomodations for Regan’s funeral and is anticipating a massive outpouring of love and support for the Regan family.
“The preparation is going very good. We’re coordinating with the Fire Department and the family, as well as keeping Lynda involved,” said Adams yesterday.
Adams estimated that Regan’s wake, which will be held at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home on Broad Street on Friday, from 3-7 p.m., will draw between 1,000 and 2,000 mourners. He added that Regan’s calling hours may be comparable in size to those held for late Westfield police officers Jose Torres and Kevin Swords, who passed away in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
“Because of the length of time he was on and the large family – eight brothers and sisters – that he had, it is not only the people that he knew but it is the people that every brother and sister knew,” said Adams. “Everybody knows the Regans.”
Regan grew up in a firefighting family, as his late father Daniel served on the department, while Kevin’s sister Mary and brother Christopher currently serve in their respective capacities as chief and captain.
Westfield Deputy Fire Chief Mark Devine said yesterday that the city’s Fire and Police departments would be having a meeting to discuss their arrangements for Saturday’s funeral services.
“We’re going to have a procession from Blessed Sacrament to St. Mary’s Cemetary, with bagpipers from Holyoke and Westfield,” said Devine. “All firefighters will be marching.”
Devine added that a reception will be held after the burial at Regan’s beloved Sons of Erin on William Street. The Sons has an estimated 1,000 active members.
Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik announced Monday that administrative offices of the Westfield Fire Department would be closed at 1 p.m. on Friday to allow co-workers to attend memorial services for Regan, but added that fire protection and ambulance services will still be fully operational at all times and that citizens in need of emergency assistance should call directly to 911 to reach dispatch for assistance.
“Kevin genuinely cared for the City of Westfield, its Fire Department, and its people,” said Knapik. “This unexpected and tragic loss has been felt across our community and on behalf of the citizens of Westfield, I extend my most heartfelt condolences to Lynda, his family, and his firefighter family.”
