WESTFIELD – Francis R. Galanek passed away during quiet sleep the morning of Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the age of 92. Born in Westfield on April 2, 1920, he was a son of John and Victoria Galanek. He was a lifelong resident of Westfield and Southwick.
Francis graduated from Westfield High School in 1938, and went on to higher education in Springfield and the surrounding area. As a young man of about sixteen, he learned to fly at Barnes Airport, where he became a certified pilot. In 1944 he joined the Army for the war effort, and became a B-24 Squadron Leader for the duration, exiting the new Army Air Corps in late December 1945. Subsequently, Fran worked for the federal government, taking an early retirement at age 52.
The final sibling to pass, Francis leaves his nephew, John T. Galanek of Southwick; his niece, Janice Guzewicz-Tarbox of Plymouth, MA; the niece/goddaughter with whom he lived his last years in Westfield, Althea Bucko, and his niece, Deborah Galanek-McCann of Otis, as well as great nephews and nieces across the state.
A memorial mass will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Elm Street, Westfield on Tuesday, December 11th at 10:30 a.m. with a small gathering after the service.
Francis was loved and respected by all who met him and will be missed tremendously by those closest to him.
