WESTFIELD – Jennie Bashista, 103, passed away on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 after a brief stay at CareOne at Redstone in East Longmeadow, MA. She was on born July 16th, 1920 in Westfield MA to Andrew and Victoria (Czelusniak) Bashista.
After graduating from Westfield High School and what was then Westfield State Teacher’s College, Jennie felt it her patriotic duty to enlist in the Navy as a WAVE during World War II. She later obtained a Masters of Education degree from Springfield College.
Jennie enjoyed a long career teaching in Westfield and Springfield elementary schools. After officially retiring, Jennie continued to teach as a substitute teacher until age 90, when she left to be the fulltime caretaker of a terminally ill brother for the next two years.
Always a hard worker with a lot of energy, Jennie used her free time waitressing in local restaurants, working the family farm, creating vegetable gardens and flower beds, sewing, knitting and baking. She was always interested in the world around her, enjoying reading, traveling and the arts. A devout Roman Catholic, Jennie was a lifelong parishioner of Holy Trinity Church, Westfield. For the last ten years, Jennie loved living in her apartment at Armbrook Village in Westfield and was appreciative of the kindness and care of everyone there.
In addition to her parents, Jennie was predeceased by her four siblings, Stella Garlo and Edmund, Theodore and Emily Bashista. Her niece, Glenda Garlo of Connecticut survives her.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Burial services will be conducted at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Westfield on Thursday, November 16th, at 1:00 p.m.
