WESTFIELD – With heavy hearts we announce the passing of John N. Hess, Jr., 78 (1946-2025), on Friday, March 7, 2025. He was born in Holyoke in 1946 to the late Barbara (Alben) and John N. Hess, Sr., and was a 1965 graduate of Springfield Technical High School. John enlisted in the United States Air National Guard in 1967, and served for 20 years in Disaster Preparedness at Barnes Air Base retiring in 1987.
Always a hard worker, he also was an employee for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority as an emergency patrolman from 1987 -2008. John was also an independent milk delivery driver for H.P. Hood for few years. John was a humble and caring man who loved spending time with his family. Swimming in the pool with his grandchildren, boating and camping on the Connecticut River when his own children were young, and vacationing in Maine were some of his favorite times. He was a cub master for the local Boy Scouts and coached for Westfield Youth Soccer for many years. Additionally, he enjoyed watching old war and western movies and watching the Red Sox and Patriots.
John is survived by the love of is life, his wife of 56 ½ years, Barbara A. (Jurkowski) Hess of Westfield, his loving children, Scott A. Hess and his wife Mandy of Oxford, CT, Jennifer M. Cardillo and her husband Christopher of Southington, CT and Christopher M. Hess and his fiancé Kristyn Vermette of Chicopee, his cherished grandchildren, Andrew MacKay, Alex Hess, Adam Hess, Noah Cardillo, Abigail Cardillo and Matthew Hess and his five siblings, Earl Baker and his wife Sheryl of Columbia, MD, Cheryl Duprey of Lee, MA, Patricia Rosenburg and her husband Jerry of Williamsburg, MI, Robert Baker with Mary Day of Wayne, MI and Beth Webb of Antioch, TN. He was predeceased by a sister Barbara “BJ” Atkinson. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
John’s funeral will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 9AM from the Firtion Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad St. Westfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10AM in Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, 127 Holyoke Rd. Westfield. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, South St. Ware, MA. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 5-7PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ASPCA, St. Jude or a charity of your choosing. www.firtionadams.com
