WESTFIELD – Virginia Smith of Westfield died December 15, 2022 in a local nursing home. The daughter of Lawrence and Anna (Chernik) Blascak, she was a long-time resident of Westfield. A graduate of St. Mary’s High School (1944), she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Westfield State College (1948) and taught at elementary schools in Branford, CT and West Springfield, MA. Virginia was the widow of Francis Smith (d. 2007) to whom she was married for 56 years.
She was a life-long communicant of St Peter and St Casimir Parish in Westfield. Virginia leaves six sons: Michael and wife, Jeanne, of Southwick; Peter and Mary Jane of Westfield; David of Beacon, NY; Timothy and Stacy of West Springfield; Thomas of Holyoke, and Daniel and Gay of Holyoke. She leaves also cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her siblings, Lawrence Blascak and Eleanor Burns, and beloved daughter-in-law, Joanne K. Smith preceded her in death. Mourning her also are her dear friends Winnie Peregrin and Pat Bettinger, and beloved cousin, Dorothy Kleis.
Visiting hours will be held Monday, December 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Firtion Adams Funeral Service on 76 Broad St in Westfield. A funeral Mass will be offered at the church, 22 State Street on Tuesday, December 20 at 10 a.m. with interment following at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Westfield. Firtionadams.com
