WESTFIELD: 
William G. Hebert, age 96, of Westfield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 28, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by Bertha Hebert, his wife of sixty-nine years, who died in 2014. Born in Springfield on September 25, 1919, he graduated from Classical High School in 1937 and ½. His forty-five years of service with the Springfield Newspapers was interrupted by World War II. He joined the United States Marines immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, rose to the rank of Sergeant, and fought on Iwo Jima.
He married Bertha in June of 1944 with whom he had four children. They made their home in Chicopee for more than thirty years, retiring and moving to Westfield in 1986. He loved spending time with his wife, children, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Bill and Bertha loved watching movies, playing cards with family and friends, and donating to Connecticut’s two casinos. Bill wa
s a huge Yankee fan, enjoyed Rummikub, and loved taking care of his lawn and “Bertha’s Garden.”
He will be deeply missed by son Thomas and his wife Eleanor of East Windsor, Connecticut, daughter Elaine Prisby and her husband Henry of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, son Jeffrey and his wife Linda of Stratham, New Hampshire, and daughter Marianne Kochanek and her husband Andrew of Suffield, Connecticut; their grandchildren, Scott, Jay, Chris, Amy, Matt, Ken and Lauren; their great grandchildren; Lily, Ruby, Giana, Brady, Sam, Grace, Felicity, Pheona, and Jed; Bill was predeceased by his parents George and Eva, his brother Norman, and his sisters Doris, Loretta, and Claire.
He was a devoted communicant of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield. Bill’s Funeral will begin on Monday, May 2 at 9:00 A.M. at the Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway, Southwick, followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery also in Westfield after which Sgt. Hebert will be posted as a Sergeant-of-the-Guard at Heaven’s Gates. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, 127 Holyoke Road, Westfield, MA 01085. www.forastiere.com.
