Maureen R Walsh

November 24, 1931 - February 16, 2018

Maureen Walsh 1931 - 2018 Holyoke- Maureen (Morissette) Walsh, age 86, of Holyoke, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the love of her family and adoring husband on Feb. 16, 2018. Maureen was born on Nov. 24, 1931 in Holyoke. She is the daughter of the late Norman and Mary (Cauley) Morissette. She is the oldest sister of Catherine and Peter Cannone of Sandwich and the late Joan and William Maher of South Dennis. Maureen met Kendall Walsh at the age of 16 and they became high school sweethearts. He was the love of her life and they were happily married for 64 years. The couple lived in Holyoke, Colorado, Germany, South Hadley and back to Holyoke in the early 1960�s, where they raised their ten children. Maureen was a faithful communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church where she sang, played the organ and was the choir director for many years. She was a brilliant songwriter, composer, poet and pianist. She wrote all of the original songs for the production of �Love Holyoke� for the city�s bicentennial celebration in 1973. One night she performed with jazz legends Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie at Birdland in New York City. She worked as an executive secretary at Hampden Glaze, a cashier at the Prescription Center and a receptionist for Dr. Mark Singer at Holyoke Hospital. She volunteered at the USO and as a Gray Lady at Leeds Veterans Hospital. She was the President of the Friends of Holyoke High School Football and she formed neighborhood children into a choir singing Christmas carols. Next to God and her family, her love of the Red Sox rivaled no other. Maureen was a devoted and loving mother to Kendall Walsh II and the late Jan Walsh of Holyoke, Kevin and Kathleen Walsh of East Windsor, CT, Kally Walsh and David Hart of Holyoke, Karen and Justin Nealon of Chicopee, the late Kristen Walsh, Keith and Karen Walsh of Springfield, Kristopher and Deborah Walsh of Ludlow, Kirsten Walsh of New York City, Kyle Walsh and Gregory Mark of Springfield, and Kara and John Vey of South Hadley. She was very proud of her family and adored her 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Her children often proudly wear their sweatshirts that she gifted each of them that says, �Mom loves me best.� Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life which will take place on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ludlow Country Club, 1 Tony Lema Drive in Ludlow. The funeral service at the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery in Agawam will be private. Maureen was nurturing, sweet and compassionate. Her entire life was devoted to children, her children, her grandchildren, her children�s friends and those in her community. She lived a life full of love and laughter. In lieu of flowers our family wishes that to honor her: be kind to one another, visit a neighbor, lend a helping hand to someone in need, call a friend you haven�t heard from in awhile, volunteer at a charity or in your community. Please visit www.messierfuneralhome.com for more details.