Steven W. Coutu

Steven W. Coutu

Colrain, MA - Steven Wilfred Coutu entered into eternal rest on January 19 following a courageous, three-month battle, with Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Affectionately known to others as simply "Coutu," he touched the lives of many through his humor, kindness, compassion and friendship.

He was born on June 12, 1952 in Greenfield, MA to Wilfred Joseph Coutu and Jean Pauline (Stone). He graduated from Mohawk Trail Regional High School in 1971. He shared 32-years of marriage with Billie Shirl (Demers) Rosenberg whom he married on August 6, 1983 and had three children – Erica L. Coutu; Amanda L. Jones and Steven A. Coutu.

Family was very important to him and he loved cooking Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with his daughter, Amanda, sitting in the backyard and visiting with his daughter, Erica and her two Nigerian Dwarf goats, Lucy and Juniper and golfing with his son Steven. Birthdays were remembered each year with a yellow rose for Erica and a white rose for Amanda. He loved to sing; some of his most memorable songs were "Daddy's Little Girl" which he sang to his daughters as they grew and "The Turkey Song" which he sang to his grandchildren Emilia Jean, Harrison Thomas and Charlotte Marie as well as other family over the years on Thanksgiving.

He adored his grand-dogs Henry Coutu and Remington Jones. Pheasant hunting with his grand-dogs Winston and Douglas brought him immense joy. He enjoyed barbecuing and was always up for an "excursion" whenever he was asked.

He held longstanding positions at Kendall Mills in Colrain and Mayhew Tools in Shelburne Falls, but the most rewarding work of his life was as at Mohawk Trail Regional High School where he worked as a paraprofessional in the middle school wing and coached girls softball for 25-years with Lee Lively and Sherri Lannon. He was also a fixture at home basketball games where he ran the shot clock and the field hockey clock.

He was a life-long parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church in Colrain.

Aside from his children, grandchildren and former spouse he leaves behind his sisters Gloria Jean Purinton; Valerie Wheeler and her husband Butch; his son-in-law Matthew Jones, his daughter-in-law Lauren Coutu; his nephew Joseph Purinton and his daughter Jennifer; his niece Michelle Purinton and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his father in 1971, his mother in 2015 and his brother-in-law Brian Purinton in 2016.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Jan. 23 at 11:00 am, at St. John's Church, Church St., Colrain. Burial will follow in West Branch Cemetery.

At Steve's wish, there are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mohawk Athletic Association, P.O. Box 111, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 in care of Jennifer Pease.