Raymond J. GARCIA

GARCIA, Raymond J.

Raymond J. Garcia, a resident of this city for 20 years and former Southwick resident passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, (October 29, 2013) at Noble Hospital, Westfield, MA. Born in Agawam, MA, Ray was the son of the late Angelo and Elizabeth (Mercadante) Garcia, and was a graduate of Westfield High School. Ray was the general manager for Windsor Shade Tobacco Co. for over 35 years, prior to his retirement in 1991. He was a volunteer in the Westfield school VIPS program, earning The Volunteer of the Year award, a former member and past president of the Southwick Lions Club, and a former member of the Southwick Board of Finance. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Ray will be dearly missed by his extended family as he enjoyed being involved in all of the grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's activities. He is survived by his three children, Steven Garcia and his wife Emma of East Granby, Thomas Garcia and his wife Lynn of Granby, and Susan Claughsey and her husband Chip of Windsor; a sister Virginia Kibbe of Southwick, MA; six grandchildren, David Garcia and his fiancée Starra Clark, Christy Garcia and her wife Kate Pettit, Nicole Garcia, Kate Castor and her husband Bryan, Amy Klvana and her husband Kevin, Brian Claughsey and his wife Emily; and seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Luke, Cole, Reed, Henry, Oliver, and Hannah Ruth, close friend Barbara Kress of Westfield, MA and the Gaylord family of Westfield, MA. He was predeceased by his wife Ruth E. (Geoffrion) Garcia in 1996.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2013, at 8:45 a.m. from the Southwick-Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway, Southwick, MA, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Sheep Pasture Rd., Southwick, MA. Burial will follow in New Cemetery. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home on Friday, November 1, from 4-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Lake Church, Sheep Pasture Rd., Southwick, MA 01077.