James Stanley Wachala

James Stanley Wachala, Sr., “Jim Wachala” passed away September 24, 2024 at home with his family. Jim was born in Chicopee in 1941, graduated from Chicopee High School as an all-Western Mass football guard. He attended Holyoke Community College and worked as a salesman where he sold draperies, upholstery fabric and window treatments for the Andrew Dutton Company for over fifty years. After his retirement he worked for Charlotte Fabrics from Minnesota for ten years.  Jim was avid downhill skier and loved being a PSIA certified ski instructor for Mt Tom Ski Area and Jiminy Peak. Jim taught skiing for over sixty years until he was 81. He was a man who loved his hobbies, his farm, vending at the farmer’s markets, and sharing his hobbies with family and friends. He was a gifted chef, a builder, an avid fly fisherman, bass fisherman, beekeeper, black smith, woodsman, model train enthusiast, gardener, and cub scout leader. He was a member of the North Chester Association, a former member of the West Springfield Lodge of Elks, the West Springfield Finance Committee, the West Springfield Conservation Commission and a former member of the National Guard.  Most of all Jim loved his family and friends. He was always the fun guy to be with; he will be missed. He was predeceased by his father, Stanley Wachala, a brother-in-law, Raymond Wyzga and Christopher Rodriguez, Sr.  He is survived by his wife Barabara (Smith) Wachala of sixty-one years, and his children, James S. Jr., and wife Katherine S. Wachala of Manchester, VT, Michael Wachala and wife Tanya Shang of Lowell, Leonides Rodriguez of Chicopee, his mother Helen (Oparowski) Wachala of Chicopee/Agawam and a sister, Nancy Wyzga of Enfield. Jim loved his grandchildren, James W. Wachala, Elinor M. A. Wachala, Timothy Farkas, Devin Farkas, Christopher Rodriguez, Jr., Michael Rodriguez and Jennifer Hawley. He also leaves a brother-in-law and his wife, William and Christine Smith of North Palm Beach, FL. Calling hours are Friday from 4-7 pm at Curran Jones Funeral Home, 109 Main Street, West Springfield and on Saturday from 10-11am followed by a Funeral Home Service at 11. The burial will be private. Donations may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For online condolences, please visit www.curranjones.com