William R. "Chick" Gamelli

William R. "Chick" Gamelli, 81, beloved husband of Joan (McCarthy) Gamelli, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2017, with family at his side He was the son of the late Raphael and Rose (Furlani) Gamelli. Bill was a 1953 graduate of Tech High School and a career ironworker and member of Ironworkers Local 357. His true love, besides his wife of 61 years, was his nine grandchildren who were often the recipients of his humor and practical jokes. Spending summers at “Camp Chick” was always a favorite with the grandchildren and he would often be seen at the Pioneer Valley Radio Control Club with one or more of his grandchildren in tow. Besides his wife Joan, he leaves his son, William R Gamelli, Jr and his wife Sharon of Durham, CT; children Katie of Astoria, NY and Sara of East Haven, CT; a son Ronald Gamelli of Easthampton; a daughter Diana Burd and her husband James of Somers, CT; children Alyssa O’Rourke and her husband Matt of Boston and Derek Burd of Boston; a son, Michael Gamelli and his wife Megan, and his children Michael, Peter and Emily of Agawam; a daughter Sharon Shayda and her husband Mike, and children Angelina and Gabriella of Feeding Hills; a brother Ralph Gamelli of Agawam; a sister Marilyn Colby and her husband Gordon of Feeding Hills; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 31, 2017 from 4-7 pm at the Colonial Forastiere Family Funeral Home, 985 Main Street, Agawam. The funeral will be on Friday, September 1, 2017, beginning at 9:45 am at the funeral home with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Parish, 1065 Springfield St., Feeding Hills at 11:00 am. Burial will follow immediately thereafter at the Springfield Street Cemetery, Feeding Hills. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more information, please visit www.forastiere.com