SPRINGFIELD – Mary T. (Cavanaugh) Kiczek, 96, of the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Christmas morning, Sunday, December 25, 2016. She passed into Eternal Life at Mount Saint Vincent Care Center in Holyoke surrounded by all the memories she loved and cherished. She was born in Springfield on November 8, 1920, a beloved daughter of the late Michael J. and Bridget M. (Kavanagh) Cavanaugh. She was a raised in Springfield, graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Springfield and was a lifelong resident of Springfield. She was employed as a secretary at the former Springfield Municipal Hospital for 31 years, retiring in 1986. She was communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. She also was a lifetime member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club and a member of the Over 60 Club and the East Springfield Golden Age Club, both in Springfield. Mary had many great enjoyments in her life. She was a great dancer and music was dear to her heart. She enjoyed listening to Irish and Big Band Swing music and also enjoyed many Rod Stewart standards. When it came to correctly spelling words, Mary exhibited a great knack for it. She playfully took on any challenging words when asked of her and rarely failed to spell them. Traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and Ireland were grand adventures but sanctuary on Cape Cod for one golden week for many long past summers with her cumulative family and friends was a personal treasure. All in all, her most cherished love was that of her entire family and those special friends that were true to her – old and new. Her love for life and all was like the sky – it could never be approached. Her family would like to thank the staff of Mount Saint Vincent Care Center in Holyoke for their loving and compassionate care of Mary during her time with them over the past 9 ½ years. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, John J. “Jake” Kiczek who was Called Home on September 8, 1998. They were married on January 31, 1942 at Sacred Heart Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 56 years of happiness together. She leaves her two loving sons, Anthony S. Kiczek and his wife, Deborah, of Harpswell, ME and John M. Kiczek and his wife, Mary Ann, of Cranston, RI; her loving son-in-law, Christopher P. Gallagher of Springfield; her six cherished grandchildren, Shani, Andrew and Marina Kiczek, Christopher P. Gallagher, III and his wife, Nydia, Shannon Gallagher and her husband, Jason, and Seamus Gallagher; her three cherished great-grandchildren, Tara Silber, Evan Silber and Rachel Gallagher; her two dear brothers-in-law; Salvatore “Sam” DiStefano of Longmeadow and Edward Keating of Springfield; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended member of the Kiczek and Cavanaugh families. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her loving daughter, Patricia A. Gallagher who was Called Home on April 4, 2011; her three dear brothers, John F. “Jack” Cavanaugh, James Cavanaugh and Michael J. Cavanaugh; and her two dear sisters, Ann M. DiStefano and Margaret M. “Peggy” Keating. Her funeral will be held on Saturday morning, December 31, 2016 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her burial will follow the Mass at Saint Michael Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday morning, December 31, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. prior to the Mass. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Operation Smile, 3641 Faculty Boulevard, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com