CHICOPEE – Catherine C. “Cathy” (Hardaker) LaCroix, 72, of the Grandview Estates in Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, April 24, 2017. She passed into Eternal Life at home surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born in South Boston on October 18, 1944, a beloved daughter of the late Leonard J. Hardaker who was Called Home on March 12, 1988 and Catherine C. (Miller) Hardaker who was Called Home on February 6, 2005. She lived in South Boston as a child and moved to Holyoke with her family in 1950. She graduated from Holyoke schools and also attended a local nursing school. She later graduated from the Kay Harvey Hairdressing Academy in Springfield. Cathy owned and operated Shear Sensation and Tropical Tanning on Chicopee Street in Chicopee for over 35 years and retired in 2007. She was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. She was a member of the American Bosch Retirees Club and the Holyoke Senior Center. Following her retirement, Cathy and her husband, Jerry, enjoyed traveling to Florida and avoiding the cold New England weather as snowbirds for the past nine years. Above all, she loved spending time with her loving family and her many dear friends. She leaves her beloved husband and best friend, Gerald L. “Jerry” LaCroix. They were married on October 12, 1966 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 50 years of happiness together. Besides her husband, she also leaves her three loving daughters, Lisa A. McGrath and her husband, John, of West Sand Lake, NY, Linda M. Rentsch and her husband, Jeff, of New Fairfield, CT and Kathleen C. Hein and her husband, David, of Palmer; her five cherished grandchildren whom she adored, Courtney A. McGrath and Zachary M. McGrath, Tristan A. Rentsch and Alyssa C. Hein and Nicolas L. Hein; her two dear sisters, Carol A. Devine of Clever, MO and Jeanne M. Lamothe of Chicopee; her dear brother-in-law, William LaCroix and his wife, Claire, of Chicopee; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the LaCroix and Hardaker families. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her two dear sisters, Eileen F. Devore who was Called Home on February 22, 2013 and Joanne T. Turcotte who was Called Home on November 25, 2013. Her funeral will be held on Monday morning, May 1, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.). Her burial will follow the Prayer Service at Saint Jerome Cemetery, 1666 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, April 30, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The parking lot is located at the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Baystate Visiting Nurse and Hospice, 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199. For more details, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com