John F. Eckert
1952 – 2020
Chicopee – John F. Eckert, age 68, passed away on Nov. 24, 2020 at Mercy Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 26, 1952 in Holyoke, MA, a son of the late Francis J. and Jeannette M. (Grondin) Eckert. He was a graduate of Holyoke High School, Class of 1970. John served in the US Army during the Vietnam Era from 1971-1974 in Germany and became a disabled veteran. He later worked as a bus driver for PVTA for over 30 years before he retired in 2011. He was also a delivery driver for Town Fair Tire before he retired from there in 2015. He was a lifetime member of the Vietnam Veterans, Chapter 111 in Chicopee. He enjoyed traveling, going on vacations with his family and riding his motorcycle. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Alice (Kurtz) Eckert of Chicopee; 2 sons, Jayson Eckert of Chicopee and David Eckert and his wife Melanie of Long Island, NY; 1 daughter, Michelle Eckert and her partner Dana Brandt of Ware; 3 brothers, Thomas Eckert and his wife Debbie of Chicopee, James Eckert of Holyoke and Edward Eckert of Holyoke; 2 sisters, Patricia Wojczyk and her husband Bob of Easthampton and Maureen Patterson and her husband Dennis of Wichita Falls, TX; 3 beloved grandchildren, Chase, Ella and Charlee Mae; a brother–in-law James Bellerose of Granby; 2 K-9 companions, his beloved pugs, Peanut and Miss T, along with many loving nieces, nephews and friends who will miss him dearly. Calling hours will be held on the morning of the funeral, Tues., Dec. 1, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St, Chicopee followed by prayers and military honors in the Chapel of the MA Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam at 2:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215 or to the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, 271 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104. The Grise Funeral Home is entrusted with services.