HOLYOKE – Joseph Sylvio Prairie, 89, passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at the Mont Marie Healthcare Center in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on July 10, 1934, the beloved son of the late Armand and Eveline (Surprenant) Prairie. He grew up on Cote Avenue in the Aldenville section of Chicopee. He was predeceased by his brother, Armand “Skip” Prairie; his sister, Jean Niznik-Pierro; his daughter-in-law, Sandra Prairie; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Joseph is survived by Jacqueline (Meunier) Prairie and their children, Roland Prairie of Holyoke, Adele “Addie” Prairie of Reading, and Lisa (Roger) Smith of Manchester, CT; along with his sisters, Eleanor Putnam and Sandra Blake. Joe was an extremely proud grandfather of Justin (Gina Callahan) Prairie, Tamara (Michael) Ribeiro, Stacey (Brian) Pryor, and Margaret Smith; and great-grandfather to Madeleine, Theodore, and Delia Prairie, and Mary Pryor. Additionally, he had four generations of nieces and nephews. Joe started working at the young age of 14 for a family friend at the soda counter in the drug store. After graduating from Chicopee High School, he started in the accounting department at Hamilton Standard where he worked his way up to General Manager. He retired at the young age of 55, after 37 years with the company. Anyone who knew him well knew he couldn’t sit still. He lived a full life in his retirement. If he wasn’t at the beach, he would dabble in one of his many small businesses or help family and friends with theirs. His other pastime was traveling the world with whoever could pack their bag fast enough, often with a large group of family and friends. He will be sorely missed by many family members and friends from Maine to Florida. His funeral will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. prior to his Mass. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint Joan of Arc School, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 or to the Mont Marie Activity Fund, 36 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com