Maria (Erecacho) Metz, age 66, transitioned peacefully into the next life, surrounded by her loved ones on March 24, 2024 at Baystate Medical Center. She was born in Westfield on January 28, 1958 to the late Joseph and Kathleen (Brown) Erecacho. Maria dedicated her career to working in Special Education for various school districts in the area. She was a proud lifetime member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield, where she found great joy in organizing fundraisers for Griffin’s Friends. An adventurous spirit, she loved to travel and explore new places. Maria will always be remembered for her incredible sense of fashion, her love and talent for decorating, her infectious laughter, and her ability to light up any room she walked into. She is survived by her loving partner of over 27 years, Kenneth Swords of Chicopee; her two sisters, Mary Sturges and her husband Michael of New Hampshire and Kathleen Bigos of Westfield; her two brothers, Joseph Erecacho of Washington and Sean Erecacho of Attleboro; her niece Brianna; her six nephews, Joseph, Sean, Curtis, Collin, Jeremiah, and Paul Michael, Kenny’s family whom she loved as her own, and many extended family members and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday April 6, 2024 at the Elks Lodge, 56 Franklin St, Westfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Griffin’s Friends Children’s Cancer Fund, www.Griffinsfriends.com. For online condolences, please visit www.GriseFH.com.