Joaquim D. Jeronimo, age 86, passed away on November 16, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 8, 1938 in Lardosa, Portugal, son of the late Josè Jeronimo and Maria Jose Duarte. After growing up in a small rural town and working as a police officer and a tailor, Joaquim immigrated to the U.S. in 1967 through the Port of Philadelphia by himself and was eventually followed by his wife and their infant son. After stays in Philadelphia and Hartford , they settled in Western Massachusetts. Over the years Joaquim held several jobs mostly working in factories as an hourly laborer. He would end up working at a Milton Bradley facility, as a warehouse employee. Over the years, it was Joaquim and Maria who petitioned for their siblings to immigrate to the U.S., so they could have a better life. Joaquim came from very humble beginnings and at the end of the day, he achieved the American Dream through hard work.
He was a communicant of Mary Mother of Hope Parish, a member of the Chicopee Portuguese American Club in Chicopee and an avid soccer fan. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Maria (Coelho) Jeronimo of Chicopee; two sons, Victor Jeronimo and his wife Lisa of Ludlow and Joe Jeronimo and his wife Eliza of Panama; one brother Manuel Ramos and his wife Maria Mesquita of CT; two sisters, Maria Amelia Ramos and her husband Antonio of Portugal and Maria Helena Simao and her husband Luis of Chicopee; five grandchildren, Chelsea, Nicole, Mia, Connor and Riley. Calling hours will be held on the morning of the funeral, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 9:30 – 10:30 AM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield, St, Chicopee followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Mary Mother of Hope Church at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Chicopee. For online condolences, please visit www.GriseFH.com.