On Monday, January 6, 2025, Charlene Sandra (Watts) Sedlak, age 81, passed away surrounded by her family at Baystate Medical Center, after a brief hospitalization. Charlene will be remembered most for the unconditional love and support she had for her family and the kindness she shared with others.
Charlene was born October 24, 1943 in Holyoke to the late Charles and Dorothy (Bergeron) Watts, and grew up in Granby. She graduated from South Hadley High School in 1961, and began her more than 40-year long career in banking working across the river at Holyoke National Bank. It was in Holyoke, while bowling with her best friend (and future sister-in-law) Nancy Tucker, that Charlene met her husband of 58 years George Joseph Sedlak. Not long after they were married, George and Charlene moved to the Aldenville neighborhood of Chicopee where they built the home in which they raised their three children, Kenneth, Karen, and James. Charlene especially enjoyed summer vacations at Cape Cod with her children and later with her grandchildren, always staying in the same cottage in East Sandwich and never going more than ankle-deep in the ocean. She also was an enthusiastic traveler, enjoying Caribbean cruises with her husband and even traveling as far as Hawaii and China. Upon retirement from the East Longmeadow branch of Bank of America, Charlene devoted her time to her family and gardening. She was well-known for her green thumb and her ability to make plants of all kinds thrive under her care. After many years of careful attention, she was excited to share the news last summer that her plumeria plant had finally bloomed.
Charlene leaves behind her beloved husband George J. Sedlak of Chicopee; two sons, Kenneth Sedlak and his wife Lynn of Avon, CT and James Sedlak and his wife Melissa of Springfield; one daughter, Karen Kisiel and her husband Mark of Chicopee; four grandchildren, Michael Sedlak, Kyle Kisiel, Shaye Kisiel, and Matthew Kisiel; one sister Lorna-Rae Watts and her husband Greg Blackmer; and one sister-in-law Susan Watts. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Dorothy, brother Phillippe Watts, brother-in-law Wayne Sedlak and sister-in-law Nancy (Tucker) Sedlak.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Grise Funeral Home in Chicopee. Burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Rose de Lima Church Elevator Fund, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020.