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Obituaries
'Light Of My Eyes': Agawam Family Grieves Loss Of 17-Year-Old Son Who Drowned 'Light Of My Eyes': Agawam Family Grieves Loss Of 17-Year-Old Son Who Drowned
'Light Of My Eyes': Agawam Family Grieves Loss Of 17-Year-Old Son Who Drowned Ömercan Karaarslan was a special young man, his friends and family said. The 17-year-old was well-liked at Agawam High School and had big plans ahead of him.  Sadly, those came to an end on Monday, May 30, when he drowned in a swimming pool in the Feeding Hills area of Agawam.  He would have turned 18 next week.  RELATED: Teen Who Drowned ID'd As Agawam High School Student Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the teen's death. Family members said in social media posts that he was swimming alone Monday night and was found by a family member following his death.  His fami…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Loved By All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Beloved Western Mass Teacher After Her Death 'Loved By All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Beloved Western Mass Teacher After Her Death
'Loved By All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Beloved Western Mass Teacher After Her Death A lifelong teacher who died of cancer on Tuesday, May 23, will live on through a memorial scholarship if her family can raise enough money.  Susan Kurpaska, 59, a lifelong Chicopee resident, was a dedicated second and third-grade teacher at Saint Joan of Arc School. Her love of teaching showed in the hundreds of students she molded over her decades in the classroom and the awards she collected during her tenure, such as the Grinspoon Excellence in Teaching Award for Western Massachusetts, her obituary said.  Her loved ones have created a GoFundMe to cover her funeral costs, and any money r…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Beautiful Soul Inside, Out': Springfield Mom Of 3 ID'd As Woman Killed In Longmeadow Crash 'Beautiful Soul Inside, Out': Springfield Mom Of 3 ID'd As Woman Killed In Longmeadow Crash
'Beautiful Soul Inside, Out': Springfield Mom Of 3 ID'd As Woman Killed In Longmeadow Crash The Springfield woman killed earlier this month when she was thrown from her car on I-91 in Hampden County before being hit by an oncoming vehicle has been identified as a mother of three young children.  Jemyliana Vargas, 21, was a passenger in a 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit that crashed into the back of a 2019 Dodge Ram truck just before 3 a.m. on May 7 in Longmeadow just past the Enfield, Connecticut, border, Massachusetts State Police said.  The impact ejected Vargas onto the northbound lane, where she was struck by at least one oncoming vehicle, officials said.  The Volkswagen driver — a 29…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Adored Daughter' From Pepperell Dies Suddenly Month Ahead Of 16th Birthday 'Adored Daughter' From Pepperell Dies Suddenly Month Ahead Of 16th Birthday
'Adored Daughter' From Pepperell Dies Suddenly Month Ahead Of 16th Birthday A community in North Central Massachusetts is doing the unbearable task of saying goodbye to one of their most vibrant members.  Jenny "Benny" Marques, of Pepperell, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 11, according to her obituary. "The adored daughter of Richard 'Rickie' and Eileen Marques," Jenny would have turned 16 on June 27. "Jenny was a lively, outgoing spirit who resided in Pepperell her entire life, where she was always surrounded by friends and family," her obituary reads. "Although her time with us was cut way too short, we loved every moment!" The teenager attended Varnum Brook…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
Beloved Western Mass Educator Dies Days After Car Crash; Parents Seriously Wounded Beloved Western Mass Educator Dies Days After Car Crash; Parents Seriously Wounded
Beloved Western Mass Educator Dies Days After Car Crash; Parents Seriously Wounded Donna Woodcock, a former Greenfield teacher, principal, and coach, died this week after being critically wounded in a car crash on Friday, May 5. Her parents, who were in the car with her, are still recovering from their injuries at Baystate Medical Center.  Woodcock crashed on Mohawk Trail in Shelburne near Dragon Hill Road around 6 p.m. Paramedics rushed her and her parents (Courtney Woodcock, 92, and Barbara Woodcock, 87) to Baystate Medical Center, where she later died, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said on Thursday. She turned 65 on the day of the crash.  Woodco…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Victim Of Texas Mass Shooting Was UMass Amherst Grad, Died Along With Wife and 3-Year-Old Son Victim Of Texas Mass Shooting Was UMass Amherst Grad, Died Along With Wife and 3-Year-Old Son
Victim Of Texas Mass Shooting Was UMass Amherst Grad, Died Along With Wife and 3-Year-Old Son A family of four was visiting an outlet mall in North Texas when a gunman tore their family apart, killing a mother, father, and son.  A gunman killed eight people on Saturday, May 6, one of whom was identified by the Allen, Texas Police Department as Kyu Song Cho, a University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate.  "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our UMass Amherst alumnus Kyu Cho, his wife, and their three-year-old son in the Texas mall shooting," said UMass Amherst representative Ed Blaguszewski.  Kyu graduated in 2007 with a degree in political science. &…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Obituaries
Mass Bicyclist Killed In VT Race Remembered For His 'Commitment To Others' Mass Bicyclist Killed In VT Race Remembered For His 'Commitment To Others'
Mass Bicyclist Killed In VT Race Remembered For His 'Commitment To Others' A Massachusetts bicyclist who died while competing in a race in Vermont last month was dedicated in several areas of his life, but perhaps his biggest passion was helping others.  Richard "Rick" Wanstall was committed to many things throughout his 54 years of life. The North Shore resident was a passionate athlete, veteran and leader in the workforce. Sadly, Wanstall's life ended while he was doing one of the things he loved the most: competing.  "In recent years, Rick found a passion for fitness as he participated in various triathlons and later moved onto Ironman Competitions," his obitu…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
'Beautiful' Legacy Left Behind By Mass Maritime Student Found Dead In Dorm 'Beautiful' Legacy Left Behind By Mass Maritime Student Found Dead In Dorm
'Beautiful' Legacy Left Behind By Mass Maritime Student Found Dead In Dorm Amanda Robinson was more than just a 22-year-old from Long Island who was about to graduate from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She was the epitome of serving others.  "As a cadet of the Massachusetts Maritime Colleges Regiment, Amanda truly embodied the spirit of 'one hand for the ship, one hand for your shipmate,'" Samara Podmore wrote on a GoFundMe campaign organized on the Nassau County native's behalf.  Robinson, of Bellmore, NY, was found dead in her dorm room on Wednesday morning, April 19, The Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office reports.  Earlie…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
One-Year-Old Girl Dies, Ashburnham Community Rallies Around Family One-Year-Old Girl Dies, Ashburnham Community Rallies Around Family
One-Year-Old Girl Dies, Ashburnham Community Rallies Around Family A fundraiser created to help provide meals and support for a Central Massachusett family following the death of their one-year-old daughter surpassed its halfway point.  Elsie Maeve Lafferty, of Ashburnham, died on Wednesday, April 12, according to her obituary. She was born in February 2022.  Loved ones created a MealTrain fundraiser for the family to coordinate food donations and raise money for them during this tragic time.  During this awful time when we feel so helpless, let's show our love and support. Please pick a day and provide either a home-cooked meal, take out, …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Real Sweetheart': Loved Ones Mourn 29-Year-Old Athol Man Killed In Crash 'Real Sweetheart': Loved Ones Mourn 29-Year-Old Athol Man Killed In Crash
'Real Sweetheart': Loved Ones Mourn 29-Year-Old Athol Man Killed In Crash The tragic death of a man from Athol has loved ones wishing they could got back in time and relive their fondest memories with the 29-year-old. "I wish we could still be stupid together," Desiree Rose said after hearing about her friend Kyle Bezio's death. "I can't even believe it." I wish we could still be stupid together Kyle Bezio i cant even believe it… Posted by Desiree Rose on Sunday, April 9, 2023 Bezio died after he was struck by a car on Route 202 near 150 Daniel Shays Highway just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, as previously reported by Daily Voice. The driver, a 20-ye…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
'Collective Pain' Spreads Among UMass-Dartmouth After Freshman Student's Death 'Collective Pain' Spreads Among UMass-Dartmouth After Freshman Student's Death
'Collective Pain' Spreads Among UMass-Dartmouth After Freshman Student's Death A student body is coming together to raise awareness after a 19-year-old University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth student was struck and killed by a car on campus last week.  Frankie Petillo Jr. was struck by a vehicle on Thursday, April 6, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Petillo, of the Manahawkin, NJ, was a freshman Bioengineering student.  UMass students gathered for a candlelight vigil on Monday and also launched a Change.org petition to improve street safety on campus.  The petition says, in part: "The student body wants more safety. Speed bumps, speed monitors, sidewalks, and st…

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by Jon Craig
Obituaries
Social Worker Killed In South Mass Hit-Run Leaves Behind Young Son, Husband Social Worker Killed In South Mass Hit-Run Leaves Behind Young Son, Husband
Social Worker Killed In South Mass Hit-Run Leaves Behind Young Son, Husband A 46-year-old social worker was tragically killed in a hit-and-run on a major route in Southeast Massachusetts this week, leaving behind a grieving son and husband. Erpharo Gilbert, of Raynham, died in the crash that happened on Route 24 North in West Bridgewater on Sunday, April 3, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Gilbert’s husband, Jean Marie Coquillon, told WPRI that the couple's 5-year-old son "is still waiting for his mom to come home.” He also expressed anger towards the driver who took Gilbert away from them. “If you stopped and didn’t run, maybe you could have saved her …

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by David Cifarelli