Jean A. Bastien

[ Originally published on: Monday, September 28, 2009 ]

Jackie M. Tuminski, 67, of The Valley, died Friday at Community General Hospital.

1917 -- 2009

AGAWAM --Jean A. Bastien, 92, a former resident of the Mason Wright Retirement Community for several years and a longtime resident of Atherton Avenue, both in Springfield, died on Sunday Sept. 27, 2009 at Heritage Hall North Nursing Home in Agawam surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Chicopee on July 19, 1917, a son of the late Jean B. and Marie (Racine) Bastien. Jean was educated in parochial schools in Springfield, where he lived for most of his life.

As a young man, he worked as a deliveryman for the Freihofer Bakery, going house to house via horse and wagon and for the A&G Market in the North End of Springfield. During World War II, he was employed at the American Bosch Company. In the mid 1940s, Jean went to work for Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and became one of the first store managers for that firm, serving in Thompsonville, Conn., Lee, Mass., and at the Boston Road and Chestnut Street stores in Springfield. After his retirement, he ran the Dairy Mart store on Main Street in Agawam.

Jean was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in East Springfield.

He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Eleanor M. (Dumas) Bastien who died on June 8, 1988. They were married on Feb. 28, 1938, in the former St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Springfield.

Jean leaves his daughters, Sandra B. Keir and her husband Robert of South Deerfield, Judith K. Lanning and her husband Roger of Louisville, Ky., and Barbara A. Johnson and her husband Alfred of Springfield; his nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren; a sister, Alice Beaudry of Port Charlotte, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was also predeceased by a brother, Joseph Bastien and a sister, Anna Guertin.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday Sept. 30, at 8:30 a.m. from Sampson's Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home, 21 Tinkham Road, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 840 Page Boulevard, with Rites of Committal to follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 421 Tinkham Road, all in Springfield.

Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean's memory to the Heritage Hall North Nursing Home, Homestead Unit, Attention: Rachel Murphy, 55 Cooper St., Agawam, MA 01001 or to the Hospice Services of Western Mass, LLC, 540 Meadow St., Suite 104, Agawam, MA 01001.

 

---