Jeanne E. Moore

On June 30, 2019, Jeanne E. Moore passed away at home. She was welcomed into this world on December 12, 1924, in Chicopee, MA by William and Alma VanKleeck and her brothers William and Harold. Jeanne was married to Thomas P. Moore (predeceased). They had four daughters, Linda Schultz, Terry Toomey (predeceased), Kathy Ouimette, and Carole Nicholson. Jeanne was the proprietor of Bernard’s Café (A real Irish pub and boarding house) at 497 High St., Holyoke, MA during the heyday of Holyoke. The patrons were an extension of her family and ran the gamut of financial, social, ethnic, and religious diversity; all following the same rules: “No guns, no fights, don’t discuss politics, religion or the Red Sox’s losing another game.” Learning from her father and mother the value of friends and family, if you were down on your luck and didn’t have a job, she found you one; if you couldn’t pay your bar tab, she also found you a job (even if it was ironing our clothes). On many a day, she would be out and about with her best friends, ‘The 3 Musketeers,’ at the hot spots (A BAR!) Everyone you met said, "I love your mother!” Jeanne raised her daughters, ingraining a strong work ethic, independence, and family loyalty. She was a second mother to her nieces and nephews, Neil & William VanKleeck, Barbara Ouellette, Lisa Crowley, and Kathy Burdick. She welcomed her daughter’s friends to a spot in this group, instilling in them the same values; “you do for family.” In Jeanne’s own words, she said: “Don’t write a G.Damned, long, sad obituary about how wonderful I am, I know it.” (she laughed). “Plus, most of my friends are dead. Make sure you tell Carole and Jack (with whom she lived and was cared for by) how much I appreciate what they did for me all these years and I love them. Tell Jim, thanks for helping me out. Linda, thank you for your help and being there with the Wambulance, and make sure you tell Kathy and Chuck I love them. Ninety-four years was a long time to live. Jackie Schultz, Laura Kinney, Katie & C.J. Ouimette, I was proud to be your grandmother, and Mila’s great grandmother. PS…CJ & Jackie, you can go (blank) in your hat. No Check for $10.00!” In lieu of donations, please donate boxes of cereal to food banks, because every kid should be able to pick their favorite cereal at least once! Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2019 from 1:00PM to 3:00PM at New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA. Please visit www.nefcc.net

Jeanne E. Moore

December 12, 1924 - June 30, 2019