Richard J. Gilbert Sr.

Richard J. Gilbert Sr., "Richie", passed away the morning of February 14th, 2025 at home after a long and courageous battle with amyloidosis. He was the son of Harold Gilbert and Wanda "Kocot" Gilbert. He was raised on the family homestead in Northampton and learned a lot about farming. He met his wife, Jean M. Halek, and they married on November 20th, 1965, and were married for 59 wonderful years. They have one son, Richard J. Gilbert, Jr of Hatfield. Richard Sr. graduated from Northampton High School and worked as a salesman for Hampshire Lumber, Dealer Supply, Pella Windows, and was co-owner of Eagle Windows in Hatfield. The job he retired from was a hardware salesman for R.A. Graham Co, in which he traveled to the Canadian border, and won many awards for his work. After his retirement he was a Constable for the Town of Hatfield and drove school bus. He was very active in and loved his church, Holy Trinity (now Our Lady of Grace Parish). He served as an altar server, eucharistic minister, was on the Parish/Financial Councils and enjoyed working at many church dinners and functions. After his retirement he was caretaker for the church cemetery for many years. Richard and Jean enjoyed eight wonderful cruises together, visiting Venezuela, going through the Panama Canal, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, and Vieques, Puerto Rico. During the summer they enjoyed vacationing in Ogunquit, Maine. He took much pride in his family, his home, working outside and restoring his Ford tractors. Richard, Jean and their son were members of the Hatfield Fife and Drum Core. He spent many loving years with his faithful border collie, "Cleo" who predeceased him. Richard had many other interests including fishing, woodworking, and gardening. He had a wonderful sense of humor and anyone that spent time with him always shared a laugh. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Besides being predeceased by his parents, he was predeceased by his cousins, Anthony Kocot, Donald Zebrowski and Edith Ostrowski. He leaves his other cousins, Kathleen Havlir, Henrietta Kocot and Henry J. Kocot. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Grace Parish, Hatfield, MA, Hospice VNA, or the Boston University School of Medicine Amyloid Research Fund, 72 East Concord Street, K-503, Boston, MA 02118. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 11:00AM at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 11 School Street, Hatfield, MA. The family will receive friends at the church at 10:15AM until the time of the service. Inurnment will be held in the Spring at Calvary Cemetery, Bridge Street, Hatfield, MA. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Richie’s memorial page at www.nefcc.net for expressions of sympathy.