Obituary of Marie G. Demarest

     Springfield-Marie G. Demarest, 80, passed away on April 10, 2021 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Daughter of the late Dominic and Diane (de la Parra) Lagana, she was born in Jackson Heights, NY on March 7, 1941.
Marie worked briefly as a travel agent and enjoyed going on cruises and traveling, but most of all, was a wonderful homemaker. She enjoyed her trips to the casino, her Mahjong Group, and regular walks at the Quabbin with her husband. 
   

     Marie enjoyed donating her time to help out at the Enfield Soup Kitchen, and later on while living in Florida, she spent much of her time volunteering at the homeless shelter in West Palm Beach, 
Marie was an avid parishioner of every church she attended over the years, most recently, St. Thomas the Apostle in Palmer.
     

     Marie will be missed by all who knew her, including her loving husband and companion of 59 years, Ralph Demarest; her daughters Carole (Thomas) Pavlu of Palmer, Patricia (John) Kopec of CT, Alicia Ford (David Burnham) of MD; her son, Ralph A. "Randy" (Kathleen) Demarest of East Longmeadow; her sister, Donna Cislak of SC; her grandchildren Nicole (Isaac) Gibbs, Thomas "TJ" Pavlu, Michelle Kopec, John Kopec Jr (Cassie Dagata), Erin Demarest, Sarah Kopec, Nikolas Demarest, Michael Kopec, Kerianna Pavlu, Victor Herscher, Ariel Herscher, Joey-Marie Walker, Nicolas Walker, Jayden Walker-Smith; her great grandchildren Aslan and Levi Gibbs; as well as many extended family members and friends. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her sister, Lee Smith.

     Visitation will be Sunday, April 18, 2021 from 2pm-5pm at Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home. Family and friends are invited to gather the following morning at the funeral home at 9am for a 10 am Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Thomas Church. Rites of Committal and Interment to immediately follow in St. Thomas Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, https://donate.lovetotherescue.org.