Obituary of Mary Ann Papineau

Mary A. (Flint) Papineau, age 93, of Palmer died January 30 at Baystate Wing Hospital, with her loving family by her side. Born in Palmer on January 29, 1931, Mary attended Palmer High School and later worked as a switchboard operator for New England Tel. & Tel. where she met the love of her life, Gene. Together they built a home and raised two children. Mary’s passion was her family; she was their heart and the proverbial glue that held all together. In her leisure time, she enjoyed travel, visiting family and friends, gardening, and sewing. She was active in her church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent for many years and working on the rummage sales. She especially enjoyed German festivals and the fest friends she and Gene made over the years. She will be missed for her kindness, humor, generosity, and ‘gift of gab.’ She will be deeply missed by her daughter Karen Papineau and her husband Jim Keydel, and their daughter Eleanor, of Groton; her son John Papineau of Palmer and his partner Carol Murray and her daughter and son-in-law Sara and Joe Couture; along with her devoted sister June Bacon of Palmer and Mary’s life-long friend, Marilyn Hill of FL. She leaves three generations of nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, James and Myrtle Flint, she was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Gene Papineau, by her sisters Joan Belliveau and Shirley Flint, and brothers John Flint, James Flint, and Robert Flint. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 24 at 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Church of Palmer Unitarian Universalist. To honor her memory, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Church of Palmer Unitarian Universalist, PO Box 307, Palmer, 01069; or Greater Springfield Senior Services, Inc., 66 Industry Avenue, Suite 9 Springfield, MA 01104 (Meals on Wheels program) or https://gsssi.org/donate ; or a charity of your choice.