Eileen M. (Szocik) Hamel

Eileen M. Hamel, 82, of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, January 17th. She was born at a central Mass hospital in July of 1941 to Edmond Szocik and Mary Juchniewicz. A lifelong resident of Lunenburg, Eileen was also an avid traveler, creative crafter, wizard with numbers, and tuned-up singer of the oldies. Eileen didn’t let her on sought dementia stop her from greeting people at her assisted living communities or belting out her favorite Elvis song from years gone by. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Roger, father Edmond, and mother Mary. She is survived by her daughters Ellie of Charleston, South Carolina, and Holly Decell and her husband Don and two children, Nicolette and Christina. Eileen is also survived by her sister Linda Dyer of Charlotte, North Carolina and her family, and her brother Eddie Szocik of Lunenburg, Massachusetts and his family, and numerous loved ones and friends. Eileen was a resident of a couple of assisted living facilities in Ayer and Worcester before moving to Notre Dame Long Term Care in Worcester, Massachusetts. Even though dementia was a daily part of Eileen’s life during her last ten years, the absence of her memory seemed to humble her. She was always one to smile and say, “Hello” to people and speak with them, asking how they were doing, and then wait for a response before moving on to the next person. Her previous cataract surgeries in both eyes made her eyes twinkle. Eileen loved to garden, play the accordion and organ, Sudoku, computer games, make Afghans for kids with cancer, sew and knit, sing songs from the 50s and 60s, and the color red. Before departing our physical world, one of Eileen’s requests was for people to wear something red to the service because it is such a bright color. Calling hours will be held in the Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Rd., Ayer on Thursday, January 25 from 9:30 - 10:30 AM. The funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday in St. Boniface Church, Lunenburg. Burial will follow in the MA Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon. In lieu of flowers, donations to Notre Dame Long Term Care Facility, 559 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605 would be greatly appreciated.

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Eileen M. (Szocik) Hamel

July 26, 1941 - January 17, 2024