Della Irene LAFLAMME

EAST LONGMEADOW - Della Irene (LaFlamme) Bracken, 97, passed away on July 2nd at the Jewish Nursing Home in Long-meadow. Della was the wife of the late Joseph A. Bracken, who predeceased her in 1983. Born in Springfield, she was a lifelong resident of the area and lived on Rural Lane in East Longmeadow from 1959 until 2002. She was the daughter of the late Adelard and Alberina (Denis) LaFlamme and leaves her son Edward and daughter in-law, Jean, of Ellington, Connecticut, grandsons Daniel and Kevin and her great-granddaughter, Arayana. Della was a graduate of Commerce High School in Springfield and traveled New England in different capacities for New England Telephone and Telegraph during the twenty years prior to her marriage. She also helped manage her father's automobile repair business for many years. During World War II, Della served as an Air Raid Warden in the Civilian Defense Corps. She was an avid sportswoman who enjoyed bicycling, tennis, golf, badminton and croquet and liked playing strategy games, especially bridge and canasta. In her later years, she was fond of long rides in the countryside, knitting and crossword puzzles. She loved spending time with all of her extended family, especially the children. Prior to her illness, she was a devout communicant of St. Michael's Church in East Longmeadow. Her funeral will be held Thursday morning at 8:15 AM from Sampson's Chapel of the Acres, 21 Tinkham Rd., followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Patrick's Church, with Rites of Committal to conclude in St. Michael's Cemetery, all in Springfield. A calling hour will precede her funeral Thursday morning at the funeral home from 8:15 - 9:15 AM. The family extends their appreciation for the care and kindness provided by the staff of the Jewish Nursing Home, Baystate Hospice, Western Massachusetts Visiting Nurses Association and the East Longmeadow Council on Aging. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Published in The Republican on 7/5/2005.