Jeannette C. Hilyard

July 4, 1926 - November 22, 2014

Jeannette C. (Cynarski) Hilyard, 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Baystate Medical Center with her loving family by her side. Born in Adams, MA on July 4, 1926, daughter of the late Ignacy and Anna (Bernat) Cynarski, she lived in Chicopee for the past eleven years and previously in South Hadley for forty five years. Jeannette was Salutatorian at Adams High School. She graduated from UMASS with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and then worked as a research chemist for Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College and James River Graphics. In retirement, she volunteered at Westover Job Corps and EN White School. She was a communicant of Holy Mother of the Rosary Church and a member of the Holyoke Civic Choral Society. She played guitar, trumpet, violin, mandolin, bass and even bass drum in the UMass (then Mass State College ) Band. Jeannette was a host family and a board member for South Hadley A Better Chance Program. Jeannette was predeceased by her beloved son, Joseph Hilyard and is survived by her loving children, Jeannine Hilyard, of Chicopee and Stephen Hilyard and his wife Gail, of Springfield; loving daughter-in-law, Ana Hilyard, of Holyoke; cherished grandchildren, Jeremy Hilyard, Angela Hilyard, Annette Hilyard and Yvonne Hilyard-Ordonez and her husband Andres; cherished great granddaughter, Jolani Hilyard; and brother, Edward Cynarski and his wife Teresa, of Holyoke. Funeral services for Jeannette will be held Monday (TODAY) from the Kozikowski Funeral Home, 565 Front St., Chicopee followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10AM in Holy Mother of the Rosary Church, 20 Bell St., Chicopee. On Saturday November 29 at 10 AM she will be buried in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Adams. A calling hour will be held this morning from 8:30-9:30AM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.