Alan Joseph Carmel, 58, of Westfield, passed away on March 9, 2020, at his home. A healthy, happy and deeply loved man, his sudden death was wholly unexpected. Alan was born on July 30, 1961 in Springfield, MA, though largely raised in Agawam. He leaves behind his wife and the mother of his four sons, Sharon Davey. His four loving sons include Adam and wife Sarah Carmel, along with their two children, Nolan and Lucia, Andrew Carmel and his dog daughter, “Gordy”, Austin Carmel and his soulmate Brianna Williams, and Anthony Carmel and his soulmate Kali Landry. He also leaves behind his loving parents Rosalie T. (Meade) Carmel and Francis E. Carmel, Sr. and his siblings Patricia Leone and her husband, Michael Leone, Francis Edmond Carmel and his husband, Joseph Kaminski, and Stephen Carmel and his wife, Carol Carmel. Alan was also an immensely proud uncle to 9 nieces and nephews, whom he loved very deeply. Of the 9, his nephew and godson, Michael J. Leone, sadly predeceased him. The lucky member of a remarkably large extended and close family, he additionally leaves many cousins, aunts and uncles. Finally, Alan leaves a close large family of personal friends, both his own and the many friends of his son’s, whom he loved as if they were his own sons.
To describe Alan is to literally describe the fullness of life. His presence instantly brightened any setting with his rapier wit, laughter, kindness, the willingness to do anything that he could to help anyone as he could, his warmth, empathy, and above all, his great joy and love. He was both an avid fan of the Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox, and was himself a longtime skilled athlete who participated in many local area softball and other sport’s teams. He loved the sun, the beach, boating, fireworks, horseshoes and watching the beautiful bonfires he so loved to create. An avid gardener, Alan not only created his own annual summer vegetable garden, but also created one for each of his sons and for many of their friends, too. There was little that Alan could not do mechanically, given his enjoyment of working on cars, which he viewed as a highly satisfying challenge. Professionally, he spent decades as a longtime manager within several industries.
His relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, March 19, 2020, from 3PM to 7PM at the Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home located at 985 Main Street, Agawam, MA, 01001. His funeral mass will be held at Saint John the Evangelist Church at 833 Main Street, Agawam, MA, 01001 on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 10:30 AM, to be immediately followed by his burial service, which will be held at the Agawam Center Cemetery at 820 Main Street, such that celebrants of Alan’s life will be directed, as able, to peacefully walk directly from Alan’s funeral mass to his graveside burial services just across the street.
Alan’s family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children-Springfield, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA, 01104-2330 or the Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 506 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-9959.