Bernard S. Novotney

Feeding Hills- Bernard S. Novotney 92, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and significant other, entered into eternal life on January 10, 2020 at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield. He was the beloved husband of the late Kathleen (Takacs) Novotney who preceded him in 1998. Bernard was born on October 16, 1927 in Starford, PA, a son of the late George and Julia (Alexander) Novotney. He honorably served his country in the US Army as part of the post-WW II occupational forces in Bamberg, Germany from 1946 to 1947. Bernard moved to Cleveland after his discharge, and met and married the love of his life, Kathleen in January 1957. He and Kathleen moved to Springfield in 1958 and then to Feeding Hills in 1979. He was employed by Cheney Bigelow Wireworks and then as a machinist for the former Kidder-Stacy Inc. in Agawam, MA retiring in 1995. He was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church, Springfield. In addition to his wife and parents, Bernard was predeceased by his siblings, Julia Sohl, George Novotney, Edward Novotney, Anna Mae Girgas and Mary Ann Knapik. Bernard is survived by his loving children, who will cherish his memory forever, Susan N. Alvanos and her husband Charles, of Feeding Hills, Virginia Sue Novotney of Feeding Hills, David Bernard Novotney and his wife Gretchen, of East Otis, MA; a brother, John Novotney and his wife Sylvia, of Chardon, OH; cherished grandchildren, Alexander Alvanos and his wife Bethany, Nicholas Alvanos and his significant other Danielle Stark, Christopher Alvanos and his fiancé Lea Marie Sullivan, Stacey Buhrman and her husband Robert, Kathryn Vasilchenko and her husband Dmitriy, Juliana Novotney and her fiancé, Josh Zimmer; great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Jameson Alvanos, Sara and Emily Buhrman, and Hunter Stark; his significant other, Marcia Bellefeuille, who he loved and cherished for 20 years, and her family, daughter Michele Begley and grandsons, Ian and Conor, who also lovingly called him “Grandpa Bernie”; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenneth Sohl, Loretta Novotney, Mike Knapik, Marge Bartick, Madeline and Bill Quigley, and Charlie Takacs, all of Ohio, along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Bernie was loved and respected by all who knew him as a humble, kind, loving, talented, salt-of-the-earth gentleman and family man. Until recent years, he was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, hiking and camping. He was a talented artist (painting) and participated in area bowling and golf leagues for many years. He was an accomplished builder who built the house he lived in for 40 years. He coached Dave’s little league baseball teams for years, and then spent decades as the biggest fan of his grandchildren’s sporting events and piano recitals. Bern was a history buff and avid reader and was currently writing a memoir of his days growing up in a coal-mining town entitled “Starford Memories”. He enjoyed many, many years raising a family and then traveling abroad with his wife of 40 years, Kathleen, and made friends around the world. They also loved vacationing in Maine with family, and that tradition continued with Marcia in later years. Bern and Marcia were also the unofficial team mascots for the Cortina Tile Agawam Men’s summer softball league, as well as for years attending many Falcetti piano recitals. They loved to take their spring and fall trips each year to Cleveland to visit relatives and friends and spent Saturday mornings out to breakfast with friends at Memo’s or family at On the Hill. His claim to fame is having a news story and a book written about him entitled “My Balloon Pen Pal”. Bernie will be dearly missed by all who knew him, his loving family and friends, who will cherish all the wonderful memories of a beautiful and amazing man. The family will receive friends at a celebration of his life from 4:00-7:00 PM on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020 in the Colonial Forastiere Family Funeral Home, 985 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. Funeral services will begin at 8:45AM on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 from the funeral home. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 AM in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St., Springfield, MA, followed by a graveside service at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Roca, Inc. of Springfield, 29 School Street, Springfield, MA 01105. www.forastiere.com