Charles J Duclos

AGAWAM – Charles J. Duclos, 85, passed away surrounded by his loving family at Mercy Medical Center on September 17, 2019. Charlie was born in Springfield, MA to the late Laurence and Rhea (Reilly) Duclos. He enlisted in the US Navy and was a decorated veteran of the Korean War after graduating from Cathedral High School. After completing his tour, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont and his Master of Education degree at Westfield State University. He had an unmatched work ethic who spent 39 years as an educator teaching English in the Holyoke Public School System, as the first Director of the Holyoke Adult Learning Opportunities (HALO) Center in Holyoke, and spending his summers as a Summer Youth Counselor in Hamden County, before retiring in 2000. He had a strong passion and skill for writing and wrote for the Agawam Advertiser/News, as well as composing his own short stories and poems. He loved singing and had an unmatched sense of humor. Charlie was a kind, generous, and compassionate man and will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
To cherish his memory, Charlie leaves his wife, Joanna (Gardner) Duclos, who was the love of his life for nearly 57 years. He also leaves his children: Jeffrey Duclos of Agawam; David Duclos, his wife Carin, of Dallas, Texas; Michelle Shanahan, her husband, Michael Scott, of Mount Pleasant, SC; Deanne Duclos of Woonsocket, RI; and several nieces and nephews. He cherished and tremendously enjoyed his grandchildren: Jillian, Nicholas, and Elizabeth Duclos; Justin, Hannah, and Joel Duclos; Ryan and his wife Nell, Michael, and Kevin Shanahan; his great-granddaughter, Ella Mae Duclos; and his step grandsons, Brady and Benjamin Cofsky. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Perrault and brother-in-law, Carroll (CD) Gardner. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as his brothers, Kenneth and Laurence Duclos.
Family and friends are invited to gather at Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main Street, Agawam, MA. A funeral for Charlie will be held Monday, September 23, 2019 beginning at 10:15 AM from Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main Street, Agawam followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:30 AM at Sacred Heart Church, 1061 Springfield Street, Feeding Hills, MA. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Calling hours will be held Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Charlie’s honor to a charity of your choice. For more information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.Forastiere.com.