Martha B. Hess

Martha Blanche Hess
1922 – 2022

East Longmeadow – Martha “Smiley” Blanche (Laro) Hess, 99, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2022. Martha was born on January 22, 1922 in Salem MA to the late Frank and Alice (Denault) Laro.
Martha married her love William F. Hess Jr. in 1937 and together they made a home in East Longmeadow and had six wonderful children. Martha took pride raising her family and was a caring and loving mother.
Martha was a faithful woman of her catholic faith, and her warm-heart was a true gift to everyone who knew her.
In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husband William F. Hess Jr., her son William F. Hess III, her brothers Eli and Joseph Laro, and her sister Jeannette Christenson.
She will be deeply missed by her children Francis W. Hess of Myrtle Beach SC, Alice Bradway of East Longmeadow, Bernadette Richardson of East Longmeadow, Irene LaRussa of Springfield, and Doreen Rauch of Hampden MA, her fourteen grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, ten great-great grandchild, and extended family.
A celebration of Martha’s life will begin Wednesday January 12, 2022 with calling hours from 9-11am at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 N. Main St., East Longmeadow MA. A funeral service will follow at 11am. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven, Springfield.
Memorial contributions may be made in Martha’s name to Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101, or TJ O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center, 627 Cottage St., Springfield, MA 01104, or to an animal charity of one’s choice. To leave an online condolence, visit www.forastiere.com.