Carol C. (Starzyk) Jachym

On Friday evening August 2, 2024, Carol Jachym departed for heavens gate and Rainbow Bridge to reunite with her true loves. Daughter of the late Joseph and Constance (Pasterczyk) Starzyk, she was born in Springfield on June 5, 1941. Carol was a graduate of Chicopee High School received her BS in Elementary Education form Westfield State College. Carol was longtime communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton and a volunteer for the Highland Senior Center in Easthampton. In the summer of 1972, Carol shared a Cape Cod house with girlfriends…she met her true love among the “Cape Cod Whooping Cranes”. Carol and John married and settled in the beautiful village of Southampton, MA. Carol was the original “animal rescue”. She made a home that cherished “Fluffy, Noah, Benny, Rags, Sophie” and many other furry companions over the years. Carol had a unique sense of humor, she loved to laugh with family and if you were lucky, Carol made the best golumpkis ever. She enjoyed Sunday rides, theater, art, music and herb gardening. She was an endless learner. She always had her nose in a book on just about any subject. She and John embarked on a month long, coast to coast train excursion. Her health and life changed with John’s passing in 1994. Carol returned to teaching at Our Lady of Hope School in Springfield, where she taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grades with renewed enthusiasm. Her students brought her immense joy and pride. Despite all the challenges, Carol fought the good fight with unfailing faith, grace and dignity.

Carol is survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law Thomas and Lorraine Jachym, James and Eileen Jachym and Ann and Arne Eckstrom; her nieces and nephews SaraAnn Jachym-Ching; David Jachym (Libby) Kristin Jachym and Joe Jachym (Kelli); her great-nephew Jake Jachym and great-nieces Braelyn Jachym and Lani Ching. She leaves a goddaughter Patty Guenette and a large family of cousins. Carol was especially close to Matt Bizon, Lauralyn and David Gurski, Joan O’Brien, Karen Tetreault and Roy and Mary Lemire. She also leaves her lifelong school girlfriends Terri, Gail, Adele and Barbara and her church companions Lauren and Pat. Sadly, Carol was predeceased by her beloved husband John Jachym in 1994.

Our sincere gratitude goes out to each of Carol’s spiritual and healthcare providers.

Visiting hours for Carol will be Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 9:00-10:15 AM at the Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home, 64 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Cecilia’s Church, 42 Main St, Wilbraham, MA . Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Montgomery St., Chicopee, MA. Donations in Carol’s memory may be made to The Edwards Youth Library, 30 East St., Southampton, MA 01073-9412 or the Foundation for TJO Animals, 66 Industry Avenue, Springfield, MA 01104.