Henry L. Seppala

Tribute

Henry Leonard Seppala, 96, of Chicopee, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at Parkway Pavilion in Enfield, CT. Henry was born in Taunton, MA on January 13, 1925, to John and Ida (Ahola) Seppala. He attended schools in New Bedford, MA, and was most recently employed at Travelers Insurance Co. located in Hartford, before retiring in 1989 as Corporate Security Manager. Henry served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy during WW II, as a Radar Operator, aboard the USS Enoree AO-69. He served in the North Atlantic/ North Africa Campaign, the South Pacific Theater, Guam Campaign, Okinawa Campaign, Iwo Jima Campaign, and the Japan Liberation. Upon returning home after his service in the Navy, he married his first wife, Cecile D. (Bruneau) on June 28, 1947, and together they raised their family until Cecile’s sudden passing in 1976. Henry had many vocations, from factory worker, dry cleaner, milk man, gas station owner, working at United Aircraft and later at Kaman Aircraft, and as Sales Manager at Atwood Detective Agency, before joining Travelers Insurance Company. Henry later remarried several years after Cecile’s passing. He married Shirley Mae Kozash and together they enjoyed 35 years of marriage until her passing in 2013. Henry loved football and was a devout fan of the New England Patriots and admired his favorite player Tom Brady. He also enjoyed bowling, reading, watching old movies, and was also a talented oil painting artist. Henry is survived by his loving children, Richard A. Seppala and his wife, Nancy, of Ashburn, VA, Linda Stout of Springfield, and Barbara Amaio and her husband, Joseph of Wethersfield, CT; grandchildren, Denise Seppala, Christopher Seppala and his wife, Ashley, Lindsay Savardi and her husband, Sean, Erik Seppala and his wife, Jessica, Tyler Reisinger and his wife, Lindsey, Nicole Tavares and her husband, Tony, Michelle Morro, Donald Stout, Jr, Celena Ianuzzi and her husband, Dominic, Christopher Amaio, Jennifer Granger and her husband, Richard, Joseph Amaio, and Derrick Amaio and his wife, Margaret, and 23 great grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wives, he was also predeceased by his brother, John A. Seppala. Family and friends are invited to gather on Sunday, September 12, calling hours for Henry are from 4-7 p.m. at Hafey Springfield Chapels, 494 Belmont Avenue. Henry’s funeral will be held on Monday, September 13, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Mary Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Blvd., Springfield, MA 01104. Burial with Military Honors will follow immediately after the mass at Hillcrest Park Cemetery in Springfield. Donations in Henry’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104. www.hafeyfuneralservice.com