Laura L.

Hamel

Laura L. (Holmes) Hamel, 78, of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Laura was born in Springfield on August 28, 1948. At a young age, she was welcomed into the home of John and Ida (Semchuk) Poshkowski, who raised her with love in Agawam. She graduated from Agawam High School in 1968 and shared a close bond with John and Ida throughout their lives.

Laura worked as a keypunch operator at MassMutual Life Insurance, where she met her future husband, Edward, in 1970. They were married on May 5, 1973, at St. Thomas Church in West Springfield and were blessed with 53 happy years of marriage. Some of their family’s favorite memories were made on camping trips, from campgrounds near the beach to rainy days in the pop-up camper.

Laura loved working on puzzles, playing in pitch leagues, and singing karaoke around the area. She loved any excuse to decorate, whether it was Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or St. Patrick’s Day. At Christmas, she gave away her peanut butter cookies topped with Hershey’s Kisses. In the craft room Ed set up for her, she made quilts, hemmed more pairs of pants than anyone could count, and took in dresses whenever someone needed a hand. If there was a wedding or shower coming up, chances were Laura was already making the centerpieces or favors.

Laura also helped out at West Side Dance Center, owned by her daughter Karen, where she was loved by the dancers and their families. Depending on who you were, you knew her as Gram, Mimi, Marmie, MamaSan, Pooh Bear, or simply a friend. She gave the best hugs, and if you got a little out of line, she’d tease you about getting out her wooden spoon. She knew how much we loved her, and she made sure we knew how much she loved us, too.

Laura leaves behind her loving husband, Edward Hamel, and her children, Karen (Michael) McMahon and Robert Hamel. She was a proud grandma and Mimi to her three grandchildren, Jason Hamel, Serenity McMahon, and McKaelyn Fisher. Her sisters, Cheryl Fournier, Darlene Blair, and Angel Holmes, will also dearly miss her. She leaves behind her sisters-in-law, Mary (Donald) Tarantino and Joan Sagendorph, as well as her brother-in-law, David (Lydia) Hamel, and many nieces and nephews.

Our family would like to thank the ICU staff at Baystate Medical Center for the compassionate care they gave Laura and the kindness and support they showed our family.

A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Toomey-O’Brien Funeral Home, 1043 Westfield Street, West Springfield, Massachusetts. A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Laura’s name may be made to either of the following organizations. Blood Cancer United, Attn. Donor Services, P.O. Box 22324 New York, NY 10087, or Celebration of Hope, benefiting the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, https://celebrationofhopema.org/donate.