Lawrence J. Dowd

Holyoke- Lawrence �Larry� J. Dowd, 90, passed away Saturday surrounded by his loving family at the Holyoke Soldiers� Home. He was born in Springfield on July 21st, 1926 to the late John and Mary (Norris) Dowd. He grew up and spent most of his life there and was a graduate of Cathedral High School. Larry worked for the City of Springfield for 47 years, retiring as the Director of Parks and Recreation in 1994. He was a WW II U.S. Navy Veteran serving on the USS Pocono. He was formerly a communicant of Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. Larry was a lifelong member of the Springfield Elks, the VFW in Springfield, and the John Boyle O�Reilly Club. He was the beloved husband of Audrey P. (Boivin) Dowd who passed away in 2003, loving father of Jack L. Dowd and his wife Terry of West Springfield and Kevin R. Dowd and his wife Susan of Methuen, caring brother of Maureen Murphy and Cecilia Dowd both of East Longmeadow and the late Sr. Mary Brendan, SP, devoted grandfather of John Dowd and his wife Lisa, Sarah Long and her husband Christopher, Meghan Murray and her husband Brian, Erin Dowd and her husband Noam Rueveni, Ryan Dowd and his wife Angela, and Jennifer Dalen, cherished great grandfather of 8, and he also leaves many nieces and nephews. There will be a Funeral Mass Thursday 11:30 AM at St. Michael�s Cathedral, 260 State Street, Springfield followed by a Committal Service at 1:00 PM at the Massachusetts Veterans� Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam. Toomey-O�Brien Funeral Home has been entrusted with all arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations in Larry�s name may be made to the Holyoke Soldiers� Home, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.