May 8, 2017

UPDATED: Father Thomas Champigny was Easthampton pastor, Holyoke chaplain

REGIONAL
Staff report

 

(IObserve file photo/Fred LeBlanc)

SPRINGFIELD – Father Thomas R. Champigny, 62, died on Saturday, May 6 in Boston. He had served most recently as pastor of the former Notre Dame du Bon Conseil Parish in Easthampton.

He was born in Lynn, Mass., on Feb. 12, 1955 and was the son of Edward W. and Eva Marie (Comeau) Champigny. He attended St. Jean de Baptiste Grammar School in Lynn and graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Mass., and attended Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., before beginning his studies for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. He continued his priesthood studies at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y., where he was ordained to the transitional diaconate in 1980.

He did pastoral work during the summers of 1977, 1978 and 1979 at Holy Trinity Parish in Greenfield, and served as a transitional deacon at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Holyoke. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield on May 16, 1981 by Springfield Bishop Joseph F. Maguire at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield. He celebrated his first Mass at his home parish, St. Jean Baptiste in Lynn.

Father Champigny served as parochial assistant at the former Immaculate Conception Parish in Easthampton, 1981-83, 1985-86; St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Springfield, 1983-85; and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield, 1986-1994. He also served as administrator of St. Patrick Parish in Northfield in 1994; and Notre Dame du Bon Conseil Parish in Easthampton, where he was named pastor in October 1995, serving in that position until 2007. 

He left Notre Dame du Bon Conseil Parish on sabbatical in 2010. Following his sabbatical, he served as chaplain of Providence Place, Mary’s Meadow and Beaven Kelly Home, all in Holyoke.

In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his brother, Carl E. Champigny in 2003. He leaves his brother and sister, Edward W. Champigny and Jean-Marie LeMieux and her husband, Richard, all of Lynn; his four nephews and two nieces, Zachary, Andrew, Mary and Thomas Champigny, and Melissa and Christopher LeMieux; and many cousins, friends and extended members of the Champigny, Comeau and LeMieux families.

Funeral arrangements 

The wake for Father Champigny will  at Providence Place. be on Monday, May 15 from 3-7 p.m., followed by a vigil service at Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel at Providence Place, Five Gamelin St., Holyoke. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, the anniversary of his ordination, at Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel at Providence Place. Burial will be on Wednesday, May 17 at noon at St. Jean de Baptiste Cemetery, 134 Broadway, Lynn, MA 01904.

For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Framingham, MA 02472; or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.