April 28, 2023

Community volunteers help Harmony House move closer to reopening

REGIONAL
Staff report

Volunteers who helped at Harmony House include Joanne LaChapelle, John Vaughan, Jean Petit, Tom Fiske, Nina Youmelle, Cheryl Masssey, Chris Gloster, John O’Connor, Michelle Tabb, Bryan Zimmerman, Mike Reyor, Patrick Murphy, and Louise Labrie. (iObserve photo/courtesy of Harmony House)

CHICOPEE – Harmony House, a home for the terminally ill that will be reopening later this year, welcomed volunteers on April 21 who arrived to help move furniture into the newly renovated home, here. 

“We are especially grateful and astounded by the generosity and willingness of this team of volunteers, along with some of our own long-term volunteers, to help unload furniture and move it into our beautiful new facility.  We give them all our utmost thanks,” said Gina Mazza, president of Harmony House’s Board of Directors. 

Founded by the late Ruth Willemain, a hospice volunteer for many years, the goal of Harmony House is to provide a comfortable, compassionate, and loving environment as people enter the final stages of life. The organization previously operated in Chicopee in a house generously donated for use by a city resident. After the purchase of a new property in the Aldenville section of Chicopee, the decision was made to temporarily close the house and generate all efforts to the renovation of the new home. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the renovation was put on hold before slowly returning to reconstruction mode.   

With the dedication of many volunteers and the generosity of multiple businesses, Harmony House is seeing a potential opening date for the fall of 2023. With that goal in mind, there will be future meetings to solicit volunteers and also fundraising events to support the home.

Harmony House is totally privately funded through the generosity of individuals, businesses, and foundations.   Contributions are gratefully accepted at all times. To donate, visit harmonyhousewma.org or send checks to Harmony House of Western Massachusetts, 66 View Street, Chicopee, MA. 

Harmony House is a 501(c)(3) corporation. For more information or to volunteer, contact Harmony House at 413-315-9784 or harmonyhousewma@gmail.com.