Henry J. Kirchner, 85

ADAMS, Mass. —

Mr. Henry “Hank” J. Kirchner, 85, of Adams, died Friday morning, November 17, 2023 at Hillcrest Commons in Pittsfield. He was born in Pittsfield on March 18, 1938, son of the late Henry M. Kirchner and Eileen M. (White) Kirchner Wojcik. He attended school in North Adams, receiving his high school diploma from Drury High School.

He served with the US Navy from 1957 until his Honorable Discharge in 1960. He had also served with the Massachusetts National Guard.

Henry last worked at Price Chopper Supermarket in Pittsfield until retiring in 2000. Earlier, he had worked for the former Adams Supermarket. As a teenager, he worked at his mother’s diner on Howland Avenue in Adams.

He attended St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Cheshire. He enjoyed playing cards, including canasta, cribbage, and Polish pitch. There was time in his life when he enjoyed cross-country skiing with his family and playing tennis and jogging with his friends.

In 1988, Henry found sobriety. He was actively involved with Alcoholics Anonymous, where he was a sponsor for many people suffering from alcohol or drug dependency. He was also involved with Louison House in Adams.

His wife, the former Roberta M. Urbanek, whom he married on March 3, 1962, died on April 21, 2004.

He is survived by his daughters, Paula “Sammy” Lee and her husband Ken of Brooklyn, NY and Norah Wood and her husband Chris of Cheshire; four grandchildren including John Bresett of Fleischmanns, NY, Matthew Bresett of Medford, MA, and Summer Lee and Raymond Lee, both of Brooklyn, NY; two sisters, Joan Lavoie and her husband Richard of Northborough, MA and Judy Carpenter and her husband Jimmy of Adams, and a step-sister-in-law, Theresa Abbott Miner and her husband Donald of Saratoga Springs, NY, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his son, David J. Kirchner, on February 28, 2023.

He was also predeceased by his sister Iris Martin in 2014, his step-mother Laura Abbott Kirchner in 2008 and two step brothers, William Abbott in 2009 and Theodore Abbott in 1994.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30th at 11:30 AM in the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. A calling hour will be held prior to the funeral on Thursday Nov. 30th from 10:30 AM until 11:30 AM in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Louison House, PO Box 773, North Adams, MA 01247. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com