Elias Vranas

02/13/2001

Elias "Jerry" Vranas, 75, of 31 Jericho Road died yesterday at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in Pittsfield on May 21, 1925, son of James and Marion Briggs Vranas, he left Pittsfield at an early age and had resided in Taunton and New York City, where he attended schools. He joined the Navy in December 1941 and served in the Beach Battalion. He was at the Normandy invasion and later in the Bay of Tokyo when the atomic bomb was released in Japan. He was discharged in December 1945 and moved to Hinsdale. Mr. Vranas was employed as a papermaker for Crane & Co. for 41 years, retiring in 1987. Mr. Vranas was also an honorary member of the Crescent/Pittsfield Lodge of Masons in Pittsfield. He received the Joseph Warren Medal, one of the highest awards given by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, for service to his community and masons. He was an assessor for the town of Hinsdale for many years and coached the Hinsdale boys' basketball team. He was awarded the Arnold Buckley Award for his work with the children of Hinsdale. He leaves his wife, the former Elaine L. Hoxie, whom he married Oct. 26, 1946; six daughters, Mary A. Vranas and Melinda J. Ostellino, both of Pittsfield, Darlene E. Casella of Becket, Sandra D. Vranas-Lambert and Catherine R. Maloney, both of Hinsdale, and Patricia H. Adler of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; a brother, Stames J. Vranas of Lee; a sister, Catherine Bradley of Pittsburgh, and 18 grandchildren. Funeral services for Elias "Jerry" Vranas will be held Friday morning at 11 a.m. in the BARTLETT-WELLINGTON FUNERAL HOME, 525 Main St., Dalton, with the Rev. Carl Towley, chaplain at BMC, officiating. Cremation will follow. Friends are invited to meet at the Dalton VFW after the funeral service. Calling hours will be at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. The Unity and Globe Lodge of Masons will conduct a memorial service at the funeral home on Thursday at 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Friends of Renal Dialysis in care of the funeral home. Among survivors are several nieces and nephews.

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