James F. Birge

05/16/2006

James F. Birge, 79, of 600 Laurel St., formerly of Marble Street, died yesterday at Laurel Lake Center. Born in Easthampton on Sept. 13, 1926, son of George and Alice Ryan Birge, he was a 1943 graduate of Easthampton High School and a 1950 graduate of Providence College. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 as an aviation ordinance man, third class, on the U.S.S. Franklin aircraft carrier. He attended graduate school at Boston College and studied counseling before joining the Social Security Administration in 1951. During his career he was stationed in Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield and Augusta, Maine. He was promoted to the Pittsfield office in 1971, serving as assistant manager, and retiring in 1983. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church and a member and past Grand Knight of the Berkshire Hills Council No. 314 K of C., and former district deputy. He was also a member of the Bishop Conaty Assembly 4th K of C., and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. His wife, the former M. Catherine Hourihan, predeceased him in March 2004. He leaves two daughters, Sr. Mary Kate Birge S.S.J. of Emmitsburg, Md., and Elizabeth R. Birge of Montclair, N.J.; a son, James F. Birge Jr. of Wheeling, W.Va., and five granddaughters. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for James F. Birge, who died Tuesday, May 16, 2006, will be held Saturday, May 20, at 10 a.m. from KELLY FUNERAL HOME in Lee with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. He also leaves his daughter-in-law, Lisa Schuler Birge; a son-in-law, Christopher V. Isidore; five granddaughters, Caitlin, Margaret and Siobhan of Wheeling, and Allison and Katrina of Montclair, and a dear friend, Marie Toole of Lee. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, 369 South St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

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