Dorothy Florence (Galarneau) Sowa

Dorothy Florence (Galarneau) Sowa passed from this life on June 23, 2025 at the age of 95. She was born in Springfield, MA on October 10, 1929 to Ernest and Amelia Galarneau of Indian Orchard, MA. She was one of five children. Her brothers Ernest and Thomas Galarneau pre-deceased her along with her youngest sister, Emily (Galarneau) Lavigne. Her sister Virginia (Galarneau) Yvon presently resides in Chicopee with her daughter, Dawn (Yvon) Nolet.

She met and married the love of her life, Walter Stephen Sowa, in May of 1949.  They resided in Indian Orchard where they lived for many years raising their family of 4 children. They then moved to

Springfield where they remained together until Walter’s death in 2005. Dorothy and Walter had 4 children. Mary (Sowa) Collins of Springfield and her husband Kevin Collins, Stephen Sowa of  

Belchertown, MA and his wife Susan (Heaton) Sowa, Thomas Sowa and his wife Cheryl (Bennett) Sowa of Springfield, and Patricia Sowa, formerly of Indian Orchard who died prematurely in an

accident in 1989. Dorothy had 10 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She was a dedicated wife, wonderful mother and a loving and involved grandmother in her grandchildren’s lives.  She was a wonderful cook, and cooking was often her way of caring for her family, even later in her life. She loved children, especially the little ones.  She will be missed by her family and all who knew her.

A Graveside Service for her family will be held on Monday, June 30, at 11am  in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Indian Orchard with Fr. William Tourigney officiating. To leave Dorothy’s family an online condolence, please visit www.nowakfuneral.com.

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