Henry R. Polastri, 81, of Margerie Street in Lee, MA, died Monday, September 15, 2014 at Laurel Lake Extended Care Facility. He was born on July 13, 1933 in Pittsfield, MA, the son of Enrico and Alma Delmolino Polastri. He grew up in Farnums (Cheshire), MA and was educated in Adams Schools. He graduated from Sheffield High School. During his High School years he worked at the Battachi Farm in Sheffield were he continued to work after High School. In 1954 he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving two years during the Korean War where he was stationed at Ft. Knox, KY. During his service he traveled to Italy to meet his grandmother for the first time. It was there that he also met his wife, the former Gina Bona whom he later married on June 2, 1956. She died on July 15, 1986. Mr. Polastri worked at General Electric in Pittsfield, then Lee Lime and in 1960 for Mead Paper Company where he retired as a 3rd Class Stationary Engineer in 1993. During that time he also was a caretaker at the Sedgwick Estate in Stockbridge. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Lee, a member of the Sons of Italy and Lee Sportsmen's Club. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, cook and gardener. He enjoyed making homemade wine and salami. Mr. Polastri is survived by his son; John Polastri and his wife Jody of Becket, MA, his two daughters; Nancy VanPatten and her husband Charles of Sacramento, CA and Suzanne Pearson and her husband Josiah of Johnson City, NY, one brother; Donald Polastri of Hayward, CA and four grandchildren; Sam Polastri, Josiah Jr., Jonathan and Joshua Pearson. He is also survived by his foster sister Zella Wise of Cheshire, MA a sister in law Dorothy Polastri of Lee, MA and a brother in law Romano Bona of Postalesio, Italy. Besides his wife and parents he is predeceased by his foster mother, Clementina Bianchi, who raised him after his mother died shortly after giving birth. Also predeceased by a brother Paul Polastri and a foster brother Emile Bianchi. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 22, 2014 at 9:15 AM from the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church in Lee at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, September 21 from 3-6 pm at the Funeral Home. Friends wishing may make memorial donations to Hospice Care in the Berkshires or the Lee Sportsmen's Club in care of the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street Lee, MA 01238.

Visitation Details

Sunday, September 21st, 2014 3:00pm - 6:00pm, Kelly Funeral Home

Service Details

Monday, September 22nd, 2014 10:00am, St. Mary's Church

Interment Details

St. Mary's Cemetery