Lawrence "Babe" Buffoni passed away on September 16, 2026. He was 92 years old, being born on May 6, 1934, in Lee, Massachusetts. He was the son of the late Marco and Diana (Piccini) Buffoni, both immigrants from Italy.

Babe was a graduate of Lee High School. He joined the military after high school, and was based at Fort Lewis in Washington. He earned several military accolades, and even witnessed the explosion of an "A" bomb at 2,000 yards.

Babe was a talented man and was employed with a couple of different firms, making his living as a brick and block mason. He was an avid sportsman, and he loved to hunt and fish. Back in the day, he played softball for the Little Italy Tigers, out of Lee. He was a huge baseball fan, and followed the Yankees up to his dying day.

Babe came from a large family, and had eight brothers and sisters; Joseph, Harry, Raymond, Mario, and Everette were his brothers, and Lea (Zavattaro) Vera (Giarolo) and Gloria (Griffin) were his sisters. All of his siblings lived long lives into their 80's and 90's, even two of them in their 100's. Babe was the youngest and the last of this clan of Buffoni's.

While he didn't have children of his own, he had four step-sons after his marriage to Rosemarie Schaefer in 1979. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as their children from his brothers and sisters.

His last days were spent at Fairview Commons Nursing Home in Great Barrington, and the family is grateful to the staff for their level of care and dedication that was shown to Babe.

Babe was a parishioner of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Lee, where he was a member of the oratory. Babe will be deeply missed and always remembered for his kindness, generosity, strength of character, and for the wonderful memories he leaves to all who survive him.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 24, at 11:00 at Saint Mary's Church in Lee; burial with full military honors will follow at Saint Mary Cemetery. A period of visitation will precede the service, beginning at 9:30, at the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee, MA.