JANICE (NEWCOMB) WOODFORD

Janice Woodford, 82, a longtime resident of Westfield, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, with her family by her side. Janice was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on February 8, 1944, to the late Arthur and Ruth (Burridge) Newcomb.

After graduating from Holyoke Community College, she dedicated over 20 years to Baystate Noble Hospital, working as a skilled medical transcriber in the Medical Records department. Janice was also a devoted member of the Westfield congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

An avid reader and talented creator, Janice lovingly crafted beautiful scrapbooks that will remain treasured keepsakes for her family. She delighted in travel, fondly remembering several trips to Switzerland and her annual summer vacations on Cape Cod. Always up for a game, she loved learning to play cribbage from her son-in-law, Stephen, which quickly became a favorite pastime filled with shared laughter. Known for her wonderful sense of humor, Janice had a gift for always making people laugh and bringing joy to those around her.

Above all, her greatest joy was her family. She shared an incredibly close bond with her sister, Elaine, who was truly her best friend; the two of them could easily talk for hours about anything and everything. Affectionately known to her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and so many others as "Mama" (pronounced ma’am-uh), her happiest moments were spent in the company of her seven great-grandchildren.

Janice is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Alan Woodford; her son, Jeffrey Woodford and his wife Carrie; and her daughter, Amy Bouvier and her husband Stephen, all of Westfield. She also leaves her sister, Elaine Placzek and her husband Peter of Blandford; her brother, Stephen Newcomb and his wife Nancy of Charlotte, NC; and her stepmother, Doris Clark Newcomb of Westfield. She is lovingly remembered by her five grandchildren: Nicholas Bouvier and his wife Amanda, Jeffrey Bouvier and his partner Kate, Lauren Bouvier, Emily (Woodford) Reidy and her husband Kevin, and Sarah Woodford; as well as her seven cherished great grandchildren: Mason, Noah, Oliver, Jones, Genevieve, Harrison, and Elise Bouvier; along with many extended family members and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to The American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21714 or by visiting www.donate.cancer.org  Private services will be held at the convenience of the family.

End of life arrangements entrusted to Westfield – Avalon Funeral Home, 4 Princeton St, Westfield, MA 01085 To express condolences to the family please visit Janice’s memorial page at www.westfieldfuneralhome.com

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