James (Skip) M. Deni 1938-2025

James (Skip) M. Deni 1938-2025

James (Skip) M. Deni, Sr., 87, passed away on December 14, 2025, surrounded by his beloved family. He was the son of John and Mary (McDonald) Deni and was born and raised in Holyoke, MA. He was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School and attended Holyoke Community College. He had potential as a pitcher and played AA Baseball for two years.

Jim served his country honorably in the Air Force Reserves as a Hydraulics Technician repairing planes. He was activated in 1960 and stationed in Germany and France when The Berlin Wall was constructed during the separation and continued as a Reservist at Barnes Air National Guard Base through the early 1970’s. Jim was married to Julianne M. (Gobeille) Deni for 57 years, until her passing in 2023. They began their life together in Holyoke before moving to Chicopee to raise their children. He worked as a pipeline engineer for Buckeye Pipeline for over 25 years. Jim was a lifelong member of The Holyoke Elks and took up the sport of racquetball at age 47, playing competitively until he was 84. His uncanny ability to fix anything and everything was generously shared with neighbors and friends. He set an exceptionally high bar for fathers and grandfathers everywhere and was famously known for his long streak of good luck, keeping himself entertained with scratch tickets and slot machines after starting his day with his breakfast gang at Jennifer’s Kitchen in Chicopee.

Jim will be dearly missed by his son, James M. Deni, Jr. (Tammy) of Chicopee, daughter Angela Dunn (John III), of New Canaan, CT, brother Anthony Deni (Shirley) of Granby, and sisters Patricia McCue of Chicopee and Francine Perdrizet (John) of Holyoke. Most special in his life were his cherished grandchildren, Logan Deni, Julianne Dunn, Johnny Dunn, and Matthew Deni as well as his many lifelong friends and neighbors.

His cremation and funeral service is entrusted to the Boucher – O’Brien Funeral Home in Easthampton. Private burial will take place in St. Jerome Cemetery in the spring. Donations to The Holyoke Medical Center Foundation would be welcome as thanks for the excellent care by many staff there who became new friends during his treatment. https://www.holyokehealth.com/give-now/donate/