Carmen (Gobbi) Vangsness, 98, of Longmeadow passed away peacefully surrounded by family in the comfort of her home on Wednesday, November 10. She was the daughter of the late Peter and Henrietta Gobbi of Springfield. In 1946 she married Norbert Vangsness and relocated to Longmeadow in 1953 where they raised their seven children in the home Norbert built on Hazardville Road. She was a life-long communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Longmeadow. Carmen was the “glue” of the immediate and extended family, reaching out to relations all over the country in an effort to let them know they were in her thoughts. Carmen was one of six sisters, and enjoyed their company throughout her life, and was very close to her sister-in-law as well. Carmen’s greatest joy was entertaining family and friends over carefully prepared and served dinners – not just at the holidays, but all during the year. She was a devotee of Julia Child, often serving dishes from either a recent television program or one of her many cookbooks. No recipe was too much trouble if it was to be the center of welcoming family and friends to the table. After raising her children, she worked at The Beverly Shop in Longmeadow, remaining close to her co-workers for many years after retiring, hosting many of them at her home for birthdays and special events. Carmen enjoyed reading and discussing the latest news and current events well into her 90’s. And she never met a crossword puzzle she didn’t like!
Carmen was pre-deceased by her parents, her husband Norbert (1998), her sisters Iness, Maria, Francesca, Louise, Elaine and her daughter Marjorie (2021).
She leaves as her legacy children David, Peter (Patti), Mark (Diane), Maria (Steve), Paul and Julie (Tom). “Nana” also leaves 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and several cousins.
Funeral Services together with her daughter’s (Marjorie V. Knapp) will begin Monday, November 15, 2021 at 9:30am at Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels, 43 Shaker Rd, Enfield, CT where there will be 1 hour of visitation and then a procession to St. Mary’s Church, 519 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, MA for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, burial will follow in Longmeadow Cemetery. Memorial Contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Church 519 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, MA 01106.