<p>Armand J. Robert, 90, passed away on May 15, 2025. Born in Northampton, MA on February 12, 1935, he was a son of the late Armand W. Robert and Harriett L. (Hornbeck) Robert. He grew up in Holyoke, MA and graduated from Holyoke High School. He started working part time at age 16 at a local corner convenience store ( First National Stores) part of a larger grocery store chain in the northeast. He worked over 40 years for First National / Edwards Supermarket throughout CT and MA as a store manager and district manager during his career.</p>
<p>After retiring from the grocery business, he needed to find something to do. He began his second career at The Agawam Senior Center as a "greeter" which turned out to be making lunch reservations, handling cash, planning Holiday dinners along with many administrative tasks. All things he enjoyed doing. But he liked the people he met along the way most of all. He had many friends through his time there. He was there for 21 years. Of both careers, he always said "The people and connections I have made are what I loved the most."</p>
<p>He loved working in his yard which he called "his kingdom". He spent hours building stone walls and beautiful flower beds in his backyard. He would drive around on his golf cart with a cocktail and sit in the woods and look up at what he had built. It made him happy. He thought the neighbors thought he was a little strange. But he didn't care. The green lawns and flowers were a beautiful thing to see. It became too much for him in his later years. His children admired what the property became from the beginning in 1962. His wife thought he was a little nutty. </p>
<p>Armand was predeceased by his beloved wife Mina D. (Ouellette) Robert September 11, 2024. To cherish his memory he is survived by his children Daniel J. Robert, Linda J. Robert of East Longmeadow, Janet M. (Robert) Butler and her husband Aaron Butler of Colchester, CT and Catherine A. Robert of Ellington, CT; his brother in-law Norbert Oullette and his wife Vivian of Anaheim, CA; his sister in-law Amy Young and her husband Jerome Young of Somers, CT as well as several nieces and nephews.</p>
<p>Family and friends are invited to gather on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 4 - 7 PM at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 beginning at 8:45 AM at the funeral home followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 AM at St. Patrick's Church, Allen Street, Springfield. Burial will be in Green Lawn Cemetery, East Longmeadow.</p>
<p>Memorial contributions in Armand's memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit <a href="http://www.inlyf.com">www.inlyf.com</a>.</p>