CHANGE OF VISITING HOURS

Cheryl Anne (Childs) Howard, 81, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on October 10, 1944, in Springfield, MA, Cheryl was the cherished daughter of Douglas and Barbara (Daggett) Childs. She graduated from West Springfield High School in 1962 and attended the University of Massachusetts, where she met the love of her life, Al Howard. Together, they shared over 62 years of marriage. Cheryl was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her husband Al; daughters Colleen French (Matt), Kathleen Michalek (Kevin), and Maureen Riordan (late husband Pat); sons Michael Howard and Shaughn Howard (Leslie Nielsen); 11 grandchildren—Nathan, Connor, and Tim French; Jessica and Abigail (Jenna) Michalek; Shanna Miller (Bryan), Kaitlyn Martin (Chris), Tiffany Howard; Colleen, Kelly, and Brian (Deanna) Riordan; and 9 great-grandchildren including Eric Howard-Littman, Caleb Tallis, Charlotte and Harper Landry, Fallyn Riordan, Padraig Riordan, Declan Filippone, Sophie and Hannah Riordan, with another great-grandchild on the way. She also leaves behind sister-in-law Elinore Howard; brother-in-law Thomas Howard and his wife Joanie; aunt Milanne Cassidy; nieces and nephews Brendon (Heather), Brian, Allison, and Ashley Murray; Thomas (Tara) Howard; along with many cousins and dear friends. Cheryl was predeceased by her parents, sister Candace Murray, son-in-law Patrick Riordan, and her in-laws Thomas and Elinore Howard. Cheryl dedicated many years to her career as an administrative assistant, most recently serving as assistant town clerk for West Springfield. She was passionate about sports, coaching many of her children's softball, basketball, and soccer teams alongside her husband. Her commitment earned her several accolades, including the Aime Levesque award. She treasured time spent with her grandchildren, enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Hallmark movies, and loved family camping trips to Cape Cod. A devoted fan of oldies rock & roll, especially Elvis Presley, Cheryl also loved the Boston Red Sox, visiting casinos, shopping, tag sales, and socializing with Club 62. Cheryl's warmth, humor, and generosity touched everyone she met. Her loving heart extended beyond family and friends to strangers and all the rescue dogs she cared for. She is survived by her best friend Dori and fondly remembered her childhood friend Maryanne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her daughter Colleen's Fight Against Ovarian Cancer GoFundMe or a charity of your choice. Visiting hours will be held at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home on TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm . Burial will be held in the spring at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in West Springfield. Cheryl Anne Howard's legacy of love, kindness, and laughter will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.