Howard J. Moriarty

Howard Moriarty, also fondly called Dad, Grandpa, Howie, Mo, and Patches by his family and friends, left our Earth to be with our Heavenly Father after a courageous battle with metastatic esophageal cancer at the age of 81.
Born in Holyoke to the late Mary (McKenna) and Howard Moriarty, when his mother remarried, Howard was raised by his mother and late father, Dr. William Harris, and grew up on Main Street in Amherst, in what is now known as the Allen House with his 5 siblings. He graduated from Amherst Regional High School, where he excelled in Cross Country and Track and Field. Howard served in the Army National Guard for nearly 20 years and was an equipment operator for the Northampton Department of Public Works for 30 years, where he repaired the city’s roads and kept them clear of ice and snow. After retiring, he worked as a school crossing guard in downtown Northampton. He and his wife have been long-time parishioners of Annunciation Parish. Howard will be remembered for his gregarious personality, kindness, optimism, generosity, strong work ethic, love for his family, friends, and Irish music, and passion for sports- especially the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Notre Dame football, and Northampton High School athletics.
Howard is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Audrey (Vita); his daughters, Lynn Hoague, Kathy Tobin, and Laura Reidy and their spouses; his grandchildren Branden, Jacob, and Kayla Tobin and Lauralei Hoague; his brothers Blake and Peter Harris; his sisters Jane Knebel, Deloise DeGoede, and Linda Harris. Howard was always grateful for the companionship and assistance of Troy Cronin and thought of him as a grandson.
His funeral will be held at Annunciation Church in Florence, Monday, December 19, 2022, at 10 am., with burial to follow at Spring Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the charity of your choice in Howard’s memory.

Ahearn Funeral Home
(413) 587-0044