James “Jamie” A. Floriani

James A. Floriani also known as “Jamie”, of North Adams, Massachusetts, died after a brief illness on September 17, 2023. Jamie was born to Agnes I. (Kearns) Floriani and Louis E. Floriani on April 16, 1947.  He leaves behind his oldest brother Louis E. Floriani Jr. and sister-in-law Diane of North Adams. He also leaves behind his older sister Carole Ann Blair and his brother-in-law Raymond J. Blair also of North Adams.  In addition, he leaves many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jamie married the love of his life Gloria A. (Ferris) Floriani on June 6, 1970. They lived in North Adams until a recent move to Williamstown, Massachusetts. He leaves his daughter, Tara Floriani and her husband, Dana Quartey of Worcester, Massachusetts, and his son Andrew “AJ” Floriani and his wife Shellie who live in Coventry, Vermont. Jamie had seven grandchildren, Desmond, Damori, Corrinne, Cole, Eli, Emilia, and Enzo who were especially delighted by their Papa’s playfulness.  He loved them deeply and bragged about them often.

In Jamie’s younger years he loved to ice skate, swim, and look at the night sky with an elderly neighbor. For many years enjoyed spending Saturdays with his cousin Rosie Chavarry of Dalton, Massachusetts. Together they joked, laughed, and loved to play pranks on unsuspecting strangers. There was never a dull moment when they were together. 

He proudly graduated from Drury High School and attended Berkshire Community College. He worked at Sprague Electric Co. for 30 years until the company moved from North Adams . He then decided that his second career would be helping others.

He first worked with the elderly but then found his passion through working with students as a paraprofessional at a school he loved, Drury High School.  In short time, he learned that working with “his students” was his true calling.  Jamie’s other passion was cooking from scratch and sharing it with family and friends.  He was especially proud of the “mean” homemade pizza he shared with many over the years. 

In addition to being a kind and genuine soul, he was proud to be a Catholic and attended St. Anthony of Padua Church currently known as St. Elizabeth of Hungary, where he taught catechism for 25 years. He revered the “Blessed Mary” whom he called the “Mother of all Mothers”. He was profoundly religious and shared his love for Christ his Savior with others by showing compassion, forgiveness, and empathy. Everyone who knew Jamie knew his kind-heartedness. He was full of light, and positivity, traits that were immediately obvious to all that met him.

A funeral mass will be held on what would have been Jamie’s next birthday, April 16, 2024 at 9:00am at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in North Adams, Massachusetts. Immediately following the Mass, a Celebration of Life will be announced. All are welcomed to attend the Mass and the Celebration of Life event. 

In leu of flowers, please donate in Jamie’s memory to PopCares, P.O. Box 482, Williamstown, MA 01267.