Hudson – Dana G. Sousa, 49, of Hudson, formerly of Richmond, Va. and Longmeadow, died unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 from a kayaking accident on the Assabet River in Hudson.
He leaves his three loving children, Ethan, Emma and Dillon Sousa, all of Belchertown. He is also survived by his parents, George R. and Beverly A. (DiLauro) Sousa of Hudson; his sister, Jennifer Sousa of Clinton; his nieces, Alexandra Lavoie-Santiago, Emily Lavoie, and Sydney Lavoie; and his nephew, Cameron Lavoie, along with his godparents, Mary Ann Perry of Hudson and Walter Mutti of Berlin, and his former wife and mother of his children, Laura VonSchilling of Belchertown. He was predeceased by his paternal grandmother, Anna Sousa, and maternal grandparents, Dominic and Helen DiLauro.
Dana was born in Worcester and raised in Hudson, where he attended local schools and was a 1984 graduate of Hudson High School. He later received his Engineering Degree in 1988 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) of Worcester. He worked for several years as an Industrial Engineer with McNairn Packaging in Westfield and most recently with the Ruland Manufacturing Company in Marlborough.
Dana enjoyed sports and was a member and tri-captain of the Hudson High School football team and also played college football with the WPI Engineers. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon at WPI. He was a former football coach in the Longmeadow Youth Football Program. He also enjoyed cooking, camping and fishing in his spare time, but most of all he loved being with his family and especially cherished the times he shared with his children. He will always be remembered and truly missed.
A celebration of Dana’s life will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m., in the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson. Burial services will follow in Forestvale Cemetery, Hudson. Family and friends may attend calling hours Friday, Aug. 28, from 5-8 p.m., at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dana Sousa Memorial Fund (to benefit his three children), c/o Avidia Bank, 42 Main St., Hudson, MA 01749.
