TURNERS FALLS-Edna R. "Rachel" Niedbala, 90, of Millers Falls Rd., died Sunday (5/13/12) at the Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.

She was born in Winchendon, MA on November 30, 1921, the daughter of Honorius G. and Marie L. (Fontaine) Caouette.

She was employed at the former Farren Memorial Hospital in Montague City, worked at the Erving Paper Mill and the former Royal Cleaners in Greenfield. She and her husband Walter owned and operated the Shady Rest Market in Turners Falls "on the hill".

She was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church and was very involved in the church activities such as church bazaars, suppers, fundraising events and numerous Catholic Charities appeals.

Rachel was a homemaker and was devoted to her family. She crocheted numerous afghans and articles of clothing for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and for church bazaars. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking for family and friends especially Polish food and spaghetti. She was very gregarious and outgoing. She belonged to the Greenfield Lionette's Club for many years and serving as an Officer. She enjoyed travelling with her husband throughout the country extensively. They built a house together after they got married in 1945 on Bernardston Rd. in Greenfield. They purchased the old Shady Rest Market in Turners Falls in 1951, renovated it, started a family and she lived there for the rest of her life. Rachel was an avid Patriots fan but even bigger Red Sox fan.

She was predeceased by her husband Walter in 2009 and her son Brian 2007.

She also was predeceased by her sisters Ruthie and Anita and her brothers Albert, Leo and Raymond.

Among her survivors she leaves a son, Roy W. Niedbala of Turners Falls, a daughter Fay L. Ward and her husband Christopher of Colorado Springs, CO., and a daughter-in-law Kathy Niedbala of Greenfield.

She also leaves eight grandchildren, Catherine Ward of Colorado Springs, Kelly (Niedbala) Gauthier of South Deerfield, Jay Niedbala of Erving, Kimberly (Niedbala) Hawkins, Kara Niedbala, Bryan Niedbala, Joey Niedbala, Amy (Niedbala) Cutting, all of Greenfield, seven great grandchildren, Colby Dobias of Turners Falls, Thaddeus Connor and Amalie Gauthier of South Deerfield, Lexi Hawkins and Avery Cutting of Greenfield, T.J. and Alexis Laskoski of CT, a sister Agnes Truesdell of Greenfield, a brother, Kenneth Caouette of Greenfield and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services, all in Turners Falls, will be Thursday (5/17) at 9:15am at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am at Our Lady of Peace Church, 90 Seventh St. with the Rev. Stanley J. Aksamit, officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Calling hours will be Wednesday from 6-8pm at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway St., Greenfield, MA 01301 or to Turners Falls High School, Girls Varsity Softball Team c/o Sandy Bailey, 222 Turnpike Rd., Montague, MA 01351.