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WILLIAMSBURG - Michael R. Bachand, 54, passed away at his home on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, and joined his loving grandparents, Walter and Charlotte Bachand and Wilfred and Madeline Allaire, in heaven.

Michael was born May 7, 1957, in Northampton to Bernard and Nancy (Allaire) Bachand. He grew up in Haydenville and attended local schools in Haydenville and Williamsburg, graduating from Hampshire Regional High School in 1975.

Upon graduation, Michael attended Springfield Technical Community College for a year. After his time at STCC he moved to California, then he was hired by Texas International Airlines and lived in Houston for a short time.

He then moved back east, landing a position with Creative Management Strategies as the director of executive recruiting on Fifth Avenue in New York City. While there, an opportunity arose to join a team of about 20 people to start up Don Burr's No Frills People's Express Airlines.

A few years later, Michael returned to California to work in the field he loved, recruiting. Because of failing health, Michael moved back to Haydenville in 2007. He took a recruiting job in Springfield, but could not take the demands of travel. He then worked at Lowe's in Hadley for about a year, but had to give that up because of his health.

He leaves his loving parents, Bernie and Nancy Bachand of Haydenville, and his sister, Patsy Bachand of Holyoke. Michael is also survived by his godfather, Richard Bachand and wife Celia of Marietta, N.Y.; his aunts, Joan Kopka of Naples, Fla., and Josephine Ferreira of Holyoke; his uncle, Ron Bachand of Haydenville; and a very special cousin, Mary Ann Smith, of Manteno, Ill., who lived with him and his family during her teenage years.

Michael has always stayed in close contact with his family, classmates, friends and the wonderful people he had the pleasure of working with around the country. His happiest moments in his short life were when he was with family and friends.

Calling hours will be at Childs Funeral Home, 14 Kingsley Avenue, Haydenville, from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19. The funeral will be from Childs Funeral Home at 9 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at Our Lady of the Hills Parish at 10 a.m.