Erving, MA – Jenna Catherine Putala, 28, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the warmth and love of her family, on Sunday, August 9, 2026, after a courageous and hard-fought battle with PEComa, an extremely rare form of sarcoma.
Jenna was born on May 10, 1998, in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in Erving. She attended Erving Elementary and was a 2016 graduate of Turners Falls High School, where she excelled both in the classroom and on the athletic fields, playing softball, basketball, and soccer. A standout student-athlete, Jenna’s passion, determination, and love of competition were evident from an early age.
She continued her education at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, earning her bachelor’s degree while playing softball for the university. After college, Jenna spent two years at Nichols College as a graduate assistant in the Athletic Communications Department, where she earned her master’s degree while also volunteering with the softball program.
Jenna went on to become an assistant softball coach at Babson College, a role she cherished until her diagnosis. Her greatest passion was softball and, even more importantly, helping young athletes grow, gain confidence, and succeed. With the support of Brian McGann, founder of the Western Mass Warriors and Jenna’s former coach, she restarted the Warriors program and built an 18U team, serving as both president and coach. Jenna poured her heart into her players and the game she loved, leaving a lasting impact on so many young athletes.
Jenna represented love, joy, and light to so many people. She will be remembered by her family and friends as kind, caring, and supportive- someone who touched the lives of others in positive and meaningful ways and had a special ability to make everyone around her better.
Jenna loved trips to Treasure Island and getaways to Newport and Maine. She was an avid reader, a beloved Red Sox fan, and a true foodie who appreciated fine food and delicious baked treats. One of her favorite pastimes was watching college softball and endless episodes of Law & Order and HGTV. These simple joys, along with her warmth and genuine love for others, are what made Jenna so special.
Jenna will be deeply missed by her beloved parents, John and Jill Putala of Erving; her loving brother, Jack Putala, and his wife, Mackenzie, of Conway; her cherished grandparents, John and Marie Putala of Turners Falls, David and Christine Ewell of Wendell, and Barbara Thayer of Erving; her aunts and uncles, Jeffrey Thayer, Mark Thayer, Chip and Candice Dodge, Adam and Keri Hosmer, and David and Shelly Ewell; her cousins, Eric Thayer, Kyle Dodge, Jacob Dodge, and Elizabeth Hosmer; her fiancé, Brendan Lortie of Newton; his parents, Gary and Suzanne Lortie, and Brendan’s sister Shannon Lortie of Scituate.
Jenna was predeceased by her grandfather, Wayne Thayer.
The Putala family and Brendan Lortie are profoundly grateful to their family, friends, and community for the extraordinary love, support, and kindness shown to Jenna and to them throughout her illness. They are especially grateful to Elizabeth Radley, Jenna’s best friend, for the immeasurable love, care, and support she gave Jenna.
There will be no services, in accordance with Jenna’s wishes. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Turners Falls Schuetzen Verein in Gill, MA on Saturday, September 12th, beginning at 2 pm. Jenna has requested that black mourning clothes not be worn.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jenna’s memory may be made to The Jenna Putala Sunflower Fund. The fund will provide an annual scholarship to a Turners Falls High School student and an annual gift to a young adult patient at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to help fund an experience or trip of their choosing. Checks can be sent to The Jenna Putala Sunflower Fund C/o Community Foundation for MetroWest 3 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 or donations can be made online at https://www.communityfoundationmw.org/the-jenna-putala-sunflower-fund/
Jenna’s life was far too short, but the love she gave, the lives she touched, and the joy she brought to the people around her will live on in all who knew and loved her.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
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