Pia G. Bellinger

Pia Mary Catherine Guerra Bellinger passed from natural causes on August 17, 2026, at Landings at Laurel Lake, in Lee, Mass. She was born to Maria and Umberto Guerra in Housatonic, MA, on July 19, 1933. She graduated from Searles High School in 1951.

In 1952, she married Clarence Martin, Jr. and had 3 daughters in their 12 years of marriage. Later, she met and married John F. Bellinger (Jack) in 1984. Pia and Jack were a dynamic team who worked together tirelessly for their family, their community, and their church – Christ Trinity Church in Sheffield, Mass.

She worked in banking until retirement. After she “retired”, she worked for John Ormsby, doing bookkeeping and driving school bus runs.

Pia loved baking and gardening. She is best known for her baked goods and Christmas fruitcake sold at various fundraisers at the church. The flowering plants and bushes outside her home in Mill River were a great source of joy and pride. She and Jack were avid golfers and loved to travel, especially to Cape Cod.

When Parkinson's took its toll, Pia and Jack moved to Landings at Laurel Lake, where Pia received the additional support she needed in the nursing wing.

Pia was predeceased by her husband Jack Bellinger and by her brother John Guerra of Cleveland, Texas. She is survived by her daughters from her marriage to Clarence Martin Jr., Susan Martin (Woodstock, Illinois) granddaughter Jessica Cavanaugh and great-grandson Charlie; daughter Elaine Martin Leichter and husband Robert (Silver Spring, Maryland); and daughter JoAnn Martin Cahill and husband Douglas (Sharon, CT), grandson Dennis Gibbons and wife Paige, great-granddaughter Rosepia, and step-granddaughter Lynnette Cahill and great-grandchildren Aussie, Autumn and Aubree. Pia is also survived by Jack’s children Michael Bellinger, Mark Bellinger and wife Heather, Nancy Sherman, and 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Pia also leaves a community of beloved friends. She often spoke of their many acts of kindness, which made a great difference in her life as her health declined. Special recognition is due to Maggie Carroll, who cared for Pia and Jack with boundless love and devotion.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Trinity Church in Sheffield on Thursday, September 17 at 2:30 pm. The service will also be streamed online. Contact the church for information about accessing the video.

Donations may be made to either Christ Trinity Church in Sheffield or The Sheffield Food Assistance Program c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To share remembrances with her family, please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com