James M. Ferris, DDS

HOLDEN - James “Jim” Michael Ferris, 77, of Holden, passed away peacefully after a long illness on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Saint Vincent Hospital. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 54 years, Beverly J. (Gulbicki) Ferris. Born in Worcester, Jim was the son of the late John Patrick and Jane (Lozowicki) Ferris and lived the last 47 years in Holden.

He was the devoted father of Ann E. Ferris and her husband, Thorsten Ziegler, of Reston, VA, and Sean P. Ferris and his wife, Ashley, of Ann Arbor, MI; the loving Grampy of Alex, Mia, Finley, Hayden, and Fisher, with whom he enjoyed spending time; the beloved brother of Joan Lentine and her husband, Anthony, of Bethesda, MD, and Maureen Schwab and Daniel Ferris, both of Worcester; and he also leaves many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Jim attended St. Mary’s Elementary and High School (Worcester, 1966), Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (Boston, 1971), and Georgetown University Dental School (Washington, DC, 1975). Jim and Beverly started dating in 1966, married in 1971, lived in Falls Church, VA while attending dental school, and welcomed Ann in 1974. The young family moved to Orange, MA, and Jim started his first dental practice in Athol, MA. Sean was born in 1978, and then the family made their move to Holden, MA in 1979, where Jim started a dental practice where he would work his entire career (43 yrs). He truly loved being a dentist and helping his patients, and they loved him back with many experiencing how much he truly cared for them.

Other notable activities included serving as a former president and treasurer of the Chaffins Recreation Association in Holden and coaching basketball at St. Mary’s Church in Jefferson. He was a member of the Polish Naturalization Independent Club (PNI Club) in Worcester, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and Sterling National Country Club, and was a proud New England Patriots season ticket holder since 1986.

Some of Jim’s happiest moments were playing/watching sports including golf, basketball, football, and fishing, and enjoying “Ferris family fun time” (ski trips, kids activities, holiday family dinners, etc.). He cherished personal interactions and shared activities with friends and family, loved entertaining people with jokes and stories, even those he had just met. “He never met a stranger; only friends he hadn’t yet met.”

Relatives and friends are invited to visit Jim’s family from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 16, at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Tuesday, February 17, at St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at https://themmrf.org/.