CHICOPEE – Raymond C. Provost, 91, a longtime resident of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, January 28, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life from his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on July 20, 1923, a beloved son of the late Victor J. and Alice R. (LaFleur) Provost. He was raised in Holyoke, graduated from the former Precious Blood Elementary School and lived in Holyoke until 1952 when he moved to Chicopee. Raymond served his country in the United States Army during World War II and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. In December of 1944, he was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and became a Prisoner of War. He was liberated from his captors in Germany in April of 1945. He received the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with Five Service Stars and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Holyoke and was employed for many years as a television repairman at the former Vic & Vin Television Repair in Holyoke. Raymond was known for his wonderful sense of humor and was always available to assist his family with sound advice. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. He was a proud member of the Chicopee Falls Tiger’s Athletic Club where he was affectionately known by everyone as “Pops”. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Gertrude T. (Gosselin) Provost. They were married on September 1, 1947 at the former Precious Blood Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 67 years of happiness together. Besides his wife, he leaves his three loving children, Wayne J. Provost and his wife, Gloria, of Belchertown, Lynn P. Larrabee and her husband, Lawrence, of West Springfield and Gail M. Boone and her husband, William, of Chicopee; his three cherished grandchildren, Scott R. Provost and his wife, Tabitha, Colin W. Boone and his wife, Nicole, and Laura T. Boone; his two cherished great-grandchildren, Jacob and Juliette Provost; his dear brother, Richard Provost and his wife, Carmen, of Temecula, CA; his two dear sisters, Noella Dame and her husband, Robert, of Southampton and Gloria Anderson and her husband, Andy, of Little River, SC; his dear sister-in-law, Jeannette Provost of Chicopee; his two dear brothers-in-law, Raymond Gosselin and his wife, Maureen, of Holyoke and Martin Shevlin of Plant City, FL. In addition, he leaves a dear friend, Joan Hooper of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, friends and extended members of the Provost and Gosselin families. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his three dear brothers, Victor Provost and his wife, Ann, Armand Provost and his wife, Millie, and Edward Provost; and his four dear sisters, Shirley Provost, Alice Provost, Vivian Mardeusz and her husband, Casmir, and Rita Paquette and her husband, Gaston. His funeral will be held on Tuesday morning, February 3, 2015 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 7:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service and Inurnment with US Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, February 2, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Chicopee Falls Tiger Athletic Club Youth Sports Program, 14 Montgomery Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
