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Francis X. "Frank" Desmarais, Jr.
2/1/2017


CHICOPEE – Francis X. “Frank” Desmarais, Jr., 95, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born on Percy Street in the Aldenville section of Chicopee on March 20, 1921, a beloved son of the late Francis X. Desmarais, Sr. and Merilda (Morin) Desmarais. He was raised in Aldenville, graduated from Saint Joan of Arc Elementary School in Aldenville and Cathedral High School in Springfield and was a lifelong resident of Chicopee. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II with the 7th Infantry Regiment 32nd Division and attained the rank of Technician Fifth Class. He received the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and established the Desmarais Oil Company, which he owned and operated from 1947 to 1988. Active in his Catholic faith, Frank was a lifelong communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville. He served his parish as a member of the Parish Council on the Finance and Administration Committee. He was a member of the League of the Sacred Heart at Sainte Rose de Lima Church and a member of the former Passionist Retreat League in West Springfield. Frank was a member of the Fire Ball Club and the Kielbasa Festival, both in Chicopee. In 1986, Frank was named Citizen of the Year by the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Western Mass Elder Care and a member of the Board of Directors of the Aldenville Credit Union. He was also a 70-year member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337. Frank loved playing golf and spending time with his large family serving as the “Chief Family Picnic Photographer” for over 40 years. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Doris I. (Gosselin) Desmarais. They were married on September 25, 1943 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville and were blessed with over 73 years of happiness together. He also leaves his four loving children, Laurie A. Leclerc and her husband, Paul, and Dennis R. Desmarais and his wife, Linda, all of Chicopee, Janice M. McDonald and her husband, Dennis, of Spirit Lake, IA and Gerald R. Desmarais and his wife, Mary, of North Adams; his eleven cherished grandchildren, Mark Leclerc and his wife, Angi, Darleen Garneau and her husband, Michael, Dawn Fialli and her husband, Robert, Jennifer Patkoske and her husband, Michael, Christopher Desmarais and his wife, Catherine, Adam Desmarais and his wife, Jacque, Heather Griffin and her husband, Ian, Emily Rabinsky and her husband, Mark, Molly and Logan McDonald and William Desmarais; and his 19 cherished great-grandchildren. He will be watching from the Heavenly Kingdom the birth of his first great-great-grandchild in May of 2017. He also leaves his three dear sisters, Eileen Gosselin and Joan LeBlanc and her husband, Normand, all of Vero Beach, FL, and Rose Lamontagne and her husband, Roger, of Memphis, TN; his three dear sisters-in-law, Theresa Desmarais, Irene Richards and Jeannette Desjardins, all of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Desmarais and Gosselin families. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two dear brothers, Roger and Richard Desmarais; and his two dear sisters, Gertrude Voss and Agnes Desmarais. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, February 9, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with United States Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located at the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Saint Joan of Arc School Tuition Fund, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children, (Please specify Springfield), 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels
13 Dale Street
Chicopee, MA USA 01020
413-532-9806