CHICOPEE – Edmond L. “Ed” Authier, 88, a longtime resident of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, February 10, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on August 23, 1928, a beloved son of the late Hermenigilde and Marie (Lemieux) Authier. He was raised in Holyoke and attended Precious Blood High School. He left high school to enter the United States Navy during World War II and served aboard the USS Perry DD844, which was nicknamed “The Eight Ball”. He attained the rank of Teleman Third Class and received the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned home to Holyoke and was married and lived in Chicopee for many years. He moved to The Wellington in Springfield in December of 2016. He was the owner and operator of the family business, A.E. Jodoin, Jr., Inc. Drywall Contractors, for many years and retired in 1991. Following his retirement, he was employed by Bryan Leasing for Marcotte Ford in Holyoke. Active in his Catholic faith, he was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church and a member and Past Grand Knight of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670, all in Chicopee. He was a Hampden County Honorary Sheriff and a member and Past Senior Vice Commander of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337. He was an avid hockey fan and a former Springfield Falcons Hockey Booster Club member. He also was a member of the World War II Tin Can Sailors Association. Ed was honored and finally received his high school diploma a few years ago as a World War II Veteran and was also selected to fly on one of the “Honor Flights of New England” to Washington, D.C. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Theresa M. J. “Terri” (Jodoin) Authier. They were married on October 9, 1948 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Willimansett and were blessed with over 68 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Susan M. Morin of Chicopee and Leonard E. Authier and his wife, Cheryl, of East Longmeadow; his five cherished grandchildren, Todd Mayuski and his wife, Stephanie, Scott Mayuski and his wife, Laura, Andre Frazier, Matthew Authier and his wife, Katie, and Linnea French and her wife, Nina; his eight cherished great-grandchildren, Jacob, Sam and Abigail Mayuski, Avra and Max Mayuski, Reagan and Drew Authier and Abigail French; his two dear sisters, Edna Benoit of Holyoke and Louise Fields and her husband, Kurt, of Feeding Hills; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Authier and Jodoin families. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his loving son-in-law, James Morin; and his nine dear brothers and sisters. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, February 16, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 7:45 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Navy 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 Wednesday, February 15, 2017 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 Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com
