CHICOPEE - Armand A. Guertin, 87, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, February 25, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born at home on Leslie Street in Willimansett on December 27, 1929, a beloved son of the late Arthur and Lucia (Pelletier) Guertin. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated in 1948 from Chicopee High School and later graduated from the Coyne Electrical School in Boston. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War with the 27th Infantry Regiment Signal Corps and the 65th Combat Engineers. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, the Combat Infantry Badge and the United Nations Service Medal. Armand was a Master Electrician and owned and operated Guertin Electrical Contractors in Chicopee. For over 40 years, he affirmed his business pledge, “Be Certain – Call Guertin”. Active in his Catholic faith, he was a communicant of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee where he served as Vice Chairman of the Parish Council and also as President of the League of the Sacred Heart. For his many years of dedicated service to his parish, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Following the closure of his beloved parish, Armand became a communicant of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Chicopee. He was a life member of the Fairview Knights of Columbus Council 4044 in Chicopee where he served as their Youth Activity Chairman supporting the activities of the Royal Columbian Drum Corps and as Scoutmaster of Troop 4044. Armand was active as an adult leader with Cub Scout Pack 424 and Boy Scout Troop 424, which were both sponsored by Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. He was awarded their Order of the Arrow for his many years of service. He also was a member of the Willimansett American Legion Post 353 in Chicopee. In 1967, Armand and his wife, Aline, joined fellow parents of deaf children and started the Willie Ross School for the Deaf in Longmeadow. The school was the only day program for hearing impaired children in the Springfield area. In addition to his beloved parents, he was predeceased by his beloved first wife, Aline (Lafrenaye) Guertin who was Called Home on April 21, 1979; his dear brother, Albert A. Guertin who was Called Home on January 16, 2012; and his dear brother-in-law, Richard E. Therrien who was Called Home on April 15, 2012. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Juliette A. (Caron) Guertin. They were married on June 20, 1981 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 35 years of happiness together. He also leaves his 14 loving children, Pierre Guertin and his wife, MaryEllen, of Farmington, CT, Michelle Guertin and her husband, Michael Borgos, of Brookline, Celeste Planzo and her husband, Louis, of Dennis, Janine Laverdiere and her husband, David, of Chicopee, Gregory Ribeiro and his wife, Deidra, of Tustin, CA, Geoffrey Ribeiro and his partner, Anne Lewis-Provo, of Southwick, Louise Johnson and her husband, Brian, of North Pownal, VT, Vincent Guertin and his wife, Ilene, of Pennsburg, PA, Yvette Guertin of Springfield, Norman Guertin and his wife, Debbie, of South Hadley, Debra Drake and her partner, Dan Nash, of Washington, DC, Daniel Guertin and his wife, Beth, and John Drake and his wife, Amy, all of Easthampton and Thomas Guertin and his wife, Stephanie, of Springfield; his 21 cherished grandchildren; his dear sister, Claire T. Therrien, of Chicopee; his dear brother-in-law, Robert Lafrenaye of Holyoke; his three dear sisters-in-law, Pauline Dutilly and Eileen Bombardier and her husband, Roland, all of Chicopee and Carey Caron of Boise, ID; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Guertin, Lafrenaye and Caron families. His family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Richard Steingart and the nurses and staff of Baystate Hospital Infusion Therapy for their compassionate care of Armand. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, March 2, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (the funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. 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, March 1, 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. For those who prefer, his family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, 170 Pendexter Avenue, Chicopee, MA 01013 or to The Salvation Army, 271 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
