CHICOPEE – Alphonse A. “Al” Roy, 96, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Good Friday, April 14, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family, his wonderful caregivers and his fellow comrades at arms. He was born in Holyoke on April 6, 1921, a beloved son of the late Alexandre and Rosanna (Letourneau) Roy. He was raised in Chicopee and lived in Aldenville most of his life. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II with the Headquarters Battery 449th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion and attained the rank of Private First Class. He served in the Battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes. He received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. He was a member of the Carpenter’s Local and was employed as a carpenter for several local firms including Daley Construction and the A.R. Green Construction Company. He was a member of the former Willimansett American Legion Post 353 and a former member of the Amvets Post 12, both in Chicopee. During his younger years, he was a well-known body builder who competed in many local events. He made most of his own gym equipment and, in his 90’s, worked out everyday in the gym he constructed in his garage which was open to his family, neighbors and many friends. Al was also known as the “Tomato King of Aldenville” because every summer he grew over 400 tomato plants in the back yard of his home and gave hundreds of tomatoes to his relatives, neighbors and many friends. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his loving family and his many dear friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Jeannette (Thibodeau) Roy. They were married on May 30, 1942 at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 74 years of happiness together. He also leaves his three loving daughters, Arleen E. Merritt and her husband, James, of Elgin, IL, Jeanne C. Tassone and her husband, Salvatore, of Agawam and Lorraine C. Surette of Granby, MA; his five cherished grandchildren, Lisa Tassone and her wife, Breeanne Carroll, Anthony Tassone and his wife, Maria, Marc Tassone, Jeffrey Surette and Lee Surette; his five cherished great-grandsons, Patrick, Brady, Salvatore, Nicolas and Dominic Tassone; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Roy and Thibodeau families. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his loving son-in-law, John A. Surette, Jr. who was Called Home on August 22, 2013; his three dear brothers, Paul, Alfred and Armand Roy; and his two dear sisters, Cecile Champagne and Aurore Plouffe. His funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, April 19, 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 Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 4 pm to 6 pm. 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 requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke Activity Fund, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com
