GRANBY – Alfred G. “Fred” Proulx, 86, of Granby, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, October 28, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at the Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, South Carolina surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Manhattan, New York on August 5, 1931, a beloved son of the late Alfred G. Proulx, Sr. and Eva (Durant) Proulx. He was raised in Holyoke, attended Holyoke schools and had moved to Granby in 1966 where he lived the remainder of his life. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant. He received the Purple Heart Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), the Korean Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was employed as a maintenance mechanic at Carando, Inc. in Springfield for many years and retired in 1998. Active in his Catholic faith, he was a communicant of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Granby. He was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee and a Fourth Degree member of the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670. He volunteered at many of the council functions including the weekly bingo, the monthly spaghetti supper and the Annual Tootsie Roll Drive. An avid New England sports fan, he was a loyal Red Sox fan and enjoyed watching the New England Patriots. He enjoyed woodworking and built many birdhouses for his family and friends. Above all, he was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather who showered his family with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Alice E. (Florence) Proulx. They were married on May 14, 1960 at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. He also leaves his five loving children, Lisa M. O’Neil and her fiancé, Edgar Huard, of Granby, United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Alfred G. Proulx, III and his wife, Kim, of Kennesaw, GA, Alan B. Proulx and his wife, Tammy, of Chicopee, Mary A. Robert and her husband, Charles, of Lexington, SC, and Kevin D. Proulx and his wife, Sherralee, of South Hadley; his nine cherished grandchildren, Ryan Merrill, Brett Merrill and his partner, Brittany Sullivan, Elise Phillips and her husband, Shane, United States Army Captain Michael Proulx and his wife, Tonda, Lauren Proulx, Emilee Proulx, Jared Robert, Tara Nicole Robert and Katelyn Proulx; his two cherished great-granddaughters, Ella and Karsyn Phillips; his two dear sisters, Pauline Dupre of Chicopee and Marilyn Burgen of Springfield; his two dear brothers-in-law, Alfred Florence and his spouse, George Zayas of San Antonio, TX and Edward Florence, Jr. and his wife, Leslie, of New Hampshire; his dear sister-in-law, Theresa Carter of Zephyrhills, FL; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Proulx and Florence families. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his two dear brothers, Donald and Kenneth Proulx; and his dear sister, Joan Beck. His Funeral will be held on Friday morning, November 3, 2017 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. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 256 State Street, Granby, MA 01033. His Committal Service with United States 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 Thursday, November 2, 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. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Granby Veterans’ Memorial Project, c/o Friends of Granby Veterans, P.O. Box 38, Granby, MA 01033 or by visiting: www.granbyveteransmemorial.org. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com
