CHICOPEE – Gerald N. “Jerry” Mailloux, 78, of the Sandy Hill section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He passed into Eternal Life at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family one day after the celebration of his 78th birthday and his wife’s birthday. He was born in Holyoke on August 15, 1939, a beloved son of the late Romeo P. and Blanche J. (Malo) Mailloux. He was raised on Dickinson Street in the Aldenville section of Chicopee, graduated Saint Joan of Arc Elementary School in Chicopee and Precious Blood High School in Holyoke, and moved to Sandy Hill in 1965 where he lived the remainder of his life. He served his country in the United States Army during peacetime for six years and spent most of his military career in the White House Signal Corps, stationed in Washington, DC working for the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations. He attained the rank of Specialist Fourth Class and received the Good Conduct Medal. Following his honorable discharge from the military, he was employed by Hamilton Standard, Ornamental Iron Shop and the City of Chicopee Parks Department from which he retired. He was an active communicant for many years at Assumption Church in Chicopee where he served as a Eucharistic Minister until its closing. He currently was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville. He also was a past member of the Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69 in Chicopee. Jerry loved music, especially the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and loved to play his piano during his retirement. He was an original member of the Assumption Drum and Bugle Corps and later the Marksmen Drum and Bugle Corps. He frequently attended many DCI and DCA Drum Corps Competitions. He was active in his childrens’ sports growing up including the 38’ers Softball League and also participated in his sons’ activities with the Boy Scouts of America. He loved watching his beloved New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and his many dear friends. Jerry’s family would like to thank and are forever grateful to all of the nurses and caregivers on 3 North at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke for their compassionate and loving care while Jerry was with them. The family would also like to thank Hospice of Western and Central Massachusetts and the Sister Caritas Cancer Center for their services and exceptional care. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Laurene M. "Laurie" (Dashner) Mailloux. They were married on November 10, 1962 at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 54 years of happiness together. He also leaves his four loving children, Mark G. Mailloux and his wife, Jacki, Lynn Marie Brown and her husband, Fred, Tracey A. Bey and her boyfriend, Chris, and Stephen C. Mailloux and his wife, Sara; his cherished 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his dear aunt, Claire Ringuette of Chicopee; and his many dear cousins and friends. Jerry also leaves his beloved furry companion, “Woo-Woo” who will miss him very much. His funeral will be held on Saturday morning, August 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 Friday, August 18, 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 Trustees Fund at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or to The Hospice of Western and Central Massachusetts, 55 Church Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com