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Arline R. (Leonard) Blais
September 21, 2017

Obituary

CHICOPEE – Arline R. (Leonard) Blais, 82, of the Chicopee Falls section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, September 21, 2017. She passed into Eternal Life at Mercy Medical Center surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family. She was born at home on Worthington Street in Chicopee on November 16, 1934, a beloved daughter of the late Ernest J. and Rose (Martin) Leonard. She was raised in Chicopee, attended Precious Blood High School in Holyoke and entered the Convent of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. She furthered her education and received an Associate’s Degree in Education from Fordham State University in New York. Her life followed another path when she left the convent, entered into marriage and worked diligently at night to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Westfield State College. Following her education, she returned to Chicopee where she lived the remainder of her life. She was employed as an elementary school teacher and had worked at many parochial and public schools in the area. She was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Arline enjoyed meeting her friends every morning at the Dunkin Donuts on Front Street in Chicopee for coffee and conversation. Most of all, she was a fun-loving wife, mother and grandmother who loved spending time with her family and her many dear friends. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Raymond J. Blais who was Called Home on July 20, 2012. They were married at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee on April 26, 1958 and were blessed with over 54 years of happiness together. She leaves her two loving daughters, Debbie L. Cote and her husband, Bob, of Belchertown and Linda M. Feldman and her husband, Walt, of North Hatfield; her five cherished grandchildren who affectionately called her “Mimi”, Heather Gaj and her husband, Peter, Rob Cote and his girlfriend, Ashley Hooten, Krystal Kenny and her husband, Oliver, Peter Bonavita and Ali Feldman; and her six cherished great grandchildren, Madyson and Kyrsten Gaj, Ethan and Landon Ritter and Noal and River Kenny. She also leaves her four dear sisters, Doris Bernier, Cozette Turgeon, Carol Dryzgula and Evelyn Blanchard; her dear brother-in-law, Robert Blais and his wife, Jean; her two dear sisters-in-law, Constance Sullivan and Jacqueline Cislak and her husband, Edward; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Blais and Leonard families. In addition to her beloved husband and parents, she was also predeceased by her beloved infant daughter, Tammi Blais who was Called Home on June 10, 1977; her five dear sisters, Jackie Savage, Joan Leonard, Lorraine Rudat, Lois White and Alice Betie; and her three dear brothers, Ernest “Junior” Leonard, Earl “Gus” Leonard and Harold “Boy” Leonard. Her family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located at the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Family and friends are invited to attend a Graveside Committal Service on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 1 p.m. meeting directly at the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Sunshine Village, 75 Litwin Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com

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St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels
13 Dale Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
413-532-9806