CHICOPEE ~ Henry W. O’Connell, Jr., 82, of Chicopee and a former longtime resident of the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, March 22, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Springfield on February 10, 1936, a beloved son of the late Henry W. O’Connell, Sr. and Nonie M. (Killeen) O’Connell. He was raised on Ledyard Street on Hungry Hill, graduated from Cathedral Grammar School and later Cathedral High School in 1954. As a young boy, his family were communicants of the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Springfield where Henry served as a page boy for the late Bishop of Springfield, Thomas M. O’Leary. He moved to Sherbrooke Street on Hungry Hill in 1965 where he lived for many years before moving to Chicopee in 2008. He served his country in the United States Army and attained the rank of Specialist Fourth Class. He was employed as a mechanic at the John H. Breck Company in West Springfield, the Heublein Distilleries in West Hartford, CT and last at the Springfield Water and Sewer Department. Active in his Catholic faith, Henry was a communicant of the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield where he also served as an usher, was a member of the Holy Name Society, the founder of the yearly church lawn parties at Hogan’s and was active with the Church Baseball Little League. He currently was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield where he sang in the church choir for more than 25 years. Henry was proud of his Irish Catholic Heritage. He was an active lifetime member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield where he also served on its Honor Guard. Henry also was a Past President and active member of the Springfield Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee where he was honored to receive the Burke Award and the Caron Award for his many years of dedicated service. He was a Pack Leader of Cub Scouts 51, a Troop Leader of Boy Scouts 51 and a member of the Marconi Club, all in Springfield, and also was a member of the Chicopee Senior Center and the New England Hillclimbers Association. Henry always enjoyed watching the Boston Red Sox as well as listening to “The Irish Hour” weekly Saturday radio shows hosted by the Sullivans and later the Healys. Above all, he loved spending time with his loving family and his many dear friends. His family would like to extend their deepest thanks to his cardiologist, John Michael Cycz, NP of Pioneer Valley Cardiology in Springfield for his kind and comforting care of Henry. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Maureen (Shea) O’Connell. They were married on July 4, 1960 at the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Springfield and were blessed with more than 57 years of happiness together. He also leaves his three loving children, James H. O’Connell of Monson, Peg O’Connell Anderson and her partner, Darren Dawson, of Longmeadow and Maureen Ann O’Connell of Newtonville; his four cherished grandchildren, Joshua P. O’Connell and his wife, Diamond, Brendan S. Anderson, Shea Anderson and her partner, Greg Palmer, and Megan L. Anderson; his two cherished great-grandsons, Tyler James O’Connell and his mother, Tara Corriveau, and Brecken O’Connell; his twin sister, Kathleen Moakler and her husband, Edward, of Poughkeepsie, NY; his dear brother-in-law, William Kelleher of Wilbraham; his dear sister-in-law, Sr. Eileen M. Shea, SSJ of Rhode Island; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended members of the O’Connell and Shea families in the United States and Ireland. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear sister, Marie O. Kelleher; his two dear brothers, Donald E. O’Connell and William J. O’Connell; and his dear brother-in-law, Retired Springfield Police Commissioner John J. Shea and his wife, Mary. His Funeral will be held on Monday, March 26, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 7:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. 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 Sunday, March 25, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or the John Boyle O’Reilly Club Scholarship Fund, 33 Progress Avenue, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com