CHICOPEE – Roger L. Fontaine, 89, a longtime resident of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, August 23, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at Mary’s Meadow at Providence Place in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born at the old Providence Hospital in Holyoke on October 17, 1927, a beloved son of the late Henri Joseph Fontaine and Mary Anne (Lacroix) Fontaine. He was raised in Holyoke, graduated from Holyoke High School and lived there for several years. He later moved to Willimansett and Aldenville before moving to Fairview in 1992. During his working career, Roger was employed at many local companies including J. W. Jolly Machine Shop, Gilbert & Barker Company, Worthington Pump Company, Smith & Wesson and University Products. Roger was a go-to kind of man and was always busy working on a project at his home, church or at the Knights of Columbus. He was a longtime member of Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee where he volunteered at many of their functions. He was a weekly bingo caller, volunteered every month at their spaghetti supper, and volunteered for many years at their huge Thanksgiving Day Dinner. He was elected to the Fairview Home Association and served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors. He was a Past Faithful Navigator of Fairview Assembly 2670 Fourth Degree now the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670 where he was also a member of the Honor Guard. Roger was a faithful communicant of Saint Anne Church in Fairview where he served his parish as an usher, greeter, weekly envelope counter, and as a Senior Altar Server. Most of all, he was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple things in life and was always ready to help his family and his many friends with anything that you asked of him. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and soul mate, Lucille T. (Charette) Fontaine who was Called Home on January 30, 2004. They were married on November 25, 1948 at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 55 years of happiness together. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his loving son, Gene H. Fontaine who was Called Home in 1959; and his dear sister, Cecile M. Benoit who was Called Home on May 27, 2016. He leaves his five devoted children, Theresa M. Zaborowski and her husband, Mark, of Holyoke, Roger L. Fontaine, Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Wilbraham, Rene M. Fontaine and his wife, Lori, of Franklin, MA, Daniel G. Fontaine and his wife, Laureen, of Chicopee and Lisa M. Fontaine and her wife, Kathleen Lyons, of Kennebunkport, ME; his ten cherished grandchildren, Jill M. Phelan and her husband, Shaun, Daniel M. Zaborowski and his wife, Meghan, Tamara K. Scharf and her husband, Stephen, Jeffrey M. Fontaine and his wife, Karen, Gregory M. Fontaine and his wife, Jasmine, Dr. Matthew J. Fontaine and his wife, Helju Nommik, Kristen-Lee Thanawala and her husband, Ravi, Dr. Samantha J. Kolock and her husband, Steve, Briana M. Fontaine and Christopher D. Fontaine and his girlfriend, Kelsey Vella; his ten cherished great-grandchildren, Emily and Abigail Phelan, Benjamin and Henry Zaborowski, Emma and Ava Scharf, Nora and Madelyn Fontaine and Nolan and Finn Fontaine; his dear brother, Henry Fontaine and his wife, Ceil, of Easthampton; his dear sister, Marie Rock of Alamogordo, NM; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Fontaine and Charette families. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, August 28, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, August 27, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Knights of Columbus Council 4044, Scholarship Fund, 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020, or to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or to Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com
