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Donald E. Giroux
10/13/2017


CHICOPEE – Donald E. Giroux, 86, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, October 13, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born at home in Fairview on December 15, 1930, a beloved son of the late Wilfred H. and Alma (LaChance) Giroux. He was raised in Fairview, graduated in 1949 from the former Rosary High School in Holyoke and was a lifelong resident of Fairview. He furthered his education and received a Bachelor’s Degree in 1968 from Western New England College. For many years, Donald and his late wives “Honny” and Helen wintered in Venice, Florida. He served his country during the Korean War in the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Airman First Class. He was employed for many trucking companies and retired as a General Manager at the Charles Towne Trucking Company in West Springfield. During his leisure time, he enjoyed gardening, woodworking and puttering around his homes. He was the co-owner of the former Bobbin Shoppe in South Hadley. While wintering in Venice, Florida, he volunteered for many years at the Sun Coast Humane Society and was a member of the C. C. E. Bowling League. He was predeceased by his beloved wives, Honorine M. “Honny” (Choiniere) Giroux who was Called Home on February 19, 1996 and Helen E. (Simpson) Fitzpatrick Giroux who was Called Home on March 24, 2004. He leaves his five loving children, David D. Giroux and his wife, Robin, of Stonington, CT, Barbara A. Pare and her husband, Brian, of Chicopee, Richard E. Giroux and his wife, Sherry, of Granby, Suzanne M. Sontgerath and her husband, Heri, of Shrewsbury, and Diane M. Hartley and her husband, Robert, of South Hadley; his three loving step-children, John Fitzpatrick and his wife, Jodi, Linda Kennedy, and David Fitzpatrick and his wife, Lisa, and their families; his eleven cherished grandchildren, Russell Giroux and his wife, Lindsay, Gregory Giroux and his wife, Catherine, Jaclyn Giroux, Andrea Williamson and her husband, Derek, Alicia Pare and her partner, Tommy Valentine, Kevin LaPerle and his wife, Leah, Juliana and Stephanie Sontgerath, and Abigail, Natalie and Nicholas Hartley; his two cherished great-grandsons, Eric Giroux and Drake Williamson; his dear sister, Lorraine Pate and her husband, George; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Giroux, Choiniere, Simpson and Fitzpatrick families. Besides his parents and wives, he was also predeceased by his two dear brothers, Roland and Robert Giroux. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, October 19, 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 with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, October 18, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Sun Coast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, FL, 34224 or to Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels
506 Britton Street
Chicopee, MA USA 01020
413-533-3307