CHICOPEE – Lionel R. “Red” LaBelle, 86, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, February 12, 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 at home in Chicopee on February 25, 1931, a beloved son of the late Leo and Irene (Tetreault) LaBelle. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated from Chicopee Trade High School and was a lifelong resident of the city. He was employed as a heat treater at the former Rex Chain Belt, which later became Rexnord, in Springfield. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Red enjoyed hunting with his late father, Leo, and fishing with his late father-in-law, Freddie. The loves of his life were his two grandsons, Michael Jr. and Aaron. Red loved spending time with them and his daughter, Donna, boating, water skiing and tubing every chance he could at Hampton Beach and Lake Wyola. He enjoyed playing cards with his friends and enjoyed many conversations with his dear friend, Bob Paul, about the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Red often started many conversations with a joke but he was a kind and simple man who enjoyed life. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Betty A. (Lawrence) LaBelle. They were married on November 14, 1959 at the former Saint Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 58 years of happiness together. He also leaves his loving daughter, Donna M. (LaBelle) Starke of Chicopee; his “personal handyman” son-in-law, Michael Starke, Sr. of Chicopee; his two cherished grandsons, Michael Starke, Jr. and his wife, Jenna, of Windsor Locks, CT and Aaron Starke of Chicopee: his dear sister, Lorraine Favreau of Ludlow; his two dear sisters-in-law, Brenda Wilk and Barbara Boucher and her husband, Martin, all of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the LaBelle and Lawrence families. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his two dear brothers-in-law, Albert Favreau, Jr. and Joseph Wilk, Jr. His Funeral and Burial will be private at the convenience of his family. There are no visiting hours at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For those who prefer and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Red’s memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children Springfield Unit, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
