CHICOPEE ~ Cecile G. “Memere” (Trahan) Croteau, 93, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, July 15, 2018. She passed into Eternal Life at Wingate at South Hadley surrounded by all the memories she loved and cherished. She was born in Durham-Sud, Province of Quebec, Canada on November 4, 1924, a beloved daughter of the late Ovide and Virginia (Labonte) Trahan. She was raised and schooled in Canada and, following her marriage in 1953, she moved to Holyoke. She later moved to the Willimansett section of Chicopee in 1966 where she resided for the remainder of her life. Cecile was employed for 20 years and retired as an Inspector at the former A.G. Spalding Company in Willimansett. She was a communicant of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and the former Saint Mary of the Assumption Church, both in Willimansett. She was currently a communicant of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Willimansett. She enjoyed cooking and playing cards with her grandchildren. She loved watching her beloved Boston Red Sox and knew every player by name. Most of all, she was a wonderful homemaker to her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Marcel H. Croteau who was Called Home on June 28, 1986. They were married in Canada on September 26, 1953 and were blessed with over 32 years of happiness together. She leaves her four loving children, Joanne E. Ryczek and her husband, Stephen, of Chicopee, Michael G. Croteau and his wife, Sharon, and Charlene S. Pula and her husband, James, all of South Hadley and Francis J. Croteau of Trumbull, CT; her eight cherished grandchildren, Stephen Ryczek and his wife, Melissa, Sarah Niemiec and her husband, Robert, Matthew Ryczek and his wife, Megan, Falon Johnson and her husband, Zach, Kristine Methot and her husband, Adam, Carly Croteau, Bethany Chrisant and her husband, Jonathan, and James C. Pula; her 15 cherished great-grandchildren; her dear brother-in-law, Gerard Croteau of Holyoke; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Croteau and Trahan families. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her 11 dear brothers and sisters. Her funeral will be held on Thursday morning, July 19, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, July 19, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. before the Mass. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
