CHICOPEE ~ Joseph L. Parent, 93, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, December 4, 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 on Lafayette Street in the Aldenville section of Chicopee on July 15, 1925, a beloved son of the late Arthur and Alma (Lebel) Parent. He was raised in Chicopee and graduated from Chicopee High School. He later lived in Holyoke for several years before moving back to Chicopee where he lived for most of his life. As a member of the “Greatest Generation” Joseph served his country in World War II in the United States Navy and attained the rank of Signalman Second Class. He received the American Theatre Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and was employed as a Lathe Operator while working for several of the local Tool & Die Companies. Following his retirement, he became a tax preparer for H & R Block and worked for over 20 years in the Ludlow office. Joseph also worked for the Springfield Newspapers as a guaranteed delivery driver for the Sunday Republican before finally retiring completely at the “young age” of 89. He was a 60 year member of the American Legion Post 275 in Chicopee Falls and a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. Joseph loved his family and his greatest joy was spending time with them especially at their annual vacations in Wells Beach, Maine. He loved to garden and enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor with his family and his many friends. He enjoyed sports and was a long time season ticket holder with UMASS Football. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Jane T. (Strzempek) Parent who was Called Home on January 11, 2008. They were married on June 10, 1950 at the former Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. He leaves his three loving children, Michael J. Parent and his wife, Joanna, of Newburyport, MA, Linda A. Roy of Chicopee, and John T. Parent and his wife, Dara, of Middletown, CT; his four cherished grandchildren, Lindsay Young and her husband, Bryan, of Londonderry, NH, Cathryn Roy of Clifton, NJ, Alexander Parent and Leanne Parent, both of Middletown, CT; his two cherished great-granddaughters, Olivia and Claire Young, of Londonderry, NH; his dear sister-in-law, Marlene Parent of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Parent and Strzempek families. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his three dear sisters and brother, Gertrude Tanguay, Marguerite Benoit, Marie Veillette and Jean Paul “Jake” Parent. His funeral will be held on Tuesday morning, December 11, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service will follow the Mass with United States Navy Honors at 1:00 p.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 Monday, December 10, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Special Olympics of Massachusetts, 512 Forest Street, Marlborough, MA 01752. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
