SPRINGFIELD – Aline Ann Blais danced her last dance on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, leaving behind boxes of treasured jewelry (that she got from her grandchildren), holiday decorations and an overflowing abundance of good memories. She was born in Winsted, CT, into a French Canadian family full of love and music, which shaped her into the energetic and fun loving center of attention she became in life. During her early years, her parents moved Aline and her older brother, Claude, to Springfield, MA to find work. The family later grew in size with the addition of her younger sister, Denise, and younger brother, Marc. Mom used to talk so fondly of her family trips to the farm up in Canada, loved doing the French jig, and "playing the spoons". She took to working at an early age to help the family get ahead. Throughout her life, whenever times got tough, she took to praying. But always saw the world through rose colored glasses. Aline had four children (with her husband at the time, and their pre-deceased father Ralph Rachele), working tirelessly over the years until finally retiring to enjoy her free time with her family and friends. She spent most of her career working in the retail industry, which was well-suited for her charming personality and high levels of energy. Fashion was her passion, and she loved anything purple and wearing leopard print, leather and high heels, and took great joy in being a strawberry blonde. And she was just "crazy" about singing. But her biggest enjoyment above all else was dancing. To any song, anywhere and at any time. And no matter where she was, she always found conversation and had a talent for remembering everyone she'd ever met. Aline is predeceased by her parents Marie-Ange (Mercier) Blais, born December 15, 1914 and Joseph Leo Blais, born March 24, 1909. She leaves behind her brother, Claude Joseph Blais and pre-deceased wife, Sandra (Galas) Blais of Punta Gorda, FL; her sister, Denise Marie (Blais) Toussaint and pre-deceased husband, Elmer Toussaint of Chicopee, MA; and brother, Marc Anthony Blais and wife Diane (Stanislas) Blais of Westfield, MA. She was a very proud mother, and leaves behind her daughter, Maria (Rachele) Dion and husband Lenny Dion of Chicopee; daughter, Julie (Rachele) Jennie and husband Brian Jennie of Jupiter, FL; son, Brian Rachele and wife Sarah (Calabrese) Rachele of Wilbraham, MA; and daughter, Monica (Rachele) Houle and husband Joe Houle of Westfield, MA. Aline also leaves behind her nine beloved grandchildren, Nicole Jennie, Kirsten (Houle) Gillespie, Jontae Dion, Leo Dion, Jayk Dion, Laina Dion, Anthony Rachele, Brandon Houle and Sophia Rachele; and her great grandson, Ethan Gillespie. Her Funeral will be held on Monday, morning August 23, 2021 beginning at the St. Pierre - Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, August 23, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. before the Mass. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
