CHICOPEE – Raymond A. Belanger, 87, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, December 17, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family, his wonderful caregivers and his comrades-at-arms. He was born at home on Woodmont Street in Springfield on May 13, 1930, a beloved son of the late Alcide J. and Beatrice O. (Dargie) Belanger. He was raised in Springfield, attended Springfield schools and moved to Chicopee in 1952 where he lived the remainder of his life. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Corporal. He received the Korean Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal. He was employed for 48 years as a pressman for the Springfield Republican and retired in 1995. He was a communicant of Mary, Mother of Hope Church in East Springfield. During his leisure time, he enjoyed woodworking, reading and landscaping. Above all, he loved spending time with his loving family and his many dear friends. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Audrey L. (Vandini) Belanger who was Called Home on January 30, 2012. They were married on April 16, 1952 at the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 59 years of happiness together. He leaves his two loving children, Lynn L. Belanger of Chicopee and Mark R. Belanger and his wife, Gail, of Belchertown; his two cherished grandchildren, Lauren N. Bolduc and her husband, Michael, and Kyle M. Belanger and his fiancée, Jennifer Barnes, all of Belchertown; his two cherished great grandchildren, Jack and Samantha Bolduc; his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Belanger and Vandini families; and his close friends from the Springfield Republican, Daniel McCarthy, Roy Vaughn and Joseph Lapointe. In addition to his beloved parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, Donald G. Belanger and his wife, Barbara; his dear sister, Jacqueline A. Mancini and her husband, Felix; and his two dear brothers-in-law, Evo J. Vandini, Jr. and his wife, Dorothy, and Leland N. Vandini and his wife, Ann. His family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the loving caregivers of the third floor hospice staff at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke for their compassionate care of Raymond during his time with them. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, December 21, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Boulevard, East Springfield, MA 01104. His Burial with United States Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at Saint Patrick Cemetery, 168 Fuller Road, Chicopee Falls, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more details, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com
