CHICOPEE - Raymond E. “Ray” Hamel, 99, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, February 15, 2020. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in L’Ange Guardien de Rouville, Province of Quebec, Canada on June 19, 1920, a beloved son of the late Dorilla and Eva (Sansoucy) Hamel. He was raised in Canada and moved with his family to Holyoke, then Aldenville, before settling in the Willimansett section of Chicopee. He served his country during World War II in the United States Army with the 53rd Antiaircraft Artillery Intelligence Battery and attained the rank of Corporal. He received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. He was a printer for Dow Jones at the Wall Street Journal in Chicopee and a longtime printer at L’Ann Printing for the Catholic Observer and several other printing companies in the area. He was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus and a Fourth Degree Knight of the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670. On December 8, 2003, he professed his vows as a member of the Third Order of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate at Our Lady’s Chapel in New Bedford and took the religious name of Brother Louis Marie Maximillian of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was also a member of the Blue Army, and the Apostolate of the Suffering at Mary Farm in Ware. He was a longtime communicant of Saint Mary of the Assumption Church in Willimansett where he was a founding member of the parish and served in many capacities including, Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and CCD Instructor. He was currently a communicant of the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and soul mate, Dorothy F. (Niquette) Hamel who was Called Home on October 8, 2009. They were married on May 11, 1944 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 65 years of happiness together. He leaves his ten loving children, Carol A. Couture of Harrison, MI, Richard T. Hamel and his wife, Jeri, of Blandford, Francis B. Hamel and his wife, Marcia, of Acushnet, James M. Hamel and his wife, JoAnn, of Chicopee, David A. Hamel and his wife, Mila, of Tolleson, AZ, Cheryl D. Houle of Warren, Dennis R. Hamel and his wife, MaryAnn, of Westfield, Mary Beth Houle and her husband, Denis, of Granby, Terri A. O’Connell and her husband, James, of Chicopee, and Kevin M. Hamel and his wife, Sharon, of Granby; his 30 cherished grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; his two dear sisters, Jeanne King and Alice Henny, both of Florida; his two dear sisters-in-law, Evelyn Couture of Florida and Elaine Niquette of Chicopee; his brother-in-law, Donald Niquette and his wife, Marilyn, of Ware; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Hamel and Niquette families. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his beloved 12 year old son, Donald E. Hamel who was Called Home in 1961; his sons-in-law, Robert Couture and Armand Houle; his nine siblings; and other extended family members. His Funeral will be held on Friday morning, February 21, 2020 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:15 a.m.) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, 570 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His Burial with United States Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in Ray’s memory to the Apostolate of the Suffering, Mary Farm, 1915 Ware Street, Palmer, MA 01069. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
