CHICOPEE – Miriam (Garcia) Hamel, 74, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. She passed into Eternal Life at Chestnut Hill of East Longmeadow surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family. She was born in Colon, Cuba on October 4, 1947, a beloved daughter of the late Jesus R. and Renee (Iturralde) Garcia. She immigrated with her family to Holyoke where she was raised and graduated from Holyoke High School. She moved to Chicopee in 1975 where she lived the remainder of her life. She was employed as a Bank Teller for 25 years at Bank of America in Chicopee. She was a former communicant of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and currently was a communicant of Saint Anne Church, both in Chicopee where she also was a choir member. Above all, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend who showered her family with her love and affection that was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her loving husband and soul mate, Raoul O. Hamel who was Called Home on September 5, 2017. They were married at the First United Church in Holyoke and later at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Chicopee. She leaves her two loving sons, Kenneth R. Hamel and his wife, Carrie, of Ludlow and Jeffrey T. Hamel of the Indian Orchard section of Springfield; her two cherished granddaughters, Brielle and Alivia Hamel; her two dear brothers, Jesus Garcia and his wife, Kimberly, of New Iberia, LA and Ricardo Garcia and his wife, Margit, of Germany; her dear step mother, Patricia Garcia of Westfield; her dear sister in law, Shirley Reopel; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended family members. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her dear sister, Yamara Garcia who was Called Home on November 5, 2018. Her Funeral will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at 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 14, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. prior to the Mass. The funeral home parking lot is located in the rear. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047. For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
