CHICOPEE – Gerard O. “Gerry” LeBlanc, 90, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on December 18, 1931, a beloved son of the late Gerard and Bertha (Laliberte) LeBlanc. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated from Chicopee High School and lived in Chicopee for most of his life. He served his country during the Korean War in the United States Navy aboard the USS Edward H. Allen DE-531 and attained the rank of Machinist’s Mate Third Class. He received the National Defense Service Medal. Gerry was the Owner and Operator of LeBlanc and Sons Service Station, first located on Granby Road before he relocated the station to the heart of his beloved Aldenville on Grattan Street. He was last employed as a shuttle driver for the Balise Auto Group in Western Mass. He was a longtime supporter and advocate of the AJAC Athletic Club, the Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69, the Elks Lodge 1849 and the Aldenville American Legion Post 337, all in Chicopee. During his leisure time, Gerry loved being at his summer home with his wife, Rita, and their family on Lake Mascoma in Lebanon, New Hampshire and enjoyed ballroom and square dancing. He was a longtime communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee where he served his parish as an usher and was a member of the League of the Sacred Heart. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and soul mate, Rita A. (Fournier) LeBlanc. They were married at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville on July 18, 1953 and were blessed with over 62 years of happiness together. He leaves his six loving children, Edward A. LeBlanc and his wife, Cecile “Sis”, of Chicopee, Louise M. Flynn and her husband, Brian, of Levittown, NY, Thomas P. LeBlanc and his wife, Connie, of Chicopee, Stephen R. LeBlanc and his wife, Patti, of Port Orange, FL, Joyce E. LeBlanc and her partner, David Morin, of Chicopee and Jeffrey A. LeBlanc of Springfield; his nine cherished grandchildren including his granddaughter, caregiver and best friend, Jocelyn Wildman; his eleven cherished great-grandchildren; his two dear brothers, Normand LeBlanc and his wife, Joan, of Vero Beach, FL and Robert LeBlanc of Rhode Island; his sister in law, Gloria Piela of Chicopee; his dear brother in law, Roger Fournier and his wife, Cecile, of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the LeBlanc and Fournier families. Besides his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his four dear brothers in law, Walter Piela, Raymond Fournier and his wife, Connie, Reverend W. Donald Fournier and Gerard “Jerry” Fournier and his wife, Evelyn; and his two dear sisters in law, Maryann LeBlanc and Connie Rosinski and her husband, Chester. His Relatives and Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (Please meet directly at the Church). His Burial with United States Navy Military Honors will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends on Friday, July 15, 2022 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint Joan of Arc School, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
