CHICOPEE – Richard F. “Rick” Murray, Sr., 81, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, September 7, 2025. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke, MA on March 24, 1944, a beloved son of the late Joseph and Rosanna (Grenier) Murray. He was raised in Holyoke, graduated from Holyoke Trade High School and had moved to Aldenville in 1967 where he lived the remainder of his life. He was employed for 35 years as the manager of the former Sweet Life Cash and Carry in Holyoke. Following his retirement, he worked as a Tool Crib Manager for five years at Notch Welding in the Willimansett section of Chicopee. He was an active communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee where he also served as a Eucharistic Minister who served communion to many local nursing home residents and also volunteered for the Parish bingo games. He also was an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69 in Chicopee for 53 years where he and his family were honored to have received the “Family of the Year” Award in 2018. Active in local politics, he was an avid bowler at the Chicopee Lanes, enjoyed tending to his immaculate yard and rose gardens and building many bird houses that he displayed throughout his yard. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Alida R. “Lee” (Labonte) Murray. They were married on June 18, 1966 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 59 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Richard F. “Rick” Murray, Jr. and his wife, Maureen, of East Longmeadow and Joanne R. LeDoux of Mount Pleasant, SC; his five cherished grandchildren, Cooper Joseph Murray, Robert P. Goff and his partner, Lillia Erickson, Amy L. Goff, Nicholas J. Lafromboise and his wife, Chelsea, and Tyler J. Lafromboise and his fiancée, Allyson, Koehler; his three cherished great grandchildren, Bennett Goff and Alida and Mateo Martinez; his four dear siblings, Mildred Scarpa of Agawam, William Murray of Holyoke, Jean Murray of Holyoke, and John Murray of Connecticut; his dear niece, Belinda Houldson and her husband, William, of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Murray and Labonte families. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his eight dear siblings, Raymond Murray, Clara Labonte, Joseph Murray, Gertrude Boulais, Ruth Franceschina, Robert Murray, Paul Murray and Doris Lafleur. His Funeral will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a 10 a.m. Prayer Service at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Burial will follow the Prayer Service at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral home parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
