CHICOPEE – Edward A. Sliwa, 82, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, January 2, 2012. He passed into Eternal Life from the Lehigh Hope Hospice House in Lehigh Acres, Florida surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born at home in Chicopee on December 8, 1929, a beloved son of the late Stanley and Anna (Soltys) Sliwa. He was raised in Willimansett, graduated from Chicopee High School and was a lifelong resident of the city and since 2000, he wintered in Fort Myers, Florida. He later furthered his education and by attending the CRL School which was later Ward School of Electronics and is now the University of Hartford. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration from Westfield State College. He began his working career at the Spartan Saw Works in Springfield and later worked at the Western Mass Radio Company. He later taught evening classes at Holyoke Trade High School and the Charles McCann Vocational Technical School. For 32 years, he was a teacher at Westfield Vocational High School and was the Director of Evening School at Westfield State College. He was a past chairman and photographer of the yearbook at Westfield Vocational High School and a member of the Vocational Schools of Massachusetts. He was a communicant at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Chicopee and a former coach of the Saint Anthony Stars. He was a quiet man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves his devoted wife and best friend, Denise T. (Robillard) Sliwa. They were married on September 3, 1956, at the former Saint George Church in Chicopee Falls and were blessed with over 55 years of happiness together. He also leaves: his loving children, Steven E. Sliwa and his wife, Michelle, and Robert A. Sliwa and his wife, Wendy, all of Chicopee, and Michele A. Cousineau and her husband, Kenneth, of Westfield; his 11 cherished grandchildren, Shannon Sliwa and her partner, Justinn Cassidy, Stephanie Sliwa, Steven Sliwa, Hayley Sliwa, Jonathan Sliwa, Matthew Sliwa and his partner, Marianne Hoppock, Laura Sliwa and her partner, Brian Albee, Christopher Sliwa, Jake Ayers, Alyssa Cousineau and Justin Cousineau; his two cherished great-grandchildren, Nicholas Sliwa and Brianna Albee; his dear sister-in-law, Marilyn Sliwa of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his dear sister and brother, Adele Sliwa and Stanley Sliwa. His funeral will be held on Saturday morning, January 7, 2012, beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home in the Rose Chapel on Friday, January 6, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013.