CHICOPEE – William A. “Bill” Dietrich, 79, a longtime resident of Gill Street in the Willimansett section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Friday, August 17, 2012. He passed into Eternal Life from his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers from Hospice Life Care. He was born at home in the Willimansett section of Chicopee on October 10, 1932 a beloved son of the late Helen (Masse) Dietrich Laskowski. He was raised in Chicopee by his beloved mother and his late step-father, Fred Laskowski and was a lifelong resident of the city. Bill graduated in 1951 from Chicopee High School and then entered the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Airman First Class. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal. In 1975, he enlisted in the United States Army National Guard of Massachusetts where he served until his retirement in 1992. He attained rank of Staff Sergeant and received the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. While living in Chicopee, Bill was employed by Technifax, later Scott Graphics in Holyoke, Worthington Pump, later Atlas Copco in Holyoke and had last been employed in Inventory Control at A. T. Surgical Supply in Holyoke before retiring in 2001. Bill was a communicant of the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 63 at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Springfield. During his leisure time, he enjoyed woodworking, ceramics and gardening. Bill was often seen puttering around the house working on various projects and was always ready to tackle a project for his family which included painting, varnishing and woodworking. He was a loving man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Lucille M. (Durand) Dietrich. They were married on September 5, 1953 at Immaculate Conception Church in Holyoke and were blessed with nearly 59 years of happiness together. He also leaves: his four loving daughters, Dolores Dube and her husband, James, of Chicopee, JudyAnn Perkins and her husband, John, of East Longmeadow, Jeanne King and her husband, Arthur, of Easthampton and Darlene Donze and her husband, Paul Donze, Jr., of Chicopee; his nine cherished grandchildren, Michael Dube and his wife Kristen, Jennifer Dube and her fiancé, Robert Dout, Kimberly Hudson and her husband, George, Matthew Perkins and his wife, Kerryn, Shana Marchan and her husband, Jesus, Lauren Livingstone, Stefanie Donze, Bryan Donze and Brittany Donze; his three cherished great-grandchildren, Nicole Hudson, Tyler Marchan and Jaylen Marchan; his four dear sisters, Lorraine Cash of Chicopee, Shirley Boudreau and her husband, Arthur, of Southampton, Helen Kuenzel of North Carolina and Audrey King and her husband, Robert, of Chicopee; his four dear sisters-in-law of the Durand family, Jeanne Brunetti and her husband, Leo, of Chicopee, Geraldine Durand of Chicopee, Anita Durand of Cranston, RI and Kathy Durand of South Hadley; his dear former sister-in-law of the Durand family, Eleanor Durand of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews and nieces. Besides his mother and step-father, he was also predeceased by his dear brother and sister-in-law, Norman Dietrich and his wife, Annette. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, August 23, 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 the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, 570 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His burial with Military Honors will follow the Mass at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, 800 Montgomery Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, August 22, 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. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.