1922 - 2013
CHICOPEE - Gerald R. "Murph" Mercier, 90, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on New Year's Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at Holyoke Medical Center after being stricken at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born at home on Yvonne Street in the Willimansett section of Chicopee on September 20, 1922, a beloved son of the late Adelard and Jane (Tapp) Mercier. He was raised in Willimansett, attended local schools and moved to the Fairview section of the city in 1951. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II with Company A of the 781st Tank Battalion and attained the rank of Sergeant. He served in Rhineland and Central Europe and received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with Two Service Stars, a Purple Heart Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Gerry was sent to Europe to fight the Nazis in France and was one of two men who survived when their tank came under fire. They had gunned down five German tanks and when he exited the tank with a fractured elbow and shrapnel wounds in his chest, he was taken as a prisoner. He was put in a cattle car with other injured GI's and taken to a Prisoner of War Camp in Heppenheim, Germany. Gerry never spoke much about the war but, in February of 2003, he received a Bronze Star that was 60 years overdue from the government. The Chicopee Register Newspaper headline read "Quiet Hero finally receives Bronze Star". Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and was employed at the former Moore Drop Forge and American Bosch, both in Springfield. He was last employed for over 25 years as a chemist and later as a mail handler at the former Plastic Coating, which later became Scott Graphics and James River Graphics, in South Hadley and retired in 1985. During his high school years, Gerry was captain of both his high school football and track teams. He also played baseball with several of the local teams including Nativity Athletic Association, the Frontenac and the Mountain View teams. He was a faithful daily communicant of Saint Anne Church in Fairview where he served his parish as a Tabulator, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Monitor, a member of the Parish Council, a member of the Daily Rosary Group and a longtime Senior Altar Server for funerals. He was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee, where he was active in many of the council activities including the weekly bingo and a longtime volunteer for the Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner. He was also a charter member of the Fairview Assembly 2670 Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus at Fairview Council. He was a member of the Western Mass Chapter of POWs and MIAs. 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. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his seven dear brothers and sisters; and his loving son, Pierre A. Mercier who was Called Home on July 22, 2005. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Gisele J. (Lavallee) Mercier. They were married on July 21, 1945 at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 67 years of happiness together. He also leaves his six loving children, Michelle G. Greaves and her husband John of Easthampton, Paulette A. Mercier, Philip A. Mercier, and Anne-Marie Provost and her husband Albert, all of Chicopee, Louise J. Mercier of Bozeman, MT, and Gerald R. Mercier of Chicopee; his loving daughter-in-law, Jennifer J. Mercier of Pittsfield; his six cherished grandchildren whom he adored, John Greaves Jr., A. J. Provost and his wife Charity, Adam Provost and his wife Wendy, Andrew Provost, Sherry Zink and Alyssa Mercier; his nine cherished great-grandchildren who were the apple of his eye, Grady and Lily Provost, Ethan, Joshua and Sophie Provost, and Maddison, Korey, Gabriel and Emma Zink; his dear sisters-in-law of the Lavallee family, Gabrielle Bergeron of Chicopee and Merle Pollitt of Danbury, CT; and his many dear nephews and nieces. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, January 7, 2013, 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 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with Military Honors will be private at the convenience of his family at Sainte Rose Cemetery in Chicopee. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, January 6, 2013, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to either the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com