CHICOPEE – Gerald A. “Gerry” Bourque, 80, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at Wingate at South Hadley surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his devoted caregivers. He was born at home on Nassau Street in the Willimansett section of Chicopee on August 27, 1932, a beloved son of the late Eugene and Ella (Mosher) Bourque. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated in 1949 from Chicopee High School and moved to the Aldenville section of the city in 1955. In 1953, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant. He received a Purple Heart Medal, the Korean Service Medal with One Bronze Star, the United Nations Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and was employed for 32 years as a chemical operator at the Monsanto Chemical Company in Indian Orchard, before retiring in 1988. During his leisure time, Gerry enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting. He was a former member of the Oxford Country Club and a member of the Senior Bowling League at the Springfield Plaza. He was a member of the Chicopee Falls American Legion Post 275 and a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Pauline T. (Fontaine) Bourque. They were married on February 22, 1955 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with 58 years of happiness together. He also leaves his loving children, Stephen A. Bourque and his wife, Anne, of Surfside Beach, SC, Gary A. Bourque and his wife, Karen, of Belchertown and Karen M. Bourque and her partner, Robert Horton, of Sudbury, VT; his five cherished grandchildren, Robert Latour and his wife, Jennifer, Jamie Leaveck and her husband, E.J., Jason Bourque, Geremy Bourque and Justin Bourque; his three cherished great-grandchildren, Caroline, Connor and Arielle; his dear sisters, Judith Martineau and Dorothy Silva and her husband, Ed, all of Chicopee; his dear brother-in-law, Robert Rivest of Connecticut; his dear brothers and sisters-in-law of the Fontaine family, Doris Carney, Claire and Charlie Dugre, Leonard and Mary Ann Fontaine, Edward Fontaine, Shirley Fontaine, Donna Fontaine and Nap Rougeau; and his many dear nephews and nieces. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear sister, Jean Rivest. His relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with Military Honors will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. There are no visiting hours at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com