CHICOPEE – Martin J. Bernier, 84, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, April 1, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at Holyoke Medical Center surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born in Brunswick, Maine on November 6, 1928, a beloved son of the late Mario and Claire (Fournier) Bernier. At a young age, his family settled in the Willimansett section of Chicopee where he was raised. He moved to the Fairview section of Chicopee in 1979. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and attained the rank of Private First Class. He received the China Service Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and was employed for many years in the maintenance department for the Chicopee Public Schools. He later was employed for over 25 years as a truck driver for Sweeney Brothers Transportation Company in Chicopee and retired in 1993. After retirement, he worked part-time for Coffee Pause in West Springfield and then drove a van for Sunshine Village for several years. He was a member of Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus and a member of the Fairview American Legion Post 438. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend of 34 years, Gisele H. (Turgeon) Zygarowski Bernier; his loving step-children, Chicopee City Councilor Robert J. Zygarowski and his wife, Patricia A. Zygarowski, of Chicopee, Joseph R. Zygarowski of Alpharetta, GA, Diane Obszanski and her husband, Paul, of Palm Coast, FL and Christine Zygarowski of Littleton, CO; his five loving children, Laurie Mahar of South Hadley, David Bernier of Northfield, Michael Bernier of Chester, Carol Lemelin of Springfield and Kenneth Bernier of Worthington; his many cherished grandchildren including Ryan Zygarowski, Sean Zygarowski and his wife, Jennifer, Kim Goldsmith and Lisa Finger and her husband, Kenneth; his many cherished great-grandchildren including, Madison, Annie, Cami, Amanda and Emma; his many dear nephews and nieces; and his faithful canine companion, his loving dog, Shelby. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by two dear brothers and three dear sisters, Emile, Philip, Pauline, Marie and Louise. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, April 5, 2013, beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, April 4, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His family has requested that if desired, memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Holyoke Medical Center Intensive Care Unit, 575 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com