CHICOPEE – Richard J. Marchand, 65, of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, September 3, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his family and his loving companion, Carol. He was born in Springfield on October 29, 1947, a beloved son of Lorraine L. (Asselin) Marchand of Chicopee and the late Jean-Louis P. Marchand who was Called Home on January 21, 2005. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated from the former Assumption Elementary School in Chicopee and Cathedral High School in Springfield and was a lifelong resident of Chicopee. He later furthered his education and attended the University of Massachusetts. He was previously employed at Baystate Elevator Company in Springfield and then became the owner of M & M Sporting Goods in Chicopee Falls. He was a private pilot for a charter service and then worked as a brakeman for ConRail. He was the owner of Lamb Home Improvement in Chicopee and was last employed for over 20 years as an electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 7 in Springfield. Rich was a communicant of the former Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and currently a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee where he served his parish as an usher and greeter. He was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee where he served on the Board of Directors of the Home Association. He was an active volunteer for their weekly bingo, the monthly spaghetti supper, and the yearly Thanksgiving dinner. He was a member of the Fairview Assembly 2670 Knights of Columbus 4th Degree where he currently served as the Faithful Navigator and a member of the Honor Guard. Besides his beloved mother, he leaves his loving companion of 35 years, Carol A. Zimmermann; his loving sisters, Suzanne M. Yong and her husband, Alexander, of Springfield, and Jeanne T. Simard and her husband, Robert, of Chicopee; his son, Kenneth R. Marchand; his daughter, Kristine M. Marchand; his wife, Mary P. (McNally) Marchand; and several dear nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. Besides his father, he was also predeceased by his loving brother, Gerard A. Marchand who was Called Home on July 2, 2008. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, September 9, 2013 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. 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 on Sunday, September 8, 2013 from 2 p.m. to 5 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 the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund, 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com