CHICOPEE – Matthew J. Blaney, 84, a lifelong resident of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, October 2, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family who were his wonderful caregivers. He was born at home in the Willimansett section of Chicopee on July 12, 1929, a beloved son of the late James and Mary G. (St. Peter) Blaney. He was raised and schooled in Chicopee and was a lifelong resident of the city. Matt was a longtime auto transmission mechanic for the former A.J. Stonina Buick, Olds, Cadillac in Chicopee and later for Corey Oldsmobile in Holyoke. In 1965, he joined the Chicopee Fire Department and served the city as a Firefighter at Station 5 in Willimansett until he retired in 1983. Active in his faith, he was a longtime communicant of the former Saint Mary of the Assumption Church in Willimansett where he served his parish as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Saint Mary Senior Choir. Following the closing of the parish, he became a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Matthew was a longtime member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee where he was a longtime Spaghetti Supper and Bingo volunteer. He was also a member of the Fairview Assembly 2670 Fourth Degree where he served in their Honor Guard. He was a retired member of the Massachusetts and Chicopee Municipal Police and Firefighters Associations. Matt was a quiet man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Shirley R. (Bellefeuille) Blaney who was Called Home on April 12, 2002. They were married on October 14, 1950 at the former Saint Mary of the Assumption Church in Willimansett and were blessed with over 51 years of happiness together. He leaves his loving children, Douglas M. Blaney and his wife, Diane, Karen M. Gottschalk and her husband, Jeffrey, Bruce J. Blaney and his wife, Imyon, James H. Blaney and his wife, Deborah, and Thomas J. Blaney and his fiancée, Michelle Mathieu; his seven cherished grandchildren, Douglas J. Blaney, Rebecca D. Gallagher and her husband, Jim, Matthew R. Blaney, Dawn Hebert, Darrell Hebert, Brie Beaudry and her husband, Matt, and Regina Hyman and her husband, Gary; his eight cherished great-grandchildren, James, Collin and Logan Gallagher, Mychal and Megan Blaney, and Darryan, Darrell, Jr. and Ryan Hebert; his dear sister, Bernadette Gingras; and his many dear nephews and nieces. Besides his parents and his wife, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, Edward Blaney and his wife, Yvette; and his dear brother-in-law, Henry Gingras. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, October 7, 2013 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (the funeral home will open at 7:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial will follow the Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, October 6, 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 Knights of Columbus Council 4044 Scholarship Fund, 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to sign our funeral home guest book, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com