SPRINGFIELD – Joseph George Plante, 87, a longtime resident of the Forest Park section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, February 27, 2014. He passed into Eternal Life at his daughter Diane’s home in Boston surrounded by her loving comfort and care. He was born in North Adams, Massachusetts on October 14, 1926, a beloved son of the late Joseph A. and Exilia (Boisjolie) Plante. His family came to Springfield and settled in the North End section on Lexington Street where he lived until moving to the Forest Park section of the city in 1962. George served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and attained the rank of Seaman First Class. He received the American Area Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Area Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. George was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served aboard the USS DesMoines, attaining the rank of Gunners Mate Missiles Petty Officer Third Class. Following his military service, he returned to Springfield and was employed as a mail clerk at the United States Bulk Mail Center on Tapley Street in Springfield. He was a longtime communicant of the former Saint Joseph Church where he was a Senior Funeral Altar Server for many years. Following the closing of his parish church in 2005, George became a faithful communicant of Holy Cross Church in Springfield. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69 in Chicopee where he volunteered at their weekly bingo. George was a family 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, Doris H. (Blouin) Plante who was Called Home on August 15, 2008. They were married on May 9, 1953 at the former Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 55 years of happiness together. He leaves his three devoted children, Diane M. Plante of Boston with whom he lived, Dennis H. Plante and his wife, Kim, of Bedford, MA, and Ronald G. Plante and his wife, Karen, of Agawam; his five cherished grandchildren, Derek Nener-Plante and his wife, Kara, Britney Nener-Plante, Adam Plante, Allison Plante and her fiancé, Craig Baxter and Alex Plante; his cherished great-grandson, Colin; his loving brothers, Eugene Plante and his wife, Betty, and Paul Plante and his wife, Annette, all of Springfield; his loving sisters, Cecile Sears of East Longmeadow, and Laura Gelinas of Springfield, his loving sister-in-law, Denise Blouin of West Springfield; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, and extended members of the Plante and Blouin families. Besides his parents and his wife, he was also predeceased by his loving sisters, Sister Jeannette Plante of the Sisters of Holy Cross, and Sister Clarice Plante of the Sisters of Providence. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, March 3, 2014 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with United States Navy Military Honors will follow the Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 421 Tinkham Road, Springfield, MA 01129. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, March 2, 2014 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston, 631 Cambridge Street, Brighton, MA 02135 or to the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice Care, 100 TradeCenter, Suite G-500, Woburn, MA 01801. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com