CHICOPEE – Eugene P. “Gene” Champagne, 89, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, August 31, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life at Wingate at West Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born on November 8, 1925 in Saint Marguerite de Lingwick, Province of Quebec, Canada. He was raised in Canada and settled with his family in 1962 in the North End section of Springfield. He was employed for 25 years as a forger at the former Moore Drop Forge Company in Springfield and retired in 1988. Most of all, he was a wonderful husband and father to his large family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Lorraine A. (Corriveau) Champagne. They were married on September 19, 1953 in Saint Marguerite de Lingwick, P.Q., Canada and were blessed with nearly 62 years of happiness together. He also leaves his seven loving children, Sylvain L. Champagne of Springfield, Louise R. Champagne and her wife, Louise A. Sullivan of West Springfield, Carole L. Maldonado and her husband, Mel, of Springfield, Danielle L. Champagne of Chicopee, Luce M. Champagne of Springfield, Marlene C. Beech and her husband, Darryl, of Belchertown and Peter S. Champagne and his wife, Janice, of West Springfield; his thirteen cherished grandchildren, Aimee Bailey and her husband, Nicholas, Thomas Champagne, Sarah Morin, Matthew Warren, Samantha Maldonado, Alexandra Maldonado, Jillian Sullivan, Steven Sepaniak, Vanessa Brown, Courtney Beech, Julia Beech, Jenna Champagne and Jessica Champagne; his three cherished great-granddaughters, twins Alaina and Brielle Bailey and Grace Morin; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins and extended members of the Champagne and Corriveau families. His family would like to thank the wonderful staff and caregivers at Wingate at West Springfield for the exceptional care that they provided to Gene over the past several months. His relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee. MA 01020. His burial will be private at the convenience of his family. 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 flowers be omitted and memorial donations be made in his memory to the Berkshire Hills Music Academy, 48 Woodbridge Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com