CHICOPEE – Richard J. Matte, 71, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life at Renaissance Manor on Cabot in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on October 24, 1943, a beloved son of the late George A. Matte, Jr. and Eva G. (Labrecque) Matte. Until the age of three, his parents lived in the Springdale section of Holyoke and later moved to the Aldenville section of Chicopee where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was employed for over 30 years as a Police Officer for the Enfield Police Department in Enfield, CT and retired around 2006. He served his country in the United States Army National Guard for several years before transferring to the United States Coast Guard Reserves. He last served in the United States Air Force Reserves at Westover Air Force Base for many years. He served in support of Operation Desert Shield – Desert Storm and retired in 1999 with the rank of Master Sergeant. He received the Air Force Training Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award, the Air Force Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Reserve Combat Readiness Medal and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. He was a member of the Enfield Police Association and the Enfield American Legion. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee where he served his parish as a Eucharistic Minister. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Cecile N. (Pilotte) Matte. They were married on April 24, 1965 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 50 years of happiness together. He also leaves his three loving children, Elizabeth A. Matte-Cross and her husband, David, of Agawam; Michael A. Matte of Boston and Stefan T. Matte of Malden; his three cherished grandchildren, David J. Dubreuil, Cahri E. Taro and Danielle Lee Matte; his loving brother and sister-in-law, Paul A. Matte and his wife, Cynthia, of Chicopee; his dear brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law of the Pilotte family, Donald Pilotte of Houston, TX, Denise Fournier of Rockmart, GA, Vivian Sweeney and her husband, Donald, of Chicopee and Francis Pilotte of Houston, TX; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins and extended members of the Matte and Pilotte families. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, September 14, 2015 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 with United States Air Force Military Honors 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 13, 2015 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 American Heart Association, Pioneer Valley Chapter, 506 Cottage Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com