CHICOPEE – Jean L. H. “Harvey” Briere, 96, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, January 15, 2016. He passed into Eternal Life at Wingate at South Hadley surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on June 24, 1919, a beloved son of the late Florida Briere and Marie Louise (Bouthillier) Briere. Around 1922, his family moved to the Willimansett section of Chicopee. He graduated from Chicopee High School in 1939 and lived in Willimansett for the remainder of his life. He served his country during World War II in the United States Army and attained the rank of Private First Class. He received the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with One Bronze Star, a Purple Heart Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Willimansett and was employed for many years at the former Monsanto Chemical Company in Indian Orchard. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans in Holyoke and a former member of the Chicopee Lodge of Elks. During his leisure time, Jean enjoyed puttering around his home where he enjoyed working on his beautiful lawn and garden. He was a longtime communicant of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church where he was a member of the League of the Sacred Heart. He was a communicant of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Willimansett. Most of all, he loved his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Mona M. (Beliveau) Briere. They were married on September 3, 1949 at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Willimansett and were blessed with over 66 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Noreen M. Parent and her husband, Robert, of Easthampton and Richard K. Briere and his wife, Janet, of Goshen; his six cherished grandchildren, Christopher Parent and his wife, Amy, Jamie Parent and his wife, Virginia, Tiffany Cote and her partner, Shawn Bombard, Jeremy Cote, Joseph Briere and Thomas Briere; his eight cherished great-grandchildren, Joshua Parent and twins Alexander and Zachary Parent, Olivia Parent, Cullen and Lucas Parent and Morgan and Ethan Bombard; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins friends and extended members of the Briere and Beliveau families. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his dear brother and sister-in-law, Norman Briere and his wife, Rita; and his two dear sisters and brothers-in-law, Rita Bayeur and her husband, Real, and Rhea Jacquot and her husband, Roger. His funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, January 20, 2016 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His burial with United States Army Military Honors 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 Tuesday, January 19, 2016 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For those who prefer, his family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, 150 Cambridge Park Drive, Suite 202, Cambridge, MA 02140. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com