CAROLINA BEACH, NC – Dennis R. Pollender, 63, of Carolina Beach, North Carolina and a former longtime resident of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, September 2, 2016. He passed into Eternal Life at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on January 15, 1953, a beloved son of the late Raymond F. Pollender who was Called Home on May 19, 1997 and Lucienne G. (Archambault) Pollender who was Called Home on June 23, 2012. He was raised in the Aldenville section of Chicopee, graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School and later lived on Dorothy Avenue in the Fairview section of Chicopee before moving to North Carolina in 2009. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War and then transitioned to the United States Air National Guard at Barnes ANG in Westfield where he worked as an Avionics Electronics Technician. He was activated during Desert Storm and Desert Shield where he served in the Persian Gulf. He retired in 2003 after over 20 years of service with the rank of Master Sergeant. While living in Chicopee, he was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville. He was a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus South Hadley Council 1721 and the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Archbishop Williams Assembly. He was an avid bowler and, while living in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, he was an active member and volunteer at the Carolina Coast Vineyard Church. Most of all, he was a hard-working man who loved his children, his family and his many friends. Besides his beloved parents, he was predeceased by his loving brother-in-law, James Marr who was Called Home on March 6, 2016. He leaves his three loving children, Keri A. Rusciano and her husband, Joseph, of Chicopee, Amanda L. Pollender and her partner, Carlos Bou, of Framingham and Erik R. Pollender and his wife, Candice A. Mark, of Raeford, NC; his cherished fiancée, Darlene Page of Carolina Beach, NC; his two loving step-children, Richard Page and his wife, Katrina, of Wilmington, NC and Tonya Page of Royal Oak, MI; his nine cherished grandchildren, Danielle M. Rusciano, Joshua I. Rivera, Makayla A. Rivera, Javier G. Bou, Dylan A. Pollender, Raya F. Pollender, Derek Page, Adam Page and Giada Page; his cherished great-granddaughter, Elena P. Rivera; his loving sister, Cynthia C. Marr of Chicopee; his loving brother, Ronald S. Pollender and his fiancée, Linda Surabian, of Springfield; his dear former wife, Darlene L. (LaRose) Pollender Slater of Springfield; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Pollender and Archambault families. His funeral will be held on Monday morning, September 12, 2016 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 7:45 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 Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, September 11, 2016 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 may be made in his memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, c/o 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com