CHICOPEE – Gerald M. “Jerry” Patla, 77, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, October 16, 2016. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on September 21, 1939, a beloved son of the late John J. and Lucille (Capistrant) Patla. He was raised in Holyoke, attended Holyoke schools and had lived in Fairview since 1965. He served his country in the United States Army from 1959 to 1961 in Mainz, Germany attaining the rank of Private First Class. He was employed for 45 years at the former National Blank Book, which later became Avery Dennison, and retired in 2001 from the Maintenance Department. During his long career at Avery Dennison, he missed one day of work because President Gerald Ford said that people should get the Swine Flu vaccine which made him sick the following day. A true character in every sense of the word, Jerry was not a joiner but eventually joined BJ’s Wholesale Club in Chicopee. After some coaxing from his friends and under protest, he joined the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus in Chicopee where he made many new friends. Jerry truly enjoyed fishing though he struggled landing “The Big One”. He often proclaimed on many occasions that the Atlantic Ocean was “Fished Out”. He also enjoyed shopping during his retirement and meeting up with his friends from the Flats of Holyoke on the last Friday of the month at the Egg & I Restaurant in South Hadley Falls. Above all, he loved his family and his many friends. He was a communicant of Saint Patrick Church in South Hadley Falls. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, Donald Patla. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Patrice C. “Pat” (Weir) Patla. They were married on October 9, 1965 at Saint Anne Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 51 years of happiness together. He also leaves his three loving children, Amy J. van der Wal and her husband, Johann, of Wellesley, Craig J. Patla and his wife, Kate, of Madison, CT and Jason M. Patla of Chicopee; his six cherished grandchildren, Johanna and Genevieve van der Wal, Abbey Stackpole and Erin, William and Morgan Patla; his dear brother-in-law, John E. Weir and his wife, Margaret, of Lexington Park, MD; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Patla and Weir families. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, October 21, 2016 at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (the funeral home will open at 7:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Saint Patrick Church, 30 Main Street, South Hadley Falls, MA 01075. His Committal Service with United States Army 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 Thursday, October 20, 2016 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His family has requested that memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Friends of Chicopee Senior Citizens, Inc. (Please specify New Building Fund), c/o RiverMills Center, 5 West Main Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com