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Donald W. Gladu Veteran
May 14, 2020

Obituary

SOUTH HADLEY – Donald W. Gladu, 92, of Alvord Place and a former longtime resident of Brigham Road in South Hadley, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, May 14, 2020. He passed into Eternal Life at Holyoke Medical Center surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on April 17, 1928, a beloved son of the late William J. and Ida G. (Dubuc) Gladu. He was raised in the Fairview section of Chicopee and has been a resident of South Hadley since 1960. He served his country during World War II in the United States Navy, attained the rank of Fireman Second Class and received the World War II Victory Medal. He was employed for 27 years at Lawler Construction Company and previously owned and operated Dubuc Trucking and Coal Company, both in South Hadley. He was a Charter Member of the Fairview Knights of Columbus Council 4044 in Chicopee where he served in many capacities including: driver of the former Knights of Columbus Charity Bus, working weekly bingo, spaghetti suppers, served on the Board of Directors of the Home Association, volunteered at the Family Picnic, Tootsie Roll Drive, Thanksgiving Dinner, Children’s Christmas Party, Jericho, and the Holyoke Soldiers Home just to name a few. He started as a Honor Guard member for the Archbishop Williams Assembly Fourth Degree and was very proud to be a Charter Member and the first Faithful Navigator at its conception in 2000 of the Fairview Assembly 2670 Fourth Degree, now the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670, where he was a longtime Guard and Past Faithful Commander who participated in countless Liturgies and Funerals, parades, and countless other functions throughout New England. He was a Past President and served on the Board of Directors at the Buffalo Club and was a member and Past Commander of the Fairview American Legion Post 438, both in Chicopee. In addition, Don was a member of the American Bosch Travel Club. Donald was a hard working and compassionate man and was always up to a good game of cards, and especially liked playing cribbage. Active in his Catholic faith, Don was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. Above all, he was a quiet loving man who enjoyed spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Vivian M. (Duval) Gladu. They were married on May 30, 1950 at Immaculate Conception Church in Holyoke and were blessed with 70 years of happiness together. He also leaves his loving children, Gail M. Gladu of South Hadley and Gary W. Gladu and his wife, Meg Gladu, of Holyoke; his three grandchildren, Matthew W. Gladu and his wife, Jessica, of Springfield, Katharine “Katie” Gladu-McClelland and her husband, Paul McClelland, of Salida, CO, and Michael Gladu of Holyoke; his seven great grandchildren, Neil and Forrest McClelland, and Samantha, McKinley, Riley, Cadighan and Noah Gladu; his brother-in-law, Ronald A. Duval and his companion, Betty Murphy, of Edgewater, FL; his five godchildren, Roy Gladu, Dawn Lapierre, Maryann Joseph, Brian Roy and Paula Mendrala; and his many nephews, nieces, numerous dear cousins, countless friends, and extended members of the Gladu and Duval families. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Phyllis Jones and her husband, Everett; his brother-in-law, Normand G. Duval and his wife, Rosemarie; and his uncle and aunt who were like parents to him, Lester and Juliette Gladu. His family will receive friends at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 on Friday, September 4, 2020 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 11 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. (Please note that the funeral home and Church have limited capacity, face masks must be worn and social distancing must be observed per state guidelines.) His Committal Service with United States Naval Military Honors will be held on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 3 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus, Scholarship Fund, 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Springfield Unit, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details and to leave his family a condolence message, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com

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St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels
506 Britton Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
413-533-3307