CHICOPEE – Gerald E. “Jerry” Desroches, 89, a former resident of the Valley View Apartments in the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, November 28, 2020. He passed into Eternal Life at Renaissance Manor on Cabot in Holyoke surrounded by all the memories that he loved and cherished. He was born in Holyoke on March 20, 1931, the beloved son of the late Walter Desroches and Viola (Raymond) Desroches. He was raised in the Aldenville section of Chicopee and attended Chicopee Vocational School. He enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 16 and served his country during the Korean War attaining the rank of Corporal. He served from July of 1949 to January of 1953 with the Third Infantry Division. Within three months following a brief stay in Japan, his unit was transferred to Central Korea fighting in the bitter cold. Unfortunately, he became a prisoner of war and suffered untold humiliation, degradation and deprivation at the hand of his captors. He was severely beaten and permanently disabled. Jerry always said that it took him five years to get out of the Army and 55 years to receive his high school diploma. He received his diploma under a national program named “Operation Recognition” that awards diplomas to veterans who left high school to fight in the war. He was later employed for 35 years in the Maintenance Department at the Hampden County Superior Courthouse in Springfield. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Westover Chapter 11 in Chicopee and also an Honorary Hampden County Deputy Sheriff. He was proud to have received a Certificate of Recognition from the Honor Flight New England visit to Washington, D.C. in September of 2019. Jerry will always be remembered for his gentle nature, his kindness and generosity, his dependability, his strong sense of responsibility and his love for his family. He was a survivor and a hero to his entire family. He leaves his three loving children, Gary M. Desroches and his wife, Ann (Carey) Desroches and Debra J. Perreault and her former husband, Richard, all of Chicopee and Donna Ricardi of Ludlow; his six cherished grandchildren, Melanie Patterson and her husband, Daniel, Tara Celani and her husband, Justin, Kelli Desroches, Gary Perreault and Craig and Stefanie Ricardi; his eight great-grandchildren, McKenna, Madeline and Ainsley Patterson, Jacob and Caitlyn Celani, Molly Rajpold and Cole and Paxton Ricardi; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended family members. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his former wife and best friend, Jeanne L. (Rivest) Desroches who was Called Home on October 5, 2012. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, his Funeral Services, Burial with Army Military Honors and Celebration of Jerry’s Life will take place a later date and time to be announced. His funeral services are entrusted to the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, (please specify Springfield), 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details and to leave his family online condolences, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com