CHICOPEE – Richard D. LaValley, 87, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. 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 Easthampton on August 7, 1933, a beloved son of the late Benjamin and Muriel (Malouin) LaValley. He was raised and educated in Easthampton and moved to Chicopee in 1973. In 1996, Richard and his wife, Mary Ellen, moved to Bradenton, Florida where they made lifelong friends until returning to Chicopee in 2008. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War, attained the rank of Airman and received the National Defense Service Medal. Richard was the longtime owner of Cabot Liquors in downtown Chicopee. He was a communicant of the former Saint Patrick Church in Chicopee Falls and currently was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He was a member of Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus and a member of the Honor Guard of the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670 of the Fourth Degree. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 337 in Aldenville, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11 in Chicopee, the Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 Camping Association in Granby, the Chicopee Lodge of Elks and the Moose Family Center in Chicopee. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Mary Ellen (Rice) LaValley. They were married on November 28, 1959 at Notre Dame Church in Easthampton and were blessed with over 61 years of happiness together. He also leaves his three loving children, Donald R. LaValley and his wife, Nicky, and Brian E. LaValley and his wife, Michelle, all of Chicopee and Mary Ellen Flemati and her husband, Marco, of Springfield; his eight cherished grandchildren, Brian LaValley and his wife, Elizabeth, Kristen LaValley, Geoffrey Flemati, Alyssa Flemati, Daniel LaValley, Robert Megit, Robert Robles and Aleicia Gillum; his four cherished great-grandchildren, Brian, Sophia, Carter and Aubrielle; his two dear sisters-in-law, Shirley LaValley of Chicopee and Nancy Rice of Kentucky; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended family members. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his three dear brothers, Arthur, Edward and Norman LaValley. His Funeral will be held on Monday, January 11, 2021 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 Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Burial with United States Navy Military Honors will be private for his family at a later date at Saint Patrick Cemetery in Chicopee. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, January 10, 2021 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. Please note that masks are required, social distancing must be observed and funeral home and Church capacity are limited due to state regulations. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. For more details and to leave his family online condolences, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com