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Paul L. Surprenant Veteran
October 10, 2021

Obituary

CHICOPEE - Paul L. Surprenant, 69, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, October 10, 2021. He passed peacefully into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He was born in Springfield on December 17, 1951, a beloved son of the late Adelard D. “Dick” Surprenant who was Called Home on April 3, 2005 and Angeline M. (Chapdelaine) Surprenant who was Called Home on November 22, 1987. He was the third of seven children and was raised in the Aldenville section of Chicopee. Paul graduated from Saint Joan of Arc Elementary School and Chicopee Comprehensive High School, both in Aldenville and attended classes at Holyoke Community College. He joined the United States Navy in 1971 and served during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of Equipment Operator Petty Officer Third Class. He trained to become a Navy SeaBee at the Naval Base in Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California and was later stationed and served at Camp Covington in Apra Harbor, Santa Rita, Guam. Upon his honorable discharge, he was employed as a tractor trailer operator, which was his passion, and drove for a number of companies in the Chicopee and Springfield area before joining the United States Postal Service where he worked until his retirement in 2010. He was an active communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville. Above all, Paul loved spending time with his family, being outdoors and having barbecues in his backyard. He loved a spirited discussion and could often be rambunctious, but anyone who engaged in a discussion with Paul knew that inside he was a loving, kind and gentle soul who would “give you the shirt off his back” if you needed it. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Donna M. (Leahy) Surprenant who lovingly cared for him the last seven years of his life. They were married on February 5, 1982 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville and were blessed with over 39 years of marriage. He also leaves his two loving children, Daniel P. “Dan” Surprenant and his wife, Sarah, of Chicopee and Rebecca M. “Becky” Morin and her husband, Michael, of Chicopee; and his four cherished grandsons, D.J. and Andrew Surprenant and Jacob and Joshua Morin. He is also survived by his brother, Denis H. Surprenant and his wife, Debbie, of Feeding Hills; his three sisters, Linda S. Garcia and her husband, Alberto “Beto” Garcia of Annapolis, MD, Jeanne M. Mozdanowski and her husband, John Mozdanowski of Feeding Hills and Diane M. Peters and her husband, Michael “Mike” Peters of Feeding Hills; his brother-in-law, William Leahy and his wife, Louise, of Chicopee; his sister-in-law, Laura Scribner of South Hadley Falls; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two younger brothers, James W. “Jim” Surprenant who was Called Home on June 18, 1993 and John R. Surprenant who was Called Home on July 15, 2018; and his sister-in-law, Muriel Hunter who was Called Home on December 18, 2014. His family will receive friends on Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 12 Noon which will be followed by a Prayer Service at 12 Noon at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Please note that masks are required. His Burial with United States Navy Military Honors will follow the Prayer Service at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com

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St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels
13 Dale Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
413-532-9806