CHICOPEE – Wilfred E. “Joe” Thibodeau, 72, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, August 2, 2025. 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 December 8, 1952, a beloved son of the late Wilfred J. Thibodeau who was Called Home on March 10, 2000 and the late Loretta C. (Lemieux) Thibodeau who was Called Home on January 12, 2014. He was raised on Celestine Street in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, graduated from Chicopee High School, Class of 1971, and was a lifelong resident of the city. He served his country in the Army National Guard. He was an iron worker for the Iron Workers Local #7 in Boston. He was the owner for over 25 years of American Iron Works in South Hadley and later owned I.W. Welding in Chicopee. He was a lifetime member of the Brotherhood of Iron Workers Local #7 in Boston, a 53 year lifetime member of the Elks Lodge No. 1849 and the Moose Family Center, both in Chicopee, the American Legion Post 273 in Madeira Beach, FL, the Pioneer Valley GTO Club, the National Street Rod Club, and the Antique Auto Club of America. He loved classic cars, listening to 50s music, and cheering on the New England Patriots. He enjoyed cooking and tending to his beautiful flower gardens. He will be deeply missed by all of his family members and many friends. He leaves his life-partner and high school sweetheart, Elizabeth A. “Betty” Wilk of Chicopee; his loving and devoted son, Chad M. O’Rourke and his partner, Kara, and their children, Kaela, Mason, Madelyn, and Jase, all of Sunderland, MA; his three loving step-daughters, Melanie Wilk and her husband, James Butterworth, and their children, J.J. and Harper, all of Chicopee, Alyson Wilk and her children, Nixon, Brynn, and Weston, all of Somers, CT, and Jessica Wilk of Springfield; his dear sister, Pauline M. Dakis of Chicopee; his two dear sisters-in-law, Rose Sullivan of Florida and Linda Greenwood and her husband, Ted, of Holyoke; his longtime best friend, Ricky Laflamme and his wife, Ellen, of Blandford; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and extended family members. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two dear brothers-in-law, George Dakis and Donald Sullivan. His Funeral will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025 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. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, c/o 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com