HOLYOKE – Lionel A. Picard, 96, of Holyoke, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Saint Raphael de Bellechasse, Province of Quebec, Canada on June 5, 1929, a beloved son of the late Emile and Emilia (Lemelin) Picard. He was raised and educated in Canada and moved to Springfield in 1951 where he lived in the North End section and the Hungry Hill section of the city. He moved to Holyoke in 1973 where he lived the remainder of his life. He was an electrician for over 35 years for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 7 in Springfield and retired in 1991. He was a member of the Local 7 IBEW in Springfield and a former member of the Holyoke Lodge of Elks No. 902 and the Knights of Columbus in Canada. He was a communicant of the parish community of Holy Family at Mont Marie in Holyoke and a former communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church in Holyoke and the former Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Springfield. Lionel was a hard working man all of his life and truly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends in the United States and in Canada. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and soul mate, Helene G. (Beauregard) Picard who was Called Home on September 3, 2001. They were married on May 5, 1956 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and they were blessed with over 45 years of happiness together. He leaves his three loving and devoted children, Denise M. Benoit and her husband, John, of Longmeadow, Suzanne L. Picard of New York, NY, and Richard L. Picard and his partner, Jane Callahan, of Fall River, MA; his cherished granddaughter, Emilia Rose Benoit of Medford, MA; his three dear brothers, Benoit Picard and his partner, Lina Morneau, Jean Marie Picard and his partner, Colette Roy, and Armand Picard and his partner, Jacqueline Soucey, all of Canada; his four dear sisters, Thérèse Picard, Florence Picard, and Beatrice Picard Daviau and her husband, Francois, all of Canada, and Jeannine Picard Daubney of Chicopee; his dear friend, Ann Lutservitz of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and extended family members in the United States and Canada. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his sons-in-law, Hal DeWindt and Benjamin Seawell, his four brothers, Renald, Robert, Leonidas, and Jacques Picard, and his two sisters, Madeleine Picard and Liliane Bernard. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, 245 Porter Lake Drive, Springfield, MA 01106. His burial will be private at the convenience of the family. The St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Holyoke Hospice Life Care, 575 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com