CHICOPEE – Ernest N. Laflamme, Jr. 95, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. 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 May 30, 1931, a beloved son of the late Ernest N. and Antoinette (Lavoie) Laflamme and was a lifelong resident of the city. He started his hard working life by delivering papers, ice and oil. He was co-owner of the Laflamme Oil Company. He was appointed as a civil service commissioner and later was elected to serve as City Assessor and City Treasurer. He retired from over 50 years of public service, but still enjoyed serving and volunteering on various committees. He was a devoted communicant of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish followed by being a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church. He was either part of, a member of, in charge of, or volunteered with numerous organizations some of which include Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Pack 424, League of Sacred Heart, Chicopee Municipal Employees Credit Union, Westbank, Elks, Knights of Columbus 4044, Sunshine Village, Chicopee Senior Center, Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Chicopee Public Library. Along with his wife Claire, he not only loved the city he came from but honored this country and contributed to Extreme Home Makeover, Homes for Troops, Holyoke Soldiers Home, Operation Desert Storm, as well as ensuring the Veterans Memorial Park honoring all service members. The list of committees, organizations or events could go on and on. Whether he devoted his time or made a donation, he never said no to helping anyone through all the phases of his life. He did it without hesitation and or the need for accolades. Some of the many honors he was awarded were the Silver Beaver Award, Paul Harris Award, Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award and Chicopee Chamber of Commerce’s first Citizen of the Year Award which was later named after him in his honor. His strong faith and devotion to his family, friends and community was always on display. Through him and his wife Claire, they instilled their hard work ethic to their children and entire family. He volunteered and they were “voluntold”. Even when he devoted time to all the people around him, he always made time for the ones he loved. He cherished dancing with his wife Claire, singing a song in church or relaxing by mowing lawns or working out in the yard. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Claire E. (Daignault) Laflamme. They were married on April 15, 1950 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 76 years of happiness together. In addition to his beloved wife, he leaves his loving and devoted children, Ernest Laflamme III, Allen Laflamme and his wife, Ellen, Kenneth Laflamme and his wife, Ann, Arthur Laflamme and his wife, Kim, Carol Laflamme, Frank Laflamme and his wife, Sue, Tina Crane and her husband, Andy, Lisa Riley and her husband, Tim, Renee Duval and her husband, Matt, Marie Laflamme and Cindy Ingram and her husband, Carl. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his two loving sons, John Anthony Laflamme who was Called Home on September 11, 1981 and David Ernest Laflamme who was Called Home on December 22, 2019; and his grandson, Tad Laflamme. He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren and their spouses, Michelle, Jeff, Sara and Chris, Shanna and Matt, Stephanie and Rob, Kevin, Kelly, Kate-Lyn and Nickel, Jaime and Dan, Erin and Jason, Artie and Danielle, Breanne and PJ, Jerod and Brittney, Shawn, Tim, Ashley and Dave, Eric, AJ and Ashley, Steve and Emily, Nick and Kate, Heather and Jay, Jenn and Seth, Maureen and Mark, Rachel and Vinny, Shannon and Joe, Sammie and Louie, Cassandra and Jay, Courtney, Caleb, Kyle and Katherine; his cherished great-grandchildren, Madison, Kylie, Josie, Dylan, Kaiden, Jourdan, Keegan, Abbey, Jace, Colby, Lyanna, Kingston, Paiton, Jaidan, Logan, Ilana, Deklan, Ella, Hayden, Harper, Brayden, Jaxon, Taylor, Emma, Anastyn, McKinley, Atlas, Spencer, Alannah, Grayson, Lucas, Aiden, Anderson, Asher, Benjamin, Caroline, Madison, Zach, Kali, Olivia, Thomas, Kinsley, Lillian, Theo, Adam, Jason, Izzy, and Aiden; and his two cherished great-great granddaughters Everleigh and Sutton; his loving brothers and sister, Noel Laflamme and his partner, Georgie Adams, Richard Laflamme and his wife, Debbie; and MaryJane Wall; his dear sister-in-law, Gabe Laflamme; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family members and friends. In addition, he was predeceased by his dear brothers, Normand Laflamme and Leonard Laflamme; his four dear sisters, Theresa Hortie, Beatrice Schnauber, Lillian Laflamme and Claire Laflamme; his brothers-in-law, William Schnauber, Sylvio "Roger" Hortie, Hector George and William "Andy" Anderson; his sister-in-laws, Georgette Laflamme, Phyllis Laflamme, Therese George and Diane Anderson; as well as his son-in-law, Paul "PJ" Demears. His funeral will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413) 532-9806) 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in 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 Friday, September 4, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 or to Sunshine Village, 75 Litwin Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com