WESTFIELD – Eugene C. Smith Jr., 62, of Westfield and a longtime resident of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, November 4, 2024, the birthday of his beloved mother, Lillian who was waiting for him in the Heavenly Kingdom. 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 November 25, 1961, a beloved son of Eugene C. Smith Sr. of Chicopee and the late Lillian G. (Guerin) Smith who was Called Home on December 5, 2023. He was raised in Chicopee and graduated from Chicopee High School in 1979. He lived in Chicopee for most of his life with the care of his family, and moved to a group home in Westfield in 2015 where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a Life Member of the Melha Shrine in Springfield where he was a 33rd Degree Mason and Chaplain of five years, a 20 years member of the Melha Oriental Band, Chaplain, and Life Member of the Association of the Melha Oriental Band. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. In addition to his beloved father, he leaves his three loving and devoted siblings, Linda M. Zalinskie and her husband, Raymond, of Hooksett, NH, Larry C. Smith and his partner, Dawn Monty, of Holyoke, and Lisa A. Rubner of Wilbraham; and his many dear uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and his extended Michigan family. He also will be sadly missed by his friends who were like family to him at the Berkshire County Arc. His family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 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 in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Funeral will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Berkshire County Arc, P.O. Box 2, Pittsfield, MA 01202. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
