CHICOPEE – Leonard N. Berneche, 85, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at his home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and was welcomed into the Eternal City of Heaven by his loving daughter, Lizanne and his cherished grandson, Tyler. He was born in Holyoke on October 19, 1928, a beloved son of the late Edward and Exelia (Laroche) Berneche. He was raised in Holyoke, attended Holyoke Trade High School and lived in Holyoke for many years before moving to the Aldenville section of Chicopee in 1949. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1946 and served his country during World War II and the Korean War, attaining the rank of Carpenter’s Mate Third Class. Following his military service, he returned to the area and in 1953, established the Berneche and Friend Construction Company. He was a well known building contractor in the area and worked on many building projects, including the Log Cabin in Holyoke and many of the Bertera Auto Dealerships. In 1970, the name of the company was changed to L.N. Berneche, Inc. which he operated until his retirement in 1985. Leonard was a member of the Carpenter’s Local 108 in Springfield, an original Incorporator of the Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, an avid golfer, a member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337, a Hampden County Deputy Sheriff and a member of the Western Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association. Since 1985, Leonard and his wife, Jeanne, enjoyed wintering in Boca Raton, Florida. During the winter months, he was a member of the Citizens on Patrol in Boca Raton. Until the age of 83, he and his partner regularly patrolled the streets in a squad car. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville. He was a loving man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his dear brothers and sisters, Rene, Hector, Roland, Raymond, Annette Berneche, and Isabelle Desnoyers. He was also predeceased by his beloved infant daughter, Lizanne Berneche who was Called Home on August 4, 1956 and his cherished grandson, Tyler J. Berneche who was Called Home on November 9, 1991. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Irene J. “Jeanne” (Harnois) Berneche. They were married on July 9, 1949 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 64 years of happiness together. He also leaves his five loving children, Lenore M. Salacinski and her husband, Edward, of Chicopee, Leon N. Berneche and his wife, Regina, of Belchertown, Lloyd N. Berneche and his wife, Vivian, of Granby, Laurel A. Lafleur and her husband, Robert, of Belchertown, and Lance N. Berneche and his wife, Connie, of Chicopee; his ten cherished grandchildren whom he adored, Dr. Amanda Salacinski, PhD, Marisa Berneche and her wife, Lynn Zaccaro, Shaina Berneche and her partner, James Garvin, Neal Berneche, Adam Lafleur and his wife, Jenn, Andrew Lafleur and his wife, Angie, Lizanne Lafleur and her partner, Kevin McCabe, Evan Berneche and his partner, Carly Siano, Eliza Berneche, and US Air Force Airman First Class Austin Berneche; his dear sisters-in-law of the Harnois family, Lucille Pray and her husband, Harry, Elaine Scott, and Noella Harnois, all of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, and extended members of the Berneche and Harnois families. His funeral will be held on Saturday morning, November 16, 2013, beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with US Navy Military Honors 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, November 15, 2013 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 has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
