CHICOPEE – Fernand H. “Ferde” Labrie, 87, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Monday, June 18, 2012. He passed into Eternal Life at Holyoke Medical Center surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born at home in Chicopee on February 5, 1925, a beloved son of the late Adelard and Leontine (Marcoux) Labrie. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated in 1943 from Cathedral High School in Springfield and was a lifelong resident of Chicopee. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and attained the rank of Radioman First Class. He received the American Area Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal with Two Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with One Bronze Star and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and was employed as a carpenter for over 35 years by the E.J. Lieberman Property Management Company. Active in his church, Ferde was a lifelong communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee where he served his parish as a Eucharistic Minister, a choir member, a member of the League of the Sacred Heart, a former chairman and member of the Parish Council, a bingo caller and volunteer, the founding member and coordinator of the parish picnic, a former chairman of the Catholic Stewardship Committee of the parish, and a longtime volunteer for the parish Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Program. For his work with the CCD program, he was the first recipient of the prestigious Pope Pius X Award in the Hampden County Deanery for the Diocese of Springfield. He was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus and a member of the Fourth Degree of Fairview Assembly 2670. Active at the Knights of Columbus, he was a longtime bingo caller and worker, a volunteer for the monthly spaghetti dinner and lead the annual sing along for the Children’s Christmas Party at Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus. In addition, he was a member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337, the National Landing Ship Medium Association, a longtime member of the Springfield Chordsmen, a member of SPEBSQSA and the Newcaneweng Association Honor Society of Barber Shopping. He was also a member of the Cathedral High School Alumni Association and a former member of the Bellamy Middle School Building Committee for the City of Chicopee. Ferde was also known for his generosity as he always gave gold dollar coins to many children asking only for a hug in return. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by: his dear sisters and their husbands, Aurore Robert and her husband, Roger, and Adrienne Roy and her husband, Wilfred; and his dear brother-in-law, Roger Piquette. He leaves his beloved “first” wife and best friend, Rita D. (Piquette) Labrie. They were married on May 19, 1947 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and just celebrated 65 years of happiness together. He also leaves his devoted children, Gerard R. Labrie and Susan A. Jodoin and her husband, Roland, all of Chicopee, Robert H. Labrie and his wife, Susan, of Goshen, MA and Peter A. Labrie and his wife, Wendy, of Monrovia, MD; his seven cherished grandchildren, Michael Jodoin and his wife, Elizabeth, Matthew Jodoin and his wife, Angela, Sarah, Alyssa and Hannah Labrie, and Simon and Andre Labrie; his two cherished great-grandchildren, Alexander and Natalie Jodoin; his dear sister, Flo Belanger, of Agawam; his dear brother, Nelson Labrie and his wife, Theresa, of Chicopee; his dear sister-in-law, Shirley Piquette of Chicopee; and his many dear nephews and nieces. His family would like to thank Sylvia from Home Instead and the staff at Holyoke Health Care and Holyoke Medical Center ICU for the dignified care they provided. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, June 22, 2012, beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with 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 Thursday, June 21, 2012 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. Because of Ferde’s love of music, his family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in his memory to the Sainte Rose de Lima Church Memorial Organ Fund, 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020.