CHICOPEE – Rita M. (Cloutier) Gauthier, 90, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. She passed into Eternal Life at her home surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family. She was born in Weedon, Province of Quebec, Canada on August 16, 1921, a beloved daughter of the late Willie and Flora (Carrignan) Cloutier. She was raised and schooled in Canada and settled in Holyoke in 1946 before moving to the Willimansett section of Chicopee in 1947. Active in her faith, Rita was a longtime communicant of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee, where she served as a longtime weekly bingo volunteer. She was also a member of the Ladies of Saint Anne Sodality of the parish. She was a loving woman who adored her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Leopold J. “Pep” Gauthier who was Called Home on April 17, 2008. They were married in Weedon, Canada on August 3, 1946 and were blessed with over 61 years of happiness together. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her loving daughter-in-law, Diane M. (Pare) Gauthier who was Called Home on November 15, 2009; her dear brother, Claude Cloutier; and her dear sisters, Antoinette Desgroseilliers, Dorothee Beaulac and Gemma Rouleau. She leaves: her devoted children, Roger Gauthier and his wife, Karen, of South Hadley, Ceil Hemingway of South Hadley, Louise Augustine and her husband, Jeff, of Waltham, MA, Donald Gauthier of Westfield and Paul Gauthier of South Hadley; her eight cherished grandchildren, Jason Gauthier and his wife, Bonnie, Kristen Gauthier, Shawn Hemingway and his wife, Jocelyn, Tanya Hamel and her husband, Doug, Adam Gauthier, Ryan Gauthier, Stephanie Gauthier and Erik Gauthier; her four cherished great-grandchildren, Pacey and Kaysen Gauthier, Spencer Hemingway and Julia Hamel; her dear sister, Claire Gagnon of Sherbrooke, Canada; and her many dear nephews and nieces. Her funeral will be held on Monday morning, August 6, 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. Her burial will follow the Mass at Precious Blood Cemetery, Willimansett Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, August 5, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her family has requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020.