CHICOPEE – Claire E. (Emard) Gdula, 83, of Sarawood at 1 Loomis Avenue in Holyoke and a longtime resident of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. She passed into Eternal Life peacefully at Sarawood surrounded by all the memories she loved and cherished. She was born in Holyoke on June 2, 1929, a beloved daughter of the late Gaspard R. and Yvonne (Trudel) Emard. She was raised in Holyoke, graduated from Holyoke High School and lived in the city for many years before moving to Chicopee in 1949. During her leisure time, Claire enjoyed the simple things of life which included making puzzles, knitting, crocheting and working on crafts. In January, Claire moved to Sarawood in Holyoke where she made many new friends. She had a love for animals and enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels each morning from her room. She was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. Claire 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, Chester J. “Whitey” Gdula who was Called Home on January 6, 2007. They were married on May 28, 1949 at the former Precious Blood Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. She leaves: her loving children, Chester J. “Chet” Gdula and his wife, Norma and Claire Y. Bernash and her husband, Donald, all of Chicopee; her six cherished grandchildren, Katharine Valentino and her husband, William, Matthew Gdula, Denise Greenia and her husband, Justin, Marlene Sanches and her husband, Carlos, Melissa Adams and her husband, Robert, and Caroline Bernash; her five cherished great-grandchildren, Addison and Lucas Valentino, Peter and Michael Greenia and Robert Adams; and her many dear nephews and nieces. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her dear sisters, Frances Welch and Yvonne Hough. Her family would like express their gratitude to the staff at Sarawood for their kindness, excellent care and compassion during her stay there. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, September 12, 2012 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. Her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, 170 Pendexter Avenue, Chicopee, MA 01013.