CHICOPEE – Pierre J. “Pete” Gaudet, 73, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born at home on Forest Street in the Willimansett section of Chicopee on July 2, 1939, a beloved son of the late Ernest Jean Prosper Gaudet and Cosette Laurette (Giroux) Gaudet. He was raised in the Willimansett section of the city and graduated from the former Mount Carmel Elementary School. He then attended the former Precious Blood High School before graduating from Cathedral High School in Springfield. Pete lived in Willimansett during his early years and then moved to the Aldenville section of Chicopee in 1965. Over the past 13 years, Pete and his wife Rita were “snowbirds” in Zephyrhills, Florida. Pete was a well-known meat cutter for over 30 years and was employed at many stores in the Pioneer Valley. He was best known in the Village of Aldenville as the custodian for Sainte Rose de Lima Parish where he worked at the rectory, Sainte Rose de Lima Church and the parish school, Saint Joan of Arc, where he was affectionately known by all of the school children as “Uncle Pete”. While living in Willimansett, he was a communicant of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church where he was a member of the League of the Sacred Heart. Active in his Catholic faith, Pete was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville where he volunteered for many years at their weekly bingo games. He also served his country as a member of the Air National Guard in Westfield. He was a former member of the Chicopee Lodge of Elks 1849 and a former scout leader for the Webelos Scout Troop 138 in Aldenville. Pete was a loving man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. He leaves the love of his life, his wife, Rita A. (Bourgeault) Gaudet. They were married on May 7, 1960, at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Willimansett and were blessed with over 53 years of happiness together. He also leaves his four loving sons, James R. Gaudet and his wife, Margaret, of Manchester, NH, Mark T. Gaudet and his wife, Laurie, of Grasonville, MD, and Peter M. Gaudet and Matthew P. Gaudet, both of Chicopee; his four cherished granddaughters whom he adored, Katherine E. Gaudet and her fiancé, Joshua Nault, of Derry, NH, and Ann Marie Gaudet, Patricia E. Gaudet and Joanne T. Gaudet, all of Manchester, NH; his dear brothers, Marcel Gaudet of Chicopee and Paul Gaudet and his fiancée, Nancy Taylor, of Zephyrhills, FL; his dear sisters, Jacqueline Pelchar of Glens Falls, NY, Sister Diane Gaudet, SSJ of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Holyoke and Marie Lefebvre and her husband, David, of Bedford, TX; his dear sister-in-law, Judy Gaudet of Colorado Springs, CO; his dear brother-in-law of the Bourgeault family, Philip G. Bourgeault and his wife, Karen, of Salem, MA; and his many dear nephews and nieces. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, Roger D. Gaudet. His funeral will be held on Tuesday morning, July 2, 2013, beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, July 1, 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 either the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Springfield, Mont Marie, 34 Lower Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040 or to the Saint Joan of Arc School Fund, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com