CHICOPEE – David R. Lee, 83, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Saturday, November 2, 2013. He passed into Eternal Life at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born in Springfield on December 31, 1929, a beloved son of the late Thomas H. and Catherine E. (Rowland) Lee. He was raised in the Six Corners section of Springfield, graduated in 1947 from Springfield Technical High School and lived in Springfield for many years before moving to the Willimansett section of Chicopee around 1958. During his early years in Springfield, he was employed at the former Milton Bradley Company. He enlisted in 1951 in the United States Army and served his country during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Corporal. He received the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Springfield and was employed for many years at the National Blank Book in Holyoke and later at the General Offset Printing Company in Springfield. He retired in 1995 as the Supervisor of Printing and Binding at the Eureka Blank Book Company in Holyoke. David was a member of the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus and a member of the Fairview Assembly 2670 Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus where he served for a time as the Assembly Scribe. Active in Chicopee, David played Santa Claus along with his wife Estelle, as Mrs. Claus, for many local events at City Hall, the Chicopee Schools and at various nursing homes. He was also a longtime board member of the Chicopee Council on Aging. Active in his faith, David was a longtime communicant of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee where he was a member of the League of the Sacred Heart and served his parish as a Lector. He was currently a communicant of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Willimansett. He was a former member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield and an avid runner at many of the area road races including the annual Holyoke Saint Patrick Road Race. 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. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Estelle L. (Lajoie) Lee. They were married on October 26, 1957 at Saint Patrick Church in Thompsonville, Connecticut and were blessed with 56 years of happiness together. He also leaves his loving children, Martin J. Lee and his wife, Lynne, of Smyrna, GA, Susan M. Czech and her husband, Timothy, of Ware, and Thomas D. Lee and Marcia Letourneau, of Chicopee; his cherished granddaughter whom he adored, Jennifer A. Lee of Chicopee; his dear brother-in-law, Robert Lajoie and his wife, Helen, of Battle Creek, MI; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, and extended members of the Lee and Lajoie families. His funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, November 6, 2013 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, 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 Saint Anthony of Padua Church, 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His Committal Service with US Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, November 5, 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 Chicopee Council on Aging Building Fund, 7 Valley View Court, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com