CHICOPEE – Armand P. “Pete” Fortin, 93, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Wednesday, September 10, 2014. He passed into Eternal Life at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family, his comrades in arms and his wonderful caregivers. He was born at home in the Aldenville section of Chicopee, a beloved son of the late Arthur and Anna (Vivier) Fortin. He graduated from Saint Joan of Arc Elementary School and Cathedral High School, and was a lifelong resident of Chicopee. Pete served his country in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the USS Casinghead and attained the rank of Signalman Second Class. He received the American Theatre Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to Chicopee and began working as an apprentice plumber. In 1950, he went to work for the City of Chicopee Parks Department where he eventually became the Parks Superintendent. He retired in 1982 after 32 years of service to the residents of Chicopee. He was one of the original Directors of the Chicopee Municipal Employees Credit Union, a member of the retired City Employees Association and the New England Parks Association. He was also a member of the Aldenville American Legion Post 337, the VFW Post 625 in Chicopee, the Good Sam Club, the Holiday Ramblers and the North American Family Campers Association. Active in his faith, he was a lifelong communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and best friend, Loretta R. (DesRochers) Fortin who was Called Home on February 3, 2000. They were married on October 20, 1945 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville and were blessed with over 53 years of happiness together. He leaves his devoted sons, Richard A. Fortin and his wife, Susan, and Philip R. Fortin and his wife, Jane, all of Chicopee, and Charles R. Fortin and his wife, Dawn, of Wilbraham; his dear former daughter-in-law, Joan M. Fortin of Holyoke; his seven cherished grandchildren, Karen Woods and her husband, Jim, Kathy Hart and her husband, Kevin, Michael R. Fortin and his wife, Jill, Lisa Fortin De La Cruz and her husband, Leo De La Cruz, Laura Fortin and her partner, Scott Jessup, Tim Fortin and his fiancée, Karly Nickerson, and Alyssa Fortin and her companion, Jeremy Scott; his 11 cherished great-grandchildren; his dear sister-in-law, Marguerite DesRochers of Naples, FL; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, and extended members of the Fortin and DesRochers family. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, William Fortin and his wife, Rita; and his dear sister, Viola Chaffee and her husband, Malvern. His funeral will be held on Tuesday morning, September 16, 2014 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 with US Navy Military Honors will be private at a later date for his family at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, September 15, 2014 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 Saint Joan of Arc School, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com