SPRINGFIELD – Richard M. “Rick” “Big Guy” Nolette, 63, of the East Springfield section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Friday, September 11, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Sanford, Maine on December 13, 1951, a beloved son of the late Robert M. Nolette and Rita L. (Leroux) Nolette. His family moved to Springfield around 1957 where he graduated from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Elementary School and from Cathedral High School in 1969. He later graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Rick was an avid New England sports fanatic, enjoyed golfing and, during his younger years, was a pitcher for several softball leagues. Above all, he had a great love of music and enjoyed collecting and listening to his extensive collection of old vinyl records and CD’s. He was last employed for 26 years as a switcher and later a fork lift driver for the United States Postal Service at the Bulk Mail Center on Fiberloid Street in Indian Orchard and retired in 2009. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Cynthia J. (Rzeszutek) Nolette. They were married on January 31, 2003 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 12 years of happiness together. Besides his wife, he also leaves his loving brother and sister-in-law, Ronald R. Nolette and his wife, Anna, of Brimfield; his three cherished nephews, James P. Nolette and his wife, Tanya, John P. Nolette and his wife, Ashley, and Joel S. Nolette; and his cherished grandnieces and grandnephews, Breanna, Gabriella and Lucas Nolette and Jacob and Jordynn Nolette; his step-nieces, Elizabeth and Rachel Krans; and his step-nephew, Luke Krans. In addition, he leaves his brother-in-law, Peter Picard of Chicopee; his cherished niece, Lisa M. Connaughton and her husband, James; and his cherished nephews, John F. Picard and his wife, Kristen, and Michael P. Picard. He will also be sadly missed by his faithful canine companion, his beloved “baby”, Lucy. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his loving sister-in-law, Denise Picard who was Called Home on September 28, 2010. His funeral will be held on Thursday morning, September 17, 2015 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 10 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial will follow the Mass at Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, 800 Montgomery Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The parking lot is 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 Shriner’s Hospital for Children, (please specify Springfield), 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com