CHICOPEE – Zygmunt S. “Zig” Babski, 68, a longtime resident of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Saturday, June 11, 2016. He passed into Eternal Life at his home after a valiant battle with cancer, surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Menden, Germany on September 27, 1947, in a displaced person’s camp following World War II, a son of the late Tadeusz Babski and Lidia (Webert) Babski Paradziuk. He immigrated to the United States in 1953 where he was raised and graduated from Holyoke High School. He later received a Master’s Degree in Science from American International College in Springfield. Zig was employed as a Science Teacher for 35 years at the Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow and retired in 2006. Following his retirement from teaching, Zig worked part-time for the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield where he was a Gate Captain. During his teaching career, Zig was the Building Representative for many years at the Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow. He was also instrumental in starting The Model Rocketry Club at the school. He was a member of the Ludlow Teachers’ Association and the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association. In 2006, he received from the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, The Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. During his leisure time, Zig enjoyed woodworking and traveling the United States and abroad with his wife, Susan. He was a communicant of the former Saint Patrick Church in Chicopee and currently attended Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. Most of all, he was a loving husband and father who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection. He leaves his loving wife and soul mate, Susan M. (Fontaine) Babski. They were married on July 11, 1970 at Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and were blessed with nearly 46 years of happiness together. Besides his wife, he leaves his loving daughters, Beth A. Babski and her life partner, Jeremy Bissonnette, of Chicopee and Amy M. Bult and her husband, Darwin, of Mena, AR; his dear sister, Regina Retynsky of East Longmeadow; his dear sisters-in-law, Mary Babski of South Hadley and Elaine DeLeonardis and her husband, Robert, of Chicopee; his dear father-in-law, George J. Fontaine of Chicopee; and his many nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and extended members of the Babski and Fontaine families. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, Edmund Babski; his dear brother-in-law, Ivan Retynsky; and his beloved mother-in-law, Georgette Z. (Lambert) Fontaine who was Called Home earlier this year. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, June 17, 2016 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 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 Thursday, June 16, 2016 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. Because of Zig’s longtime commitment to children, his family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to children suffering from life threatening diseases. Please make your donation to the Baystate Medical Center, Children’s Miracle Network, 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com