CHICOPEE – Theofany “Theo” Georges, 94, a longtime resident of Chicopee, passed peacefully on Friday, July 22, 2016. He was born in Chicopee on July 25, 1921, a beloved son of the late Louis and Anna (Banas) Georges. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated from Belcher Elementary School and the former Chicopee Trade High School and was a lifelong resident of Chicopee. Following high school, he was hired as a machinist by Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut. He took a leave of absence from Pratt & Whitney in 1943 to join the Merchant Marines and served until the end of World War II. He worked as a Fireman, Waterman, Oiler, Junior Engineer and lastly as a Deck Engineer. While serving his country, he traveled throughout the North Atlantic where more than1,500 cargo ships were sunk by many German U-Boats taking the lives of over 9,000 men. He served aboard many ships including the Adolph Sutro, the Thomas Hart Benton, the Irvin MacDowell, the S.S. John Davey, the S.S. Cape Meares, the S.S. Sea Snipe and the S. S. Jean P. Chouteau. The purpose of these ships was to supply military cargo to the troops. As there were no weapons on board these ships and their top speeds were eight to 12 miles per hour, they were easy targets for the German U-Boats. Theo was one of the lucky ones who survived. On his last journey, he traveled south around North America to the Pacific Ocean and arrived in California. He was discharged from the Merchant Marines in 1946 at the end of the War and purchased a 1936 Ford which he drove all the way back to Chicopee. Upon returning home, Theo resumed his employment at Pratt & Whitney. The company was good to him and decided to count his years in the Merchant Marines as time worked. He was promoted from Machinist, to Lead Machinist, to Foreman and lastly to General Foreman, a position he held for ten years before retiring after 40 years with the company. For the past two years, Theo resided at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke where he made many new friends and was actively involved in many of their activities. On June 19, 2016, Theo was one of the World War II Veterans at the Soldiers’ Home selected to attend an Honor Flight to Washington, DC. He was blessed to have a wonderful caregiver, Scott Duseau, LPN from the Soldiers’ Home who accompanied him and attended to his personal and medical needs. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, soul mate and World War II Coast Guard Veteran Seaman First Class, Lillian L. (Masse) Georges who passed peacefully on December 5, 2014. They were married on May 31, 1947 at the former Saint George Church in Chicopee Falls and were blessed with over 67 years of happiness together. He leaves his two devoted sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald T. Georges and his wife, Elaine, of Chicopee and Donald R. Georges and his wife, Lucy, of Granby; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Georges and Masse families. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his brother and four sisters. His relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6 p.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Military Honors will be private for his family at Sainte Rose Cemetery in Chicopee. Because of the wonderful care and dignity that Theo received from the entire staff, his family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Activity Fund at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com