CHICOPEE – John H. Courtney, 88, of the Sandy Hill section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, July 22, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Wingate at West Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on September 13, 1929, the beloved son of the late John Michael Courtney and Catherine Rose (Ashley) Courtney. John was raised in South Hadley Falls before moving to Holyoke with his family in 1942. He graduated from Holyoke High School in 1947. John furthered his education and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge and the Andover School of Business. He served his country during the Korean War in the United States Army as part of the 24th Signal Service Battalion and attained the rank of Corporal. He was stationed in the Arctic where he manned a Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line Radar Station. John was employed at American Pad and Paper Company (AMPAD) in Holyoke for over 40 years. He began as a stockman and was eventually promoted to the position of Production and Inventory Manager. A frequent business traveler, John oversaw manufacturing plants and warehouses in four different states. He was a Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). He held several offices in the Western Massachusetts Chapter of APICS and served as the Chapter President for a period of time during the 1980’s. When AMPAD restructured in 1993, John went on to work at MicroTech in Chicopee as their Office Manager until his retirement in 2000 at the age of 71. In his youth, John was passionate about photography, woodworking and gardening. In his later life, he took an interest in genealogy and researching his family history. He made a special visit to County Kerry, Ireland in 1997 to learn more about his Irish roots. Active in his Catholic faith, John was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. He participated in the Parish Bible Study from 2002-2015 and completed the Alpha Retreat in 2012. He faithfully attended the Springfield Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference. Many Chicopee residents recognized John by his colorful jackets celebrating his favorite sports teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. John was predeceased by his beloved wife, Irene Edna (Menard) Courtney. He leaves his two loving children, John Scott Courtney and Joy Ellen (Courtney) Corey and her husband, Paul; his three cherished grandchildren, Ian, Catherine and Laurelin; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Courtney, Ashley and Menard families. His Funeral will be held on Friday, July 27, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Burial will follow the Mass at Saint Jerome Cemetery, 1666 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, July 26, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located at the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, c/o 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020.For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com