CHICOPEE ~ Raymond P. “Ray” Hamel, 71, of the Willimansett section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, January 17, 2019. He passed into Eternal Life at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Palmer on October 12, 1947, a son of the late Gerald R. and Therese M. (LaFleur) Hamel. He graduated from Holyoke Catholic High School and lived in Chicopee since 1958. He served his country during the Vietnam War in the United States Air Force and attained the rank of Sergeant. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. He was employed for 46 years and last worked in the Shipping and Receiving Department at Sonoco Paper Products in Holyoke and retired in 2012. He was a loyal New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox fan. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Jeanne M. (Boyer) Hamel. They were married on December 17, 1966 at the former Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Chicopee and were blessed with over 52 years of happiness together. He also leaves his loving daughter, Barbara J. Hamel of Chicopee; his loving son, Scott A. Hamel of Springfield; his cherished grandson, Andrew C. Easton and his wife, Carly; his two cherished great-granddaughters, Madelynn and Harper Easton; his three dear sisters, Rena Tkacz and her husband, Marty, and Jackie O’Malley and her husband, Harold, all of Holyoke, and Marcie Barrows and her husband, John, of East Longmeadow; his dear brother, Paul Hamel and his wife, Joanne, of California; and his many dear brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Hamel and Boyer families. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his dear brother, Roger Hamel; and his dear sister, Jeanne Cellini. His Funeral will be held on Friday, January 25, 2019 at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, 413-532-9806, 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 11 a.m.), with a Prayer Service to take place at the funeral home at 12 Noon. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Prayer Service at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, January 24, 2019 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. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in Ray’s memory to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, 170 Pendexter Avenue, Chicopee, MA 01013. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com