CHICOPEE ~ John Marnelakis, 76, of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, July 7, 2019. He passed into Eternal Life at his beloved home in Chicopee surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving wife and family. He was born in the Village of Kandanos, Crete, Greece on October 8, 1942, a beloved son of the late George Marnelakis and Anna (Xenakis) Marnelakis Hatzakis. He immigrated to the United States on October 31, 1953 and settled in Springfield where he graduated from the former Springfield Technical High School in 1963. Following high school, he served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and attained the rank of Specialist Fifth Class. Following his military service, John furthered his education and received a certificate from the LaBarron Hairdressing Academy in Springfield. He owned and operated John’s Hair Fashions on Allen Street in Springfield and later relocated as Hair 2000 on Main Street in Indian Orchard. John loved being outdoors - gardening, golfing, fishing and hunting. He was fearless, compassionate, generous and helped anyone who was in need. He was a born leader and member of the Minos Cretan Association and the President for over 20 years of the AHEPA Altis Chapter 85. Active in his Orthodox faith, John was a communicant of Saint Luke Greek Orthodox Church in East Longmeadow. Most of all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who adored his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Carol Mancz Marnelakis. They were married on February 13, 1987 in Miami, Florida and were blessed with over 32 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving daughters, Alexie Westerfield and her husband, John, of Winchester, MA and Lainie Driscoll and her husband, Mark, of Boston; his three cherished grandchildren, William and Callie Westerfield and Zoe Driscoll; his two loving sisters, Kathy Kambourakis and her husband, Kostas, of Crete, Greece and Ellen Hatzakis and her husband, Michael Schoenberg, of East Longmeadow; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended members of the Marnelakis and Mancz families. His family would like to thank the staff members at Beacon Hospice who so lovingly cared for John during his illness. His relatives and friends are invited to meet on Friday morning, July 12, 2019 at 9 a.m. (please meet directly at the church) at Saint Luke Greek Orthodox Church, 400 Prospect Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. His Committal Service with United States Army Military Honors will follow the funeral service at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends on Thursday, July 11, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint Luke Greek Orthodox Church, 400 Prospect Street, East Longmeadow, MA 01028 or to the scholarship funds of the Cretan Association, 35 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 and the AHEPA, PO Box 1393, Chicopee, MA 01021-1393. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com