SOUTH HADLEY – Rene W. Barthelette, Sr., 96, of Hubert Place in South Hadley and a longtime resident of New Ludlow Road in the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Friday, July 3, 2020. He passed into Eternal Life at home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born at home on North East Street in Holyoke on December 29, 1923, a beloved son of the late Arthur and Alexina (Loiselle) Barthelette. He was raised in Holyoke where he attended Perpetual Help Elementary School, moved to the Fairview section of Chicopee in 1946 and has been a resident of South Hadley since 2009. He served his country during World War II in the United States Army in the Military Police Company, attained the rank of Private and received the World War II Victory Medal. He was the owner and operator for many years of Barthelette Moving and Storage on New Ludlow Road in Chicopee. He was a Charter Member of the Fairview Knights of Columbus Council 4044 in Chicopee and was instrumental in the purchase of the current building, the Castle of Knights Meeting and Banquet House on Memorial Drive where he served as a Past President of the Home Association. He was one of the first Past Grand Knights of the Council and was a Former District Deputy. He was very proud to have been involved in establishing the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Council where they served thousands of meals over the years. He was a member and Past Faithful Navigator of the Archbishop Williams Assembly of the Fourth Degree, now the Bishop Joseph F. Maguire Assembly 2670. Active in his Catholic faith, Rene was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee where he served as an usher and greeter and was a Eucharistic Minister at the very first Mass of the church. Above all, he was a loving man who enjoyed spending time with his family and his many friends. He was predeceased by his beloved first wife, Stella H. (Robillard) Barthelette. He leaves his beloved second wife, Lucille A. (Philibert) Roy Barthelette; his five loving children, Ronald R. Barthelette and his wife, Jacquelyn, of South Hadley, Carol A. O’Donnell and her husband, Thomas, of Conway, SC, Kenneth E. Barthelette and his wife, Christine, of Fryeburg, ME, Bruce D. Barthelette and his wife, Ann, of South Hadley and Rene W. Barthelette, Jr. of Springfield; his seven cherished grandchildren, Ronald Barthelette, Jr., Keith Barthelette and his wife, Pam, Chrissy Lever and her husband, Brian, Debra O’Donnell Cohen and her husband, Bob, Thomas O’Donnell, Jr. and his wife, Christine, Katie Cuscovitch and her husband, Alex, and Lauren Barthelette; his many cherished great grandchildren; his five dear step-children, Mark Roy and his wife, Karen, Kevin Roy and his wife, Linda, Gerard Roy, Brian Roy and Nicole Roy Gaylor; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, extended members of the Barthelette, Robillard and Roy families and numerous friends. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was predeceased by his thirteen brothers and sisters. His family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (please note that social distancing must be observed, masks are required and capacity is limited to 40% due to Massachusetts regulations). His burial will follow the Mass with United States Army Military Honors at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. There are no visiting hours at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus Scholarship Fund, 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com