CHICOPEE – Arthur W. Bernier, Jr., 81, of the Sandy Hill section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, July 6, 2023. He passed into Eternal Life at home surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Brunswick, Maine on June 27, 1942, a beloved son of the late Arthur W. and Candide L. (Desrosier) Bernier. He was raised in Maine and later moved to Holyoke in 1955 with his family where he graduated from Holyoke High School. He later moved to Chicopee in 1965 where he lived the remainder of his life. He served his country in the United States Army during Desert Shield and Desert Storm and had served for his country for over 31 years of service, retiring from the United States Army Reserves with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer W4. He received the National Defense Service Medal with One Bronze Star, the Army Reserve Component Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Reserve Component Oversea Training Ribbon with Number Two, the Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Three Bronze Service Stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Armed Services Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Service Ribbon. He had worked at the Army Reserves Office on East Street in Springfield as the Staff Administrator and retired from the United States Army on February 3, 1996. Following his retirement, he worked as a Parts Driver for the former Menard & Holmberg, now Curry Honda, in Chicopee and later worked for the Balise Automotive Family. He was a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee and was a Life Member of the Association of the United States Army, the Warrant Officers Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the National Rifle Association, the Chicopee Tigers Athletic Club, the Chicopee Lodge of Elks 1849 and a Life Member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post 266 in Granby. During his leisure time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Carol A. (Lizak) Bernier. They were married on January 2, 1965 at the former Sacred Heart Church in Holyoke and were blessed with over 58 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Arthur W. Bernier III of Warren and Cynthia L. Laflamme of Brookfield; his two cherished granddaughters, Sarah A. Laflamme and Madison R. Laflamme; his dear sister, Anne Marie Theberge of Easthampton; his dear brother, Ronald E. Bernier and his wife, Jean, of Chicopee; his dear sister in law, Sophie Formaggioni of Agawam; his dear niece and four nephews; and his many extended family members and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear brother in law, James Formaggioni. His family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Funeral will be held on Thursday, July 13, 2023 beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com