SOUTH HADLEY – Rudolph S. Marek, Jr., 92, of South Hadley, was Called Safely Home on Monday, July 31, 2023. He passed into Eternal Life at Holyoke Medical Center in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born at home in Chicopee on June 14, 1931, a beloved son of the late Rudolph S. Marek, Sr. and Stella (Skrobat) Marek. He was raised in Chicopee, graduated from Chicopee High School and had moved to South Hadley in 1972 where he lived the remainder of his life. He served his country in the United States Navy during Korean War aboard the USS Vulcan and attained the rank of Teleman Petty Officer Third Class. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was employed as an Expeditor at Cascade Diamond in Palmer and had previously worked for the Fuller Brush Company and the Charlie Chip Franchise. He was a communicant of Saint Theresa of Lisieux Church in South Hadley. During his leisure time, he enjoyed Intarsia Italian Woodworking, listening to Polish music and polka dancing, playing Penny Ante Poker with his friends and at the South Hadley Senior Center and was an avid golfer and longtime member of the Mill Valley Country Club in Belchertown. Above all, he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Donna L. (Fitzgerald) Marek. They were married on October 29, 1966 at Saint Stanislaus Church in West Warren and were blessed with over 56 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Rudolph S. Marek III and his wife, Traci, of Palmer and Kellie L. Reed and her husband, William, of South Hadley; his five cherished grandsons, Rudolph S. Marek IV, Joseph E. Marek and his wife, Jamie, Jacob C. Marek, Alec W. Reed and Benjamin H. Reed; his sister in law, Dorothy Marek of Pennsylvania; his brother in law, Edward Fitzgerald and his wife, Elaine, of Virginia; his two nephews, Richard Marek, Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Pennsylvania and Brent Fitzgerald and his wife, Brittany, of Virginia; and his many extended family members and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Richard W. Marek, Sr. who was Called Home on June 5, 2022. His family will receive friends on Friday, August 4, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The funeral home parking lot is located in the rear. His Funeral will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023 beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Saint Theresa of Lisieux Church, 9 East Parkview Drive, South Hadley, MA 01075. His Burial with United States Navy Military Honors will follow the Mass at Saint Mary Cemetery, South Road, Ware, MA 01082. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, PO Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com