CHICOPEE - Donald O. Pare, 92, a longtime resident of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, May 4, 2024. He passed into Eternal Life at the Veterans' Home of Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family, his wonderful caregivers and his Comrades-at-Arms at the Veterans’ Home. He was born at home in Chicopee on September 12, 1931 a beloved son of the late Aurore (LaBrecque) Pare and the late Wilfred Pare. He was raised in the Willimansett section of Chicopee and graduated from the former Mount Carmel Elementary School and Chicopee High School. He lived in Willimansett for many years before moving to Fairview in 1965. Donald furthered his education and received a Bachelor Degree in Business from American International College in Springfield. He served his country by enlisting into the United States Navy on January 9, 1951 and attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. He earned the highest rank of YN1. He did three tours to the Middle East during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Duxbury Bay AVP 38. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Following his military service, Donald was employed for 32 years and retired as a Manager for Employee Relations at the former Moore Drop Forge Company in 1987. He was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. He was a member of the American Legion Post 353 in Willimansett and a former member of the Chicopee Lodge of Elks 1849 and the Fairview Council 4044 Knights of Columbus. Most of all he loved spending time with his family and his many friends. He was predeceased by his beloved wife and soul mate, Dolores R. (Beaulieu) Pare. They were married on November 22, 1956 at the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Willimansett and were blessed with over 61 years of happiness together. He leaves his five loving children, Lynette Broders and her husband, Richard, of Windsor, CT, Donna Lemay of Granby, Denise Walker and her husband, Jeff, of Belchertown, Tiger Pare and his wife, Eileen, of Chicopee, and David Pare and his wife, Stacey, of Belchertown; his ten cherished grandchildren, Sarah, Ryan, Leah, Janelle, Justin, Jared, CJ, Kyle, Noah, and Rylee; his four cherished great-grandchildren, Charley, Abigail, Christopher and Jameson; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended family members. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his dear brother, Leonard Pare and his wife, Constance, his three dear sisters, Rita Hebert and her husband, Woodrow, Loretta Pare and Marcella Lupien and her husband, Roland; and his dear sister-in-law, Anita Durand and her husband, Roland. He spent the final few years of his life in the 2 North wing of The Veterans’ Home of Holyoke, where their mission statement of ‘providing the highest quality personal health care services to Massachusetts veterans with dignity, honor, and respect’ was visibly evident every time his children visited. His family will receive friends on Monday, May 20, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with US Navy Military Honors will follow the Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. His family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Veterans’ Home of Holyoke, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com