CHICOPEE – It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Jeff, 78, of Chicopee, who was Called Safely Home on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2025 after courageously battling two cancers. Jeff was born in Holyoke, the oldest of five children of the late Jeffrey R. and Cecile S. (Davignon) Paquette. He lived in Holyoke until the age of seven when the family moved to Chicopee. He was a 1964 graduate of Chicopee Comprehensive High School and was drafted right away to the military, 314th Airlift Wing Troop Carrier Squadron, completing a four-year tour of duty as an armament systems technician and tactical aircraft mechanic on C-130E carriers in Vietnam and Taiwan. Jeff honorably served his country and was fiercely proud of his military service. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Service Medal, and attained the rank of Airman First Class. Jeff had a fascination for things with engines, particularly motorcycles, planes, and classic cars – things that move fast while making a lot of noise! He built two lightweight planes and was an aviation and classic car enthusiast, and enjoyed attending area summertime cruise nights as well as playing golf and riding his Harley. He greatly enjoyed weekly breakfasts and lunches with his friends and fellow veterans. Jeff was previously employed at the U.S. Post Office and more recently at Atlas Copco Compressors (formerly Worthington Pump) in Holyoke for 37 years before retirement in 2005. He was a longtime communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee. He leaves his wife of 47 years, Janet (Grimaldi) Paquette of Chicopee; three children, Coulette Lioce and her husband, Luca, of Loxahatchee, FL, Tami Cote and her husband, Scott, of South Hadley, and Matthew Paquette and his wife, Jackie, of Belchertown; five cherished grandchildren, Duilio and Russell Lioce, Morgan Cote, and Matthew and Nicholas Paquette; two dear sisters, Linda Cheatle of Holbrook and Susan Koske (Steve) of South Hadley; two brothers, Norman Paquette (Michele) of Lake Mary, FL and Robert Paquette (Kathy) of Belchertown; his brother-in-law, Tom Grimaldi of Huntington; his nieces, Kristen O’Brien (Mike), Julie Rerucha (Corey), Lisa Brierly (Ben), and Shannon Paquette (Jaime); and his nephews, Lance Koske (Jen), Corey Koske (Emily), Dylan Koske (Amanda), Jamie Paquette (Tracy); and extended family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his dear niece, Tracy Cheatle. His Funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 beginning at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends to share a laugh, a story, or a memory and bid farewell to Jeff on Monday, April 28, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral home parking lot is located in the rear. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com