Gerald R. Hamel

Gerald R. Hamel
1926-2009
CHICOPEE- Gerald “Jerry” R. Hamel, 83, passed away on Friday April 3, 2009. He was born in Springfield on January 8, 1926, a son of the late Albert and Lydia (Leterneau) Hamel. Jerry was a member and manager of the former American Legion Post 353 in Willimansett. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 438. Jerry was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, serving aboard the USS LST 1059, and received the WWII Victory Medal, American Area Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Area Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal. He was an avid Boston Red Sox Fan. Jerry is survived by his six children, Raymond P. and his wife Jeanne of Chicopee, Jeanne L. Cellini and her husband Mario of Landolakes, FL, Rena M. Tkacz and her husband Marty of Holyoke, Paul A. and his wife Joann of Merced, CA, Jacqueline A. O’Malley and her husband Harold of Holyoke, and Marcel A. Barrows and her husband John of East Longmeadow; his former wife, Therese (LaFleur) Hamel of Chicopee; a sister, Loretta Sarrasin of Ludlow; 14 grandchildren; 18great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. Jerry was predeceased by a son, Roger C. Hamel; a granddaughter, Kimberly Hamel; a brother, Morris Hamel; and four sisters, Lillian St. Onge, Georgianna Savoie, Yvette Begley and Irene Roberts. A funeral home service will be held on Wednesday April 8th at 9:30 a.m. in the Brunelle Funeral Home, 811 Chicopee St., Chicopee, with Rites of Committal to follow in the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 1390 Main St., Agawam. Jerry’s family will receive relatives and friends at the visiting hours on Tuesday April 7th from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes association, 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 105, Middletown, CT 06457 or American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.