Albert O. GUERTIN

CHICOPEE - Albert O. Guertin, 85, of the Fairview section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Thursday February 24, 2005. He was employed for 38 years as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in Holyoke. He served his country in the United States Army Air Corps with the 59th Fighter Squadron during World War II and attained the rank of Sergeant. He served in the battles of India Burma and China Central Burma. He received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, the American Theater Campaign Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. He was born in Holyoke on May 3, 1919 a beloved son of the late Leonard E. and Azilda R. (Masse) Guertin. He was raised in Holyoke and graduated in 1938 from Holyoke High School. He moved to the Fairview section of Chicopee in 1954. He was a communicant of Saint Anne Church in Fairview and a former communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Holyoke. He was a member and past treasurer for 25 years of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 379. He was a member and past finance officer of the American Legion Paper City Post 325, a life member of the Holyoke Lodge of Elks 902 and a member of the Friends of the Chicopee Senior Citizens. He was also a longtime volunteer van driver for the South Hadley Council on Aging and supervised their monthly newsletter called the "Golden Chronical". He was predeceased by his beloved wives, Pauline (Cuomo) Guertin, who was Called Home on September 2, 1997 and Juliette V. (Crevier) Guertin, who was Called Home on January 10, 2001. He leaves his loving aunt, Hazel Masse of Holyoke and his cherished friends, Phyllis A. Morin and Ronald and Lorraine Coulombe, all of Fairview with whom he lived. His funeral will be held Tuesday morning, March 1, 2005 at 10 a.m. from the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels (Phaneuf-Blais) 506 Britton Street in Chicopee followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street in Fairview. His burial will follow the Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street in South Hadley. His family will receive friends at the funeral home in the Fairview Chapel on Monday, February 28, 2005 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot is located in the rear of the funeral home. For those who prefer to make a memorial donation, they may be made in his memory to Hospice Life Care, 28 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701. Published in The Republican on 2/26/2005.