Obituary of Paul W. Chartier

" Paul W. Chartier, 62, lost his courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, with his family by his side. He was born December 29, 1946 in Holyoke, MA, and was the son of the late Wilfred A. Chartier and Yvette (Chartier) Galanek. Paul retired from Friendly Ice Cream Corp after a thirty year career and retired in 2008 from Decorated Products in Westfield, MA. He was a communicant of St. Anne's Church in Chicopee. Paul grew up in Chicopee and was a graduate of Chicopee Comprehensive High School subsequently earning his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America in what was formerly the Pioneer Valley Council and earned many district and council awards including the highest award given on a council level, the Silver Beaver. He headed up several council camporees, one combined camporee with another council and led a troop to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He served on the staff for multiple national jamborees along with leading a troop from the Pioneer Valley Council in 1985. He was a Vigil Member of the former Allogogan Lodge of the Boy Scouts of America and attended several national Order of the Arrow conferences. He lead many training events in the council and was on staff for several others. After his scouting days were over, Paul enjoyed collecting Boy Scout memorabilia, fishing off of Block Island in his boat, and spending time at the shore in Rhode Island with his friends and family. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4044 in Chicopee, MA. Paul leaves behind his devoted wife of 41 years, Linda (Ducharme), his three sons, Trevor and his wife Lisa, Todd and his spouse Phillip, and Jason and his fiancee Reghan Garton all of Chicopee. He will also be missed by his two brothers Gregory Galanek and his wife Marie of Belchertown and Douglas Galanek and his wife Barbara of Wilbraham. He also leaves behind his best friend and the love of his life, his grandson Aidan and several nieces and nephews. Friends and family may gather on Monday at 9:00 a.m. at Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton Street (Rte 116), to process to St. Anne's Church in Chicopee for a 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass. Burial service with military honors will follow at the Mass. Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St. in Agawam. Calling hours will be Sunday, March 1, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Attn: Contribution Services, 10 Brookline Place West – 6th floor, Brookline, MA, 02445-7226 or to the VNA & Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, 168 Industrial Drive, Northampton, MA 01060. "