Lillian A. (Riopel) Authier, 86, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Saturday, June 4, 2011. She passed into Eternal Life from Holyoke Medical Center surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born at home in the Willimansett section of Chicopee on June 18, 1924, a beloved daughter of the late Avila J. B. and Emelda (Labrecque) Riopel. She was raised in Chicopee and attended local schools. She lived in Holyoke for many years before moving back to the Aldenville section of Chicopee where she resided for the past several years. She graduated from the former Beruby Rose Beauty Academy in Springfield and during her early years worked with her late sister, Loretta at Loretta's Beauty Salon on High Street in Holyoke. She later was an administrative assistant and worked with her son, Raymond at Realty World Authier in Chicopee which is now Coldwell Banker and retired in 2010. She was a 40 year communicant of the former Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Holyoke and currently a communicant of Sainte Rose de Lima Church in Chicopee. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Normand P. Authier who was Called Home on May 2, 1985; her loving son, Russell J. Authier who was Called Home on November 27, 1994; and her dear brother and sister, Raymond Riopel and Loretta Riopel. She leaves her loving sons, Robert N. Authier and his wife, Deborah of Harvard, MA and Raymond P. Authier and his wife, Nancy of Monson; her loving daughter-in-law, Melinda Authier of Chicopee; her seven cherished grandchildren, Christopher Authier, Laura Authier, James Authier, Craig Authier, Carrie Hamel and her husband, Kenneth, Russell Authier and Ryan Authier; her two cherished great grandchildren, Brielle and Alivia Hamel and several dear nieces and nephews including her special niece, Donna Desmarais of Chicopee. Her funeral will be held on Friday morning, June 10, 2011 beginning at the St. Pierre Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 9:15 a.m.) followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her burial will follow the Mass at Precious Blood Cemetery, Willimansett Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home in the Rose Chapel on Thursday, June 9, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Lillian requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020.
Published in The Republican on June 8, 2011