William "Bill" J. Larochelle

William J. LaRochelle                                                      1946-2009 CHICOPEE- William "Bill" John LaRochelle, 62, a long time Chicopee resident and formerly of Springfield, entered into eternal rest on Monday June 22, 2009, in Mercy Medical Center. Bill was born in Springfield on September 8, 1946 a son of the late Freeman G. and Eunice E. (Jackson) LaRochelle. He attended Springfield schools and graduated from the former Springfield Trade High School. Bill was employed as an office manager at Water Works Supply Company. He was a member of the Chicopee Falls Tiger A.C. Bill was an avid Boston Bruins and Red Sox fan. He was very active in his children's and grandchildren's youth activities. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Cathy R. (Veroneau) LaRochelle; four cherished children, Steve J. and his wife Tammy, Lisa M. Pierog and her husband Matthew, Robert F. and his wife Melissa, all of Chicopee, and Hollie E. Sheckler and her husband Eric "Shecky" of West Springfield; he was known as "Papa" to 11 adored grandchildren, Sevonnah, Mackenzie "Molly", Hunter, Landon, Griffin, Corinne, and Jake LaRochelle, Nick and Morgan Pierog, and Jack and Luke Sheckler; a brother, Richard LaRochelle, of Kinderhook, NY; three sisters, Barbara Schelb and Margo Hamel, both of Chicopee, and Donna Belanger of Maryland; a brother and sister-in-law, Becky and Bill Washburn of Agawam; special friends, Al and Moe Geoffroy and Bob Barile; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, Francis and Elizabeth Veroneau, and three brothers-in-law, Robert Schelb, Don Hamel, and Ed Veroneau. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 26th beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway St., with a Liturgy of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. in St. Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan St., both in Chicopee. Burial will be private. Bill's family will receive relatives and friends at the visiting hours on Thursday, June 25th from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In memory of Bill's mother-in-law Elizabeth Veroneau, memorial contributions may be made to the Westfield State Foundation, c/o Westfield State College, 577 Western Ave., Westfield, MA 01085, or in memory of his father, Freeman LaRochelle to the Springfield Firefighters Local 648, c/o the Springfield Fire Department, 605 Worthington St., Springfield, MA 01101. For directions, online guestbook and condolences, please visit www.tylunasfuneralhome.com .