Roger E. J. Roy, 85, a resident of Warren, Rhode Island, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, August 11, 2018. He passed into Eternal Life at Hope Hospice in Providence, Rhode Island surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers.

He was born in Holyoke on September 5, 1932, a beloved son of the late Wilfrid and Aurore (Giroux) Roy. He was raised in Holyoke, graduated from the former Holy Rosary High School and lived in the city until he moved in the early 1940’s with his family to Gladdu Avenue in the Fairview section of Chicopee.

Roger served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Corporal. Upon his return from military service, he was employed for 21 years for the former William E. Carter Company in Springfield, Massachusetts and then as a Textile Engineer at the Premier Thread Company in Bristol, Rhode Island until he retired in 1998.

Roger was a sports enthusiast and avid golfer, but most of all, he was a hard-working quiet man who loved his family and his many friends. He was a long-time communicant of Saint Anne Church in Chicopee and currently a communicant of Saint Mary of the Bay Church in Warren, Rhode Island.

He leaves his beloved wife and soul mate, Gloria A. (Paul) Roy. They were married on May 30, 1953 at Saint Anne Church in Chicopee and raised their five children on Lombard Street in the Fairview section of Chicopee, until moving to Rhode Island in 1974. Roger and Gloria were blessed with over 65 years of happiness together.

Besides his wife, he leaves his four devoted children, Michael J. Roy and his wife, Judith, of Belchertown, Jerome R. Roy of Chicopee, Elaine M. Crellin and her husband, Andrew, of Barrington, RI, and Dennis E. Roy and his husband, Ty Kadoli, of Long Beach, CA; his nine cherished grandchildren, Eric Roy and his wife, Kathreen, Jeffrey Roy and his wife, Christine, Daniel Roy and his partner, Allison, Emily (Roy) Jackson, Hillary Roy and her fiancé, Kenneth, Matthew Roy, Jackson Crellin and his fiancée, Nicole, Alex Crellin, and Elise Crellin and her partner, Dakota; his ten cherished great grandchildren, Justin, Luke and Charlotte Roy, Ethan and Hazel Roy, Noah, Samuel and Henry Jackson, Landen Towsley, and Loretta Silva; his dear sister, Rita Sarad of Wilbraham; his three dear brothers, Norman Roy and his wife, Barbara, of Holyoke, Ernest Roy and wife, Nancy, and Donald Roy and his wife, Irene, all of Chicopee; his dear sister-in-law, Linda Roy of Chicopee; and his many dear brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, numerous friends and extended members of the Roy and Paul families. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his loving son, Steven P. Roy who was Called Home on February 1, 2015; his dear sister, Yvonne Benoit; and his dear brother, Rene A. Roy who was Called Home on December 15, 2017.

His Funeral will be held on Friday morning, August 17, 2018 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Fairview Chapels (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Saint Anne Church, 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Burial with United States Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at Notre Dame Cemetery, 63 Lyman Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. His family will receive friends on Friday morning, August 17, 2018 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. before the Mass.

If desired, his family requests that memorial donations be made in lieu of flowers to Hope Hospice, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. For more details, please visit www.stpierrephaneuf.com.