Rene F. Belanger

Now you walk so bravely, you feel the pain no more, Angels have come to guide you and bring you to heaven’s door. Rene F. Belanger, 89, of Holyoke passed away peacefully on November 24, 2021 at UMASS Memorial Medical Center. Rene is now reunited with his lovely wife Janet (Peck) Belanger who predeceased him on June 29, 2021 after 64 years of marriage. Rene was born August 28, 1932 in Chicopee, MA to the late Joseph A. and Marie Rose (Menard) Belanger. Rene graduated from Saint Jerome High School in 1949 and went on to work at the former Holyoke Savings Bank where he met his wife Janet Peck. They were married on July 13, 1957. Rene was a Veteran of the Korean War.  He earned the rank of Corporal in United States Army. He served from 1953-1955 at Fort Devens and Fort Dix. Rene went on to attend Western New England College on the GI Bill where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Engineering in 1962. During this time he worked at American Bosch. Upon graduation he was employed as a Design Engineer for United Technologies Hamilton Standard Division until his retirement in 1993. Rene is survived by his four children Rene D. Belanger, his wife Mary of Alexandria, Virginia; Sandra A. Belanger and Thomas J. Belanger both of Holyoke; and Patricia S. Wolohan, her husband Daniel of Shrewsbury, MA, and his brother Donald V. Belanger of Chicopee, MA. Rene also leaves a niece and 2 nephews. Seven grandchildren Danielle (Belanger) Unser, her husband Joshua; Joshua, Zachary, and Rene Luke all of Virginia; along with Matthew, Patrick and Brendan Wolohan all of Shrewsbury. One great grandson Paxton Unser. Besides his wife Janet, Rene was predeceased by his sister Lorraine (Belanger) Rochford, nephew William Rochford III and grandchildren Megan and Madison Wolohan. The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 4 at 9:00 am from the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street. Burial will follow in Saint Jerome Cemetery. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday, December 3rd from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rene’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104. The Family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff at UMASS Memorial Medical Center 3 ICU for all your compassion, kindness and loving care you provided to our Father during his last few days. You are all true Angels of Mercy!

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