SOUTH HADLEY – Roger Gelinas, Born April 3, 1947 , passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday November 7th at Renaissance Manor in Holyoke. Roger was born in Holyoke, the son of Edmund and Albertine Paula Gelinas. He was a long-time resident and business owner in the town of South Hadley and a veteran of the United States Army. Always the life of the party, he was an entertainer, a practical joker, and a very thoughtful and generous friend. Roger loved cars, new and old, traveling, spending time in Maine in the summer, going to the casino, cooking for his friends and his family and was known for his signature dishes and cocktails. The Southern Comfort Manhattan was his favorite. Roger was predeceased by his father.  He leaves behind his mother, Paula Gelinas, his three children: Sherica Fagullar, Michael Gelinas and his wife, Erica, and Dionne Breton and her partner, Moe, his three siblings, John Gelinas and his wife, Pat, Michelle Gelinas and her husband, Justin, Jacqueline Perrot and her husband, Ed. He also leaves his grandchildren, Emily, Abigail, Frank, Reilly, Dan and Tyler, as well as Emily's husband, Nolan and son, Ashton, Dan's wife, Victoria and son, Henry. He also leaves aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and many good friends. He will be missed so much. A memorial service will be held in his name at 6:30 pm on Wednesday November 13 ^th at the Curran-O'Brien Funeral Home. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 4 to 6:30 pm . Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to   Renaissance Manor @ 279 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. At the suggestion of Roger's children, as a special thank you to the caring, compassionate staff at Renaissance Manor, for everything they did for Roger and his family during his final days, please consider making your donations in the form of (washable) baby dolls for residents of the nursing home. These dolls are soothing and therapeutic to many of their patients and will bring them a lot of joy and comfort, just as the entire staff did for Roger.