Shirley A. Wells

DANIELSON — Shirley A. Wells, 89, formerly of Westfield Village, died April 13, 2015, at Davis Place. Born in 1925 in Royalston, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Eddie A. and Natalie J. (Smith) Wells.

Mrs. Wells worked as a private homemaker for many years. 

Shirley leaves her daughter Jennifer A. Ruggirello of Danielson; two grandchildren Nathaniel and Naomi Ruggirello. She was predeceased by all her brothers and sisters. 

Funeral services are private and under the direction of the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Charlotte Carter

POMFRET CENTER — Charlotte Dennett Carter, 91, of Pomfret Center died April 13, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was the wife of the late Vernon E. Carter. He died Sept.  5, 1999. 

Charlotte was born March 2, 1924 in Danielson, daughter of the late William and Sarah (Reddy) Dennett. The family moved to Dayville in 1926. Charlotte attended Killingly schools and graduated from Killingly High School in 1942. On June 30, 1945, Charlotte married Vernon E. Carter at St. Joseph Rectory in Dayville. She lived in Pomfret Center for the remainder of her life.

She leaves two daughters, Kathleen Lewis of Brooklyn and Peggy Burton of Pomfret Center; her two sons-in-law, Peter Lewis and Donald Burton Jr.; five grandchildren and their spouses, Melinda and Gregory Castanza, Peter Lewis Jr., Donald and Tracy Burton III, Michael Burton, Kelly and Douglas LaRose; great grandchildren are Cheyenne Gomes, Dakota Gomes, Anthony Gomes, Carter Castanza, Colten Castanza, Logan Burton, and Ashley Tremblay; sister Mary Gazzola; brother John Dennett. She was predeceased by her twin sons Robert Joseph Carter and Vernon Edward Carter and her brothers Robert Dennett and Edward Dennett. Visitation is from 1 to 2 p.m. April 17 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with a Funeral Service at 2 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: Recreational Fund, Pierce Memorial Baptist Home, 44 Canterbury Rd, Brooklyn, CT 06234. 

 

Carolyn Watson

PUTNAM — Carolyn (Emerson) Watson, 64, of Sabin St., died April 9, 2015, in UMass Hospital. She was the fiancé of Henry Davis. Born in 1950 in  Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Henry A. and Ellen M. (Perrotta) Emerson.

Mrs. Watson worked for more than 20 years as an optometrist’s assistant for Putnam Vision Center.  She was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary and enjoyed crafts, bird watching, painting, cooking, and gardening.  She especially loved spending time with her family, grandchildren and her dog “Missy.”  

In addition to her fiancé, she leaves her daughter, Laurie Rivard (Nicholas) of Sterling, Shanon Sabourin (James) of Thompson; her sister Sandra Ann Jarosz (John Jarosz Jr.) of Webster; her grandchildren, Joseph (Riley), Jocelyn, Logan, and Ryan.  She was predeceased by her daughter, Hope Emerson.

Visitation is from 9 to 11 a.m. April 16 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Webster.

 

Theresa Baillargeon

DANIELSON — Theresa R. Baillargeon, 87, of Danielson died April 12, 2015, at Westview Health Care Center in Dayville, She was born March 12, 1928, in Attawaugan,  daughter of the late Arthur and Janet (Chause) Derosier. She married Robert Baillargeon on Nov. 28, 1946, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Norwich he died in 2008.

Theresa was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson. She enjoyed yard sailing, dancing, country music, swimming, camping in Maine, UConn girls’ basketball and Elvis.

She leaves her children, Robert Baillargeon (Sharon) of Montana, Patricia Palladino (Vince) of Danielson, Janice Jastrezbski (Brian) of Danielson, Richard Baillargeon (Charlene) of Danielson, Linda Paradis (Rick) of Danielson;  her brother Arthur Derosier (Joan) of Danielson; 12 grandchildren, Julie, Bobbie, Michael, Stephen, Mona, Brian, Amanda, Jonathan, Amy, Christopher, Allen, and Amanda, 27 great-grandchildren. 

A Graveside Service will be at 10 a.m. April 20 in St. Joseph Cemetery, 350 Hartford Pike, Dayville. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Putnam. 

 

Margaret Ross 

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — Margaret Ellen Ross, Esq, 50, of Somerville, died April 9, 2015, after a brief illness.

Born in Princeton, N.J., she attended Woodstock Elementary School and The Rectory School in Pomfret, and was a graduate of the Williston Northampton School, Union College, and the Suffolk University Law School. She was a practicing attorney in Boston a dedicated family court advocate for youth and others in state custody  and was well-respected by her peers. Passionate about human rights, Margaret was an active member of Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty. Earlier in her career, she was a Program Coordinator at the Harvard School of Public Health. 

In her spare time, she enjoyed cooking, baking, and traveling. She brightened countless birthdays and holidays with creative confections carefully made for the people she loved. She was an avid bird watcher, a talented photographer, a music and history lover. She adored her feline companions. Margaret’s humor, generosity of spirit, and kindness will never be forgotten.  

Margaret was predeceased by her father, John M. Ross. She leaves her mother, Irene Ross of Woodstock; her brother and sister in-law David and Diane Ross of West Barnstable, Mass.; and her brother and sister in-law William and Eden Ross of Stow, Mass.; her niece, Caroline Ross of Washington, D.C.; nephew James Ross of Jackson, Wyo.; and nephews John and Samuel Ross of Stow.  

Donations: Judge Ireland Fund c/o Melissa Coury, 10 Hawthorne Road, Londonderry, NH 03053. A memorial service will be held for Margaret’s family and friends at a later date. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Alina Stack

PUTNAM — Alina Stack-Stakniene, 91, of Thurber Rd., died April 8, 2015, in Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Edward Stack. 

She was born in 1923 in Kaunas, Lithuania, the daughter of the late Dr. Juozas and Emilija (Leonaite) Pajaujis. Alina was raised in southern France, studied Lithuanian and Romance Pholology, Philosophy, Existentialism, and History of Art at the University of Vytautas D in Kaunas, Tubingen University in Germany (where she was one of the founders of the academic movement “Sviesa” and editor of the journal bearing its name), then completed a master’s degree in French literature at Columbia University (1949). She received a second master’s degree in informational sciences from St. John’s University in 1972.

Mrs. Stack-Stakniene taught foreign languages and library sciences as a teacher for the City of New York. She was editor of Lituanus Lithuanian Quarterly Journal, and contributed many articles to numerous Lithuanian periodicals “Literaturos Lankai”, “Akiraciai”, “Aidai”, “Draugas”, “Metai”, “Metmenys”, “Literatura ir Menas”.  She was a member of PEN, AABS, the Lithuanian Writers’ Society, and of the Institute of Lithuanian Studies. She enthusiastically appreciated music, art and poetry, loved nature and enjoyed being in the outdoors.

She leaves her daughters, Lillian Hayden (Frank) of Seaford, N.Y., and Audrey Stack of Falmouth, Maine; her sister, Danute Anonis of Rego Park, N.Y.; her grandchildren, Dawn Witman, Frank Hayden, and Christopher Staknys and her great grandchildren Olivia Witman, Ella Witman, and Charlotte Alina Hayden.

The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was April 14 in Transfiguration Church, Maspeth, N.Y. with burial in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Jean D. Swenson

BROOKLYN — Jean D. Swenson, 71, of Brooklyn died April 11, 2015.  Jean was born in 1943 in Hartford daughter of George F. and Ethelyn (Mount) Dickinson.  

She grew up in West Hartford, and later moved to Woodstock.  Jean worked for many years as a visiting nurse and supervisor for Community Health and Home Care in Pomfret.  She later worked as a nurse for the Eastconn Young Adult Program in Danielson, where she formed a strong bond with her students.  Jean enjoyed reading, nature, working in her yard.  Jean could often be seen walking the River Trail in Putnam and searching for sea glass at the Maine seashore.

She leaves three daughters and their families; daughter Lisa May O’Neill and her children Rose Mary and Olivia Jean of Belmont, Mass., daughter Kelly Jean (James) Tourtellotte and their children Lydia May and Alison Elizabeth of Putnam, daughter Elizabeth Jane (Hans) Rhynhart and their children Emma Elizabeth and Hans Gunther of Woodstock, her sister Janet Lee Dickinson of Everett, Mass., her niece R. Taeza Pittman and family, nephew Eric Pierce and wife, and dear friend Deb Williams.  She was predeceased by her son, Christopher George Swenson.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. April 19 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.  A graveside service will be held at noon April 20 in Elmvale Cemetery, Roseland Park Rd. Woodstock. Donations: To beautify the River Trail, c/o Putnam Parks & Recreation Dept., 126 Church St. Putnam, CT 06260; or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. 

 

Donald D. Gaston Jr.

Donald D. Gaston Jr.

PUTNAM --- Donald Gaston was born Sept. 18, 1947, in McAllen, Texas., to Barbara Mathes Gaston and Donald Gaston Sr. and died March 30, 2015, after battling with cancer for the last year.  

Don graduated from Lincoln High School in Des Moines, Iowa, earned his undergraduate degree at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and his master’s degree in education at UConn.

Don described himself as a social studies teacher, not a history teacher, and taught for 38 years in the Stafford Springs, and Somers school systems.  He loved inspiring students, teaching sociology, psychology, current affairs, law, philosophy, and occasionally ancient history.  He also advocated for teacher rights and represented teachers at both the local and state level.  He was elected to the CEA representative assembly where he served for many years on Membership Training.  He was also honored to be elected to many NEA national assemblies.  He retired from teaching in 2009, and did substitute teaching for a few years.  Much to his surprise, he found himself enjoying working at the middle school level and on a rare occasion with elementary school students. Don was also an active teacher in three Lutheran churches, and estimated once he had taught confirmation classes for about 30 years between St. Paul Lutheran in East Longmeadow, Mass.,  Holy Trinity in Stafford Springs, and St. John in Brooklyn.  Don also served on Church Council in Stafford and at St. John in varying capacities for many years. Don actively supported youth ministry, preparing pancake breakfasts, driving teens to Camp Calumet in Freedom, N.H., for youth retreats and confirmation camp and quietly sharing his faith.

Don’s interests included camping at Camp Calumet in after working on staff as the Family Campground Manager for three years in the 1970s.  He hiked 40 of the 44 4000 foot mountains in the White Mountains and climbed Mt Washington seven times.  He loved sailing on Lake Ossipee, especially with his dear friend Wayne, and watching for shooting stars at evening campfires  in the overflow field and at his site.

Another interest included travel.  Don loved to visit Walt Disney World and did so over 50 times.  His last visit was in  January 2015.  He rode Expedition Everest and Mission Space Orange.  He also watched the Patriots win the Superbowl on that  trip.  Don loved to cruise and watch the ocean from a balcony cabin. He always spotted the flying fish. He loved cheering on the Husky women’s basketball team and watched games with our gnomes Lena and Sven.

He leaves his wife Debra Gaston of Putnam; sons Andrew Gaston of Shrewsbury Mass, and Daniel Gaston of Southwick, Mass.; his daughter Alyssa Foster, and granddaughter Abby Foster of E Falmouth, Mass.; his brother Dwight Gaston of Donahue, Iowa.

A Memorial Service is at 11 a.m. April 18 at St. John Lutheran Church on Rt. 6, Brooklyn. Donations: Kids Care Outreach. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson. 

 

Gerald Rideout,

Korean war vet

WEBSTER — Gerald E. Rideout, 82, died April 7, 2015, at Lanessa Extended Care. 

He was born in Waite, Maine, son of the late Edmond and Allison (Holmes) Rideout. He was a U.S. Army Korean war veteran. He was a retired engineer working in the plastics industry for many years. He enjoyed golf. 

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Norma A. (Labelle) Rideout; a son Jerry E. Rideout of Chicopee, Mass.; two daughters Rhonda and her husband Paul Paradise of Woodstock and Kim Rideout of Torrington; a sister, Patricia Arthur of New Hampshire; five grandchildren and one great grandson. He was predeceased one sister Shirley Perkins.

Donations: Alzheimer’s Foundation. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

 

Cassedy Services

CHARLTON — Margot Q. Cassedy, 94 of Charlton, formerly of Woodstock, died Feb. 5, 2015. She was the wife of the late William A.T. Cassedy III.

A Memorial Service celebrating Margot’s life will be at 2 p.m. May 30 at the Woodstock Congregational Church, 543 Rt. 169, Woodstock. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Turenne Services

PUTNAM — Normand R. Turenne, 83, of Ballou Street, died Feb. 16, 2015. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. April 18 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence Street, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery with military honors. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Tetreault Services

PUTNAM — Gerald “Gerry” H. Tetreault, 89, of Putnam, died Jan. 16, 2015. He leaves his daughter Janice Tetreault and son-in-law Brian Krystof.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m.  April 25 in Grove Street Cemetery, Putnam. Arrangements by Smith and Walker Funeral Home, Putnam.

 

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