'Wreaths' ceremonies

Dec. 12 men, women, and children will gather together to honor veterans during the holiday season as part of the annual Wreaths Across America Day.

The Sarah Williams Danielson DAR Chapter has volunteered to conduct the WAA ceremony this year at the Brooklyn, Pomfret, Scotland, Thompson and Woodstock Veterans’ Monuments at noon Dec. 12. Seven ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember all soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who served, honor their sacrifices, and teach our younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms.  (There will be a placement of wreaths at Davis Park in Killingly, but no public ceremony.)

Specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at over 1,000 participating locations all across the country.

 

 

John S. Ducharme

N. GROSVENORDALE — John S. Ducharme, 69, of Central St., died Dec. 3, 2015, in St. Francis Hospital.  He was the husband of Tina (Green) Ducharme. 

Born in 1946 in London, England, he was the son of the late Louis and Patricia (Clark) Ducharme. 

Mr. Ducharme worked as an auto body mechanic for Toutant Auto Body and previously worked as an excavator for Percy Gioux.  He was an EMT and a fire police officer for the Community Fire Department. He loved calling bingo at St. Joseph Church bingo, fishing, collecting Model trains, video games, seal coating, and making model cars.  He was known to be a “Jack of all Trades.”

In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughters, Melissa Baumuller (Robert) of Putnam, and Robin Gosselin (Mark) of Thompson; his brother, James Ducharme of Pascoag; his grandchildren, Stephanie, Stacey, Jacquelyn, Nicole, Marky, Danielle, Ryan, Michael-Ann, Kori-Lynn, Joshua, and Tyler; his great-grandchildren, Tianna, Jordan, Jadelyn, Cohen, Ivan, and Brycen: and his former wife Elaine Ducharme of Thompson.  

Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. 

 

Richard L. Mahan Jr.

DANIELSON — Richard L. Mahan Jr., 71, of Danielson, died Nov. 28, 2015, at home. He was born on Jan. 4, 1944, in Worcester, son of the late Richard L. Mahan Sr. and Ruth G. (Sturtevant) Mahan.

Richard drove tractor trailer for many years. He retired from Frito-Lay after 17 years and he was a member of the Million Mile Club. He enjoyed spending time with his family, watching NASCAR Racing and was an honorary Target Team Member. He loved to help people including being a foster parent, donating to the local shelter and the American Heart Association. He also rescued animals.

Richard graduated from Worcester Boys’ Trade High School as an Auto Mechanic and enjoyed working on projects in his garage and spending time with the best dog he never owned, Bear. 

He leaves his wife of 31 years, Marcy Mahan; his sisters; Ruth Cole, Lois Pirani (Ronnie); his children; Joseph Mahan, Sandra Mahan-Niford, Scott Mahan (Dorene), Kelly Mahan; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

There were no services. Donations: He asks those he knew to pay it forward and help someone else out by making a donation to a local shelter. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Timothy Benson

THOMPSON — Timothy Benson, 45, died Dec. 5, 2015, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester.

He was born Oct. 7, 1970, in Thompson, son of Frank E. Benson Sr. of Thompson and the late Patricia M. Benson (Rogers). She died in 1992. 

Timothy held various employment as machine operators over the years and had a passion for refinishing antique furniture. He loved fishing, cooking and music.

In addition to his father he leaves two sons Patrick Benson of Webster, and Travis Benson of Thompson, and was predeceased by their mother Lisa Russell Berger in 1998. He also leaves a brother Frank E. Benson Jr. of Thompson; two sisters, Brenda Benson of Thompson and Jennifer Piechocki Benson and her fiancé Michael Kiley of Thompson; nine nieces, two nephews and his best friend, Colette Racine of Danielson.

A Graveside Service will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 12 at the East Thompson, Cemetery. Donations may be made to help cover final expenses at gofund.me/Timothy Benson. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Hilda  Huth

PUTNAM — Hilda (Picciarelli) Huth, 85, of Woodstock Ave, Putnam, died Nov. 30, 2015, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of George W. Huth for 63 years. Born in 1930 in New York City, N.Y., she was the daughter of Patrick and Lilly Hilda (Zimmerman) Picciarelli.

Hilda worked for Putnam Bank as a bookkeeper for many years before retiring and also worked for the former Hartford National Bank.  She enjoyed going to the movies and theater, eating out and getting together with her family weekly to play poker.

In addition to her husband, she leaves her children, Donna Collelo (Tony) of Moosup, and Mike Huth (Sandra) of Putnam; her sister-in-law Kay Picciarelli Small of Putnam; four grandchildren, Justin Bishop, Matthew Bishop, David Huth (Courtney), Jeffrey Huth and three great-grandchildren, Saige Rayne Bishop Gwynn, Jaxon Oliver Huth and Whitney Lynn Huth. She was predeceased by her son, Robert Huth and her siblings Anna Vincent, Helen Chrzan, Theresa Valade, and Alfred Picciarelli.

Graveside Services were Dec. 5 in St. Mary Cemetery on Providence Street. Donations: Charity of your choice. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Rose V. Pacheco

PUTNAM —  Rose V. (Rainey) Pacheco, 96, died Dec. 1, 2015. She was the wife of the late Anthony Pacheco who died in 1978.  Rose was born in 1919 in Pascoag, and was the daughter of the late Alfred and Clarice (LeForest) Rainey. 

Rose worked as a weaver for several local woolen mills and later worked as a machine operator for American Optical Company. She also worked as a foster grandparent for many years at the John Dempsey Center assisting residents in the workshop.

Rose was a longtime member of the St. Mary League of Catholic Women and the Daughters of Isabella as well as the Putnam Seniors Club. She enjoyed going to the casinos, playing bingo, and playing cards. 

She leaves her son, Al Pacheco (Wendy Melady) of Woodstock; her daughter, Frances Bousquet (Willie) of Putnam; grandchildren Stephanie and Brittany Bousquet. Rose was predeceased by her brothers Edward, Henry, Tom, and Harold Rainey and by her sisters Lucille Lebeau, Teresa Peyton, and Ruth Cheney.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 12 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence Street, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Arc of Quinebaug Valley, 687 Cook Hill Road, Danielson, CT 06239. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Minnie E. Stone

PUTNAM — Minnie E. Stone, 97, died Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26, 2015. 

She was one of seven children born to E.B. (Burt) and Maggie (Calhoun) McClurd. She was born Oct. 14, 1918, in Elizabethton, Tenn. Minnie graduated from Milligan College in Milligan, Tenn., in 1940 and married Thomas B. Stone. 

She earned a master’s degree from George Peabody College for Teachers (now a part of Vanderbilt) in 1955. Minnie had two sons, Thomas H. Stone and Jere G. Stone. She enjoyed a long, 47-year career as an elementary school teacher teaching all grades, although of fourth was her favorite and reading her favorite subject. 

Her teaching career included elementary schools in East Tennessee, Birmingham, Michigan and Wyncote, Penn. 

After she and late husband Thomas retired they traveled around the world visiting every continent except Antarctica in a span of a few years.

She leaves one brother, Ralph; her two sons Tom Stone and Jere Stone; two grandsons, Corey and Casey Stone; two granddaughters, Kristen Parks and Patricia George; one nephew, William Caraway, and nine great grandchildren. 

A Memorial Service was Dec. 7 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

Interment will be in the family lot in Johnson City, Tenn.

 

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By Ron P. Coderre

The spirit of the crowd on hand for the Killingly High School CIAC quarterfinal Class M matchup between the Redmen and the Stratford Red Devils wasn’t dampened by the steady rain that fell throughout the game that was played on the Killingly home turf.  Neither were the spirits or the enthusiasm of the team as Killingly methodically disposed of the visitors 35-10.

 After playing to a 7-7 first period tie Killingly went to the air for the only the second time in the contest just prior to intermission.  Following a fumble recovery by Ethan Canova, Redman quarterback Kyle Derosier found his favorite receiver Vasileios Politis on his only completion of the evening for an 8- yard touchdown.  The score gave Killingly a 21-10 halftime advantage and spurred on the defensive unit, which held the visitors scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Killingly’s feared running back Austin Caffrey, as he has so many times all season, set the tone for the game with a first period 7-yard touchdown.  Following a Stratford touchdown and fieldgoal, the Redmen responded to the 10-7 deficit with a 7-yard Spencer Lockwood touchdown.  The Derosier to Politis aerial connection then gave Killingly breathing room.

Following a scoreless third period Killingly concluded the scoring when its one-two punch of Caffrey and sophomore Lockwood once again hit paydirt.  Caffrey capped a 95-yard drive that ate up clock with a 4-yard burst.  Lockwood finished off the Red Devils with a 3-yard run late in the game.

Caffrey and Lockwood each had two touchdowns.  The pair combined for 284 yards on the wet turf.  Caffrey was the workhorse with 180 yards on 22 carries, giving him 23 touchdowns and 1,798 yards on the season.  Meanwhile Lockwood toted the pigskin 17 times for 104 yards, putting him over the 1000-yard plateau with 1,086 yards.

Freshman Luke Desaulnier continued his impressive kicking performance.  He was perfect on the night despite the weather, converting 5-of-5 point after kicks.  In addition to Canova’s fumble recovery, Bret Long turned in a key pass interception.  Big Josh Angell had an outstanding night on both sides of the football.  He did put a scare into the hometown faithful when he missed a couple series due to a right knee injury.

The victory gives coach Chad Neal’s team a 10-1 record as they move to the semifinal round of competition.  The Redmen were in action on Monday evening under the arcs at home in a 6:30 p.m. contest against 9-2 Brookfield, a team that began the season in the Top 10 in the state polls.