James C. Rapp,

Army vet

PUTNAM — James “Jim” C. Rapp of Putnam died, July 20, 2016, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. He was born Nov. 15, 1937, in North Bergen, N.J., son of the late James and Catherine (Krick) Rapp. He was the husband of Loni (Means) Rapp.

James was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of High Pointe Church, the Putnam Lions Club and the Republican Town Committee. He worked for the Killingly Highway Department and retired on Dec. 3, 2003. He was an avid gardener and his favorite place was his patio. 

He leaves his wife Loni Rapp of Putnam; his son John Hardell (Lynn) of Canterbury, his brothers Vincent Palladino (Pat) of S. Killingly and Joe Serino (Sheryl) of Budd Lake, N.J., his grandsons John, Luke;  nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by eight sisters and three brothers.

Visitation is at noon Aug. 3 with a Memorial Service at 1 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Military Honors will follow at the Funeral Home. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Debra Lajoie

PUTNAM —  Debra Lajoie, 45, of Chestnut St., died July 13, 2016, in UMass Memorial Hospital, Worcester.  Born in 1970 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Shirley (Theriaque) Lajoie and the late Ward Lajoie.

Debra worked as a sales clerk for JCPenney, Beit Brothers, and a manager for Dunkin’ Donuts.  She enjoyed, shopping, bingo, and especially spending time and spoiling her nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her mother, she leaves her brothers Robert Rush of Woodstock, Bruce Rush of Putnam, and Mark Lajoie of Putnam; her sisters, Rhonda Lajoie of Putnam, and Tammy Lajoie of Danielson.  

A Graveside Service was July 25 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: N.E.C.T. Cancer Fund of DKH, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes. 

 

Harriett M. Perreault

KILLINGLY — Harriett May Perreault, 93, of Killingly died, July 14, 2016, at Westview Nursing Home in Dayville. She was born on Feb. 24, 1923, in Moosup, daughter of the late Fabin and May (Allen) Zercie. 

She was married on Feb. 8, 1943, to Edward Perreault. He died July 26, 1961. 

She leaves her daughter Karin Page of Dayville; grandchildren Wendy Page (Mark Haynes) of Brooklyn, Lance Page (Laura) of Enfield;  great-grandchildren Alex Page of Hooksett, N.H., Olivia Haynes of Brooklyn, Alton Page of Enfield, and Haskell Page of Enfield; brother Vincent Zercie of Norwich; a niece Jane Durga of Woodstock; nephew Alfred Dion of Noank. She was predeceased by her husband Edward Perreault; a son Ronald Perreault, Life Companion Harold Chandler; sisters Mary Levesque and Margret Pietras; brothers Fabin Zercie Jr. and Alfred Zercie.

 A graveside service will be 11 a.m. July 28 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. 

 

Sr. Thérèse Massé

PUTNAM — Sr. Thérèse Massé, 96, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died July 18, 2016,  at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, where she had been in residence since June 24.

Born July 17, 1920, Thérèse Marie Massé in Jewett City, she was the daughter of Louis and Léontine (Roy) Massé 

Sr. Thérèse entered religious life in 1941 and made her religious profession in 1945 at the Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam.  She was then known as Sr. Louis Daniel.

Sr. Thérèse earned a bachelor’s from Diocesan Sisters’ College in 1968 with a major in education and was a teacher for most of her religious life including St. Anne School in Waterbury, St. Anne School in Swanton, Vt., and St. Edmond School in Greenfield Park, Canada.

She served as submistress at the novitiate of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam from 1957-1964 at which time she resumed her teaching career at Putnam Catholic Academy from 1964-1966.   In 1970 she was assigned to Fairfield as Superior, followed by three years at St. Joseph School in Burlington, Vt., and 16 years at  All Hallows School in Moosup.   Her last assignment was that of CCD teacher at All Hallows Parish in Moosup until her retirement in 1991. 

She leaves nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews.  

The Mass of Christian Burial was July 22 at the Provincial House Chapel, Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Ruth Bayer Elliott

THOMPSON — Ruth Bayer Elliott, died July 17, 2016, at Day Kimball Hospital. A lifelong resident of Thompson, her early family church was the East Thompson Baptist Church. She was born the youngest child of Emil and Luella Bayer. Of six siblings, (Roger, Raymond, Lawrence, Louise, Richard, and Luella), Ruth leaves only one sister, Luella Sarah (Sally) Bayer Newcombe. 

During wartime she trained at Rhode Island Hospital while her beloved Harry served in the Army Air Force. Ruth was a nurse at Day Kimball Hospital and later was a private duty nurse active in elder care. Ruth was very compassionate, and generous with her time for family, church, community concert choir and 4-H.

Married for 69 years, she and Harry raised their own family in the Thompson Congregational Church. Ruth taught Sunday School, served on many committees, rand always sang in the choir. She passionately led the project of restoring the church’s Johnson tracker pipe organ after its near destruction in a church fire.

She leaves three children and their families: son Brian Elliott (Marlys) of Thompson and their children, Luther, Noah, and Jordan; daughter Diane Elliott Glass (Peter) of Bridgewater, Mass., and their children, Austin and Elliott Glass; and son Paul Elliott (Mildred) of Woodstock and their children, Jomica, Geon, Harryn, and Taquiyy Elliott; and 13 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. July 30 at Thompson Congregational Church, UCC, 347 Thompson Rd, Thompson. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Doris ‘Dodie’ Willis

POMFRET —  Doris A. “Dodie” Willis, 83, of Deerfield Rd., died July 23, 2016, in Pierce Memorial Baptist Home. Born in 1933 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late James and Sarah (Cox) Ayers.

Mrs. Willis worked as an executive secretary for former Senator Seely Brown.  She also worked for Linemaster Switch and P. Willis Construction. She graduated from Annhurst College and served as chairman of the Eastford Republican Committee. She enjoyed playing cards, reading and crossword puzzles. 

She leaves her sons, Robert P. Willis Jr. (Kristen) of Eastford, and Phillip Willis (Stacey) of Eastford; her daughter, Cally Robbins (Edward) of Pomfret; seven grandchildren, Justin, Jordan, Angela, Jim, Blake, Ryan, and Abby; and five great-grandchildren, Lauren, Mallory, Evan, Ryan and Allen.  She was predeceased by her brothers, Herbert Ayers, Charles Ayers, James Ayers, and John Ayers; and her sisters, Rosalie Cooley and Marion Duffy

The Funeral was private. Donations: Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Healthcare, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Germaine Touchette

PUTNAM —  Germaine (LeBeau) Touchette, 80, of Viens St., died July 21, 2016, in Westview Nursing Home.  She was the wife of Alfred R. Touchette Sr. for 63 years.  Born in 1936 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Armand and Rita (Bellrose) LeBeau.

Mrs. Touchette worked for 21 years as an aide for the Dempsey Regional Center.  She also worked at the First Steps Day Care in Grosvenordale for seven years.  She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, ceramics and traveling to Las Vegas.  

In addition to her husband Alfred, she leaves her sons, Fred Touchette Jr. of Thompson, and Joseph Touchette (Mindy) of Thompson; her daughters, Cheryl Desjardin (William) of Dayville, and Charlene Bennett (Raymond) of Danielson; her brothers, Robert LeBeau of Thompson, and Richard LeBeau of California; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her brothers, Armand LeBeau; and her sister, Lorraine Miller.

The Funeral Service was July 26 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067.  

 

Arlene F. Bowen

EASTFORD — Arlene F. Bowen “Peggy”, 88, of Eastford died July 15, 2016,  at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was the wife, for more than 60 years, of the late Charles S. Bowen Sr. 

She was born Jan. 16, 1928, in Eastford, daughter of the late Clifford and Ruth (Dodge) French.

Arlene made her home in Eastford all her life. She was a life member of the Eastford Baptist Church. She helped her husband grow his Trucking Business. She was always cooking homemade meals for her family. 

She leaves her children Pamela Desaulnier (Dennis) of Eastford, Christopher Bowen of Eastford,  Richard Bowen (Amy) of Eastford, Charles Bowen Jr. (Pathumma) of Eastford; sisters Irene, Betty, Dorothy, Lorraine; grandchildren Derrick, Daniel, Kristin, Alyssa, Sarah, Benjamin, Jacob, Caleb, Aiyana; great-grandchildren Aisha, Hunter, Abigail, Phoenix, Macy, Scarlet. She was predeceased by a son David and brothers Russell and Ken.

A Celebration of Life was July 22 at the Eastford Baptist Church, with burial in Eastford Grove Cemetery. Donations: Eastford Independent Fire Company, PO Box 333, Eastford, CT 06242. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.  

 

Marie L. Blake

DANIELSON — Marie L. Blake, 74, of Danielson, died July 13, 2016, at Davis Place in Danielson. Born on May 13, 1942, in Brooklyn, she was the  daughter of the late Henry and Simone (Richard) Beaudion. She was married on April 30, 1965, to Paul L. Blake Sr. in Dudley. He died in 2014.

Marie worked for the Danielson Town Police. Marie and Paul spent 17 summers in Mystic, where they were very active within the social clubs.

She leaves her children Gerald Blake of California, Paul L. Blake Jr. (Wendy) of Brazil, Paula Coutras of Danielson; grandchildren Jennifer, Jeffery, Paul Matthew, Gabriel, Heather, Angie, Christine, Nicole, Michael and Kaitlyn and three great-grandchildren;  sisters Claire Mayo (James) and Theresa Herrick. She was predeceased by her husband, two sons Dale Blake, Timothy Blake and a brother Francis Beaudion. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was July 21 St. James Church, Danielson, with burial Putnam Heights Cemetery, Putnam. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

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