Gerald G. St. Jean, 

Korean war vet,

columnist

PUTNAM —  Gerald G. St. Jean, 85, formerly of Putnam, died Sept. 21, 2014, in Lanessa Extended Care, Webster.  He was the husband of the late Claire (Bessette) St. Jean.  Born in 1929 Worcester, he was the son of the late Joseph and Evelyn (St. Godard) St. Jean. 

Mr. St. Jean was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean war era. He worked as a typesetter for the Windham County Observer and the Putnam Patriot. He also worked for Loos & Company and Chase Graphics.  

He enjoyed woodworking, sports, being outdoors and was very proud of his Indian heritage. 

Gerald founded and coached the St. Mary’s Football Team for 10 years. He and his wife Claire founded Sport Light magazine, which covered local sports news.  Gerald also wrote “The Saint Sez” in the Putnam Town Crier, among others. 

He leaves his son, Kevin (Nancy) St. Jean of Brooklyn, Timothy (Victoria) St. Jean of Putnam, and James (Debra) St. Jean of East Killingly; his daughter Laurie (Michael) Sevigny of Riverside, R.I.; grandchildren, Sadie, Andrew, Seth, Nicholas, Jillian, Krista and Sarah; his great-granddaughter Ella; his brother, Russell St. Jean of Putnam; and his sister, Ann Marie St. Jean of Putnam.  He is predeceased by his brothers, Edmond “Tonto” and Francis “Pug” St. Jean. 

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 9 a.m. Sept. 26, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.  Donations: Day Kimball Homemakers and/or the Deary Memorial Cancer Fund, both at P.O. Box 632 Putnam, CT 06260

 

Mary McTiernan

WOODSTOCK — Mary McTiernan, 101, of Woodstock Meadows, formerly of New York, died Sept. 15, 2014, in Regency Heights of Danielson. Born in 1913 in New York City, she was the daughter of the late John and Winifred (Dogherty) McTiernan.

Prior to her retirement she was a secretary for one of the attorneys at the Nuremburg Trials; following that she became a secretary at the New York Life Insurance Company.

Mrs. McTiernan enjoyed traveling and playing bridge 

Mary is the last survivor of her immediate family. She was predeceased by three brothers John, Patrick, and James McTiernan and two sisters Helen Meade and Winifred Egan. 

Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

W. ‘Bill’ E. Erskine

EASTFORD —  William “Bill” E. Erskine, 73, of Union Rd., Eastford formerly of Pomfret, died Sept. 13, 2014, in Windham Hospital. Born in 1941 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Reginald and Gertrude (Currier) Erskine.

Prior to his retirement Mr. Erskine was a construction worker for Phillip Wilson Construction and RM Construction as well as a machinist at the Kochek Company in Putnam.

Mr. Erskine was a race car driver at the Thompson Speedway for many years and was also an avid fisherman.

He leaves his daughter Letitia Curtis of Dayville; two brothers Richard Erskine of Dayville and Herbert Erskine of Danielson, and a sister Helen Welch of Dayville; six grandchildren Devin, Candace, Dakota, Hailey, Andrew, and Madison. He is predeceased by three brothers Reginald Erskine, Albert Erskine, and Robert Edward “Eddy” Erskine and a sister Pauline “Chicky” Erskine. 

The funeral was private. The family asks that you light a candle and think a happy thought of Bill as a memorial. Donations: Gilman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 131, Putnam, CT 06260, to help with Bill’s final expenses Gilman Funeral Home 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Salvatore Aliano Jr.

DAYVILLE — Salvatore Aliano Jr., 64, of Upper Maple St., formerly of Church St., Putnam, died Sept. 16, 2014, in Dayville. Born in 1950 in Torrington, he was the son of Salvatore and Mary (Fedore) Aliano Sr.

Although Sal faced some daunting challenges in life, he met them with his own brand of self-will, determination and humor.  He loved people, and loved to have fun.  He had a mischievous sense of humor and would play tricks on family members and staff whenever he could manage it.  His laugh was infectious and the joy he gave to others was immeasurable.  He was a valued member of the Henrichon family.

Salvatore leaves members of his CTH family, Earl, Angie, Earl, Jr. and Beth Henrichon, along with many friends he made throughout the years. 

A memorial celebration of Salvatore’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 16 at the Cornerstone Baptist Church (former Danielson Baptist) on Broad St. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Richard Champ,

Army vet

Rich was born in 1945 Hartford and grew up mostly in East Hartford.  He died Sept. 13, 2014. He was an Army veteran, and served in Bamberg Germany from 1965 to 1968.  He was an avid fisherman and a lover of all things auto racing.  He cared about the environment and was a big NY Yankees fan and a NY Giants fan.  

He is remembered: capture a recollection of a laugh, remember some help coming your way, recall some advice that did not seem meaningful  until later, try and think of a full smile directed at only you, picture a fishing rod fully bent over in the setting sun, remember a seriously ice coated ride home late at night, try and feel the love coming from someone who did not get a lot of love to give......and had a hard time expressing it, remember the fierce independence, the basic competence, the Rock and Roll set on 11.......the loyalty to family.......and forget the shortcomings.

Rich leaves his brother Steve Champ and his sister in law Cheryl K Champ, and his brother Frank Champ, and his nephews Tyler, Zachary, and Mike Champ; a niece, Jennifer Champ.  

Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

 

Lorraine L. Durand

N. GROSVENORDALE —  Lorraine L. (Coderre) Durand, 83, died Sept. 17, 2014, in Day Kimball Hospital.  Married on Sep. 2, 1950, in St. Joseph Church, she was the wife of the late Lionel Durand.  Born in 1931 in Thompson, she was the daughter of the late Roger and Laura (Hebert) Coderre.

Mrs. Durand graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1949. She worked as an office manager for Dura Tool Company, until her retirement in 1997. Lorraine was a member of the Thompson Senior Citizens and a former member of the Ladies of St. Anne. She enjoyed candlepin bowling, gardening, reading.

She leaves her son, Roger Durand (Phyllis) of N. Grosvenordale; her daughter, Linda Dry (Randall) of Burlington, N.J..; her grandchildren, Matthew Durand, Rose Durand, Diana Rice, Alan Rousseau, Brian Dry, and Nicholas Dry; her great-grandchildren, Patrick and Alex Rice; and her cousin, Dolly Hebert of Grosvenordale.  She is predeceased by her daughter, Laura Rousseau.

The Mass of Christian burial was Sept. 20 in St. Joseph Church , N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202; or Relay for Life c/o American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Antoinette Hayward

POMFRET — Antoinette “Toni” C. Hayward, 82, longtime resident of Sunny Hills, Fla., died Sept. 16, 2014, after an extended illness. 

She was born Feb. 8, 1932, in New Haven, daughter of the late Anthony and Lena Centrone. 

She was a retired X-ray technician from Hartford and Windham hospitals, sharing her love and compassion with others. 

She was an avid golfer, woodworker, and cook of delicious Italian cuisine. 

Antoinette was predeceased by her husband, Edward William Hayward; her brother John Centrone, her sister Mary-Anne Centrone and her best friend Lollipop, her Chihuahua. 

She leaves her son Damon William Hayward of Florida, and son David Scott Hayward (Irene Albee Hayward) of Pomfret  with whom she lived; granddaughters Jacqueline Hayward, Samantha Jo Hayward, Jennifer Albee, Megan Sullivan-Albee, Cindy Benoit, Rene Albee-Comeau (Brad Comeau); her great-granddaughter Madalynn Albee Comeau.

Also, niece, Denise Centrone; nephew, Wayne Centrone; and sister-in-law, Lynn Centrone; extended family: Hazel and Leonard Albee, Tabitha (Trixie) Albee, Kim Valade and Ron DuBreuil, Lori and Hal Malstrom, and Donna Wojtcuk; friends Joyce Brelsford, Shelly and John Elhert, Zel and Zane Spitzer, Vicky Peel, and Sue Anderson. 

Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045. 

Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Paul Rosenlund

BELFAST, Maine — Paul Edward Victor Rosenlund, 72, died Sept. 14, 2014, at home. 

He was born on Aug. 12, 1942, in Massachusetts, son of Constance and Warren Rosenlund. 

Outside of his career in publishing at KMWorld, Paul loved weekend “yard saling,” Florida evenings sipping a good dry martini, and cooking delicious food for friends and family.

Though he made his home in Boca Raton, Fla., and “summered in Maine,” Paul was a true New Englander, as evidenced by his salty but jovial demeanor, and his trademark beard. 

That memorable demeanor granted Paul the uncanny ability to relate to people in a way that was thoroughly honest yet surprisingly reassuring. 

He displayed unconditional support and an irreverent sense of humor.

He leaves his partner Kathy; her children, Alex and wife Louise, currently residing in Yokohama, Japan; Miles and wife Sara of Belfast; and Lillian and husband Adam of Salem, N.H.; his daughter Kristen.

Also,  grandchildren Vera and Juliet; his sister Pamela and his mother Constance of Putnam.

Interment was at Gordon Cemetery. 

Riposta Funeral Home, Belfast, handled arrangements.

 

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