Robert F. Austin,

Army vet

N. GROSVENORDALE and Florida — Robert F. Austin, 79, formerly of St. Albans, Vt., died Nov. 24, 2016.  He was the husband of Marie (Gamache) Austin.  Born in 1937 in Fairfield, Vt., he was the son of the late Fay and Grace (Ducharme) Austin.

Mr. Austin attended numerous colleges taking courses pertaining to his work in the paper industry.

Robert was a member of the Vermont National Guard and was a veteran serving with the U.S. Army where he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Mr. Austin worked as a marketing manager for Thermo-Electron Corporation of Portland, Org., and Auburn, Mass., formerly the Lodding Engineering Corporation where they manufactured paper making machine equipment. He was also employed by W.E. Green Corporation in New York, Perkins Machine Company in Warren, Mass., Fonda Container Corporation in St. Albans, and the St. Albans Police Department.

He was a member of National TAPPI, member and past Chairman of National PIMA, former chairman of the New York State TAPPI, former secretary and chairman of the New York – Canadian PIMA, and Lions Club International. He enjoyed boating, bowling, playing bridge, deep sea fishing in Alaska, and building things.

He leaves his wife Marie; a daughter Andrea M. Austin of N. Grosvenordale; a sister Ramona Giroux of Swanton, Vt.; four grandchildren Ryan, Lindsey, Amber, and Samuel, three great-grandchildren Griffin, Bryson, and Holland. He was predeceased by a son Jeffrey R. Austin and brothers and sisters. 

A private graveside service was held  in St. Mary Cemetery, Swanton. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Bruce Allen Tefft,

Navy vet

EASTFORD —  Bruce A. Tefft, 69, of Union Rd. died Sept. 1, 2017, at home. 

Bruce was born in 1948 in Putnam, the son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Weeks) Tefft. 

Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1965 and lived in the San Francisco area. 

He earned his bachelor’s in sociology and continued his education in 1987 by attending the Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson.

Bruce enjoyed working with his hands and took pride in everything that he did. He was self-employed and worked with other contractors in the construction field as a carpenter and painter. 

He also worked for Putnam Furniture in Putnam. 

Bruce wanted to give back to his community and worked for many social services agencies as a teacher and a social worker. 

This work included teaching for the New England Adult Education Program and Quinebaug Valley Youth and Family Program. 

He was an assistant teacher for the Quinebaug Valley Community College Welfare to Work Program and worked as a social worker for NECT. 

In addition, he worked for the Community Development Corporation for five years.

Bruce enjoyed fishing, gardening and had a love for animals, especially his pot belly pig, who he raised for 14 years until his passing in 2016.

In addition to his longtime companion of 43 years, Debra A. Billings of Eastford, he leaves one brother, William (Bill) Tefft of Johnstown, Penn.; six sisters;  Nanci Hattin of Thompson, Patricia Landry of Lake Havasu, Ariz., Jill Burger of Naples, Fla., Susan Tefft of Greenfield, Mass., Robin Fulford-Brown of San Jacinto, Calif., and Gemma Benoit of Putnam.  He was predeceased by his sisters Judy Eskelson and Deborah Phelps.

Donations: NECCOG Animal Services, PO Box 759, Dayville, CT 06241. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Philippe F. Roy

N. GROSVENORDALE — Philippe F. Roy, “P.F. Roy,” 75, died Sept. 17, 2017, at home.

He was born July 3, 1942, in Lewiston, Maine, son of Francis May Goss and Philippe Roy. He was a long-time resident of Connecticut. He met his first and only wife Thelma Eileen Kidd in Richmond, Va. 

For more than 50 years, Phil was a proud and devoted member of the South Woodstock Baptist Church, serving there as a trustee, deacon and, most recently, as head usher. He volunteered for many years at the Woodstock Fair. 

In his younger days he enjoyed his membership in the Country Cruisers motorcycle club, taking his son on numerous tours of the northeast U.S. with other members of the club. 

Professionally he was an award-winning salesman at Gomes Total Chrysler dealership in Putnam. Later he worked as a food broker, representing small New England bakeries and training the staff of large grocery stores in the art of donut making. He was educated at the Pomfret Community School and Grossmont Adult School in El Cajon, Calif. 

He will be remembered for his corny jokes, unique sense of fashion and great head of silver hair. 

He leaves his son Philippe “Matthew” Roy of Brooklyn, New York and his sister Shirley Scott in Florida. He is predeceased by his brother Victor Roy and sister Karen Marois.

A Memorial Service was Sept. 23 at the South Woodstock Baptist Church on Roseland Park Road. Donations: South Woodstock Baptist Church. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Eva Cormier

PUTNAM — Eva Cormier, 96, died Sept.  24, 2017, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Facility in Putnam, CT, where she had been since 1995.  

She was born Dec. 29, 1920, in Putnam, the daughter of the late Emery and Marie Louise (Balard dit Latour) Marion.  She graduated in 1935 from St. Mary School in Putnam, and then attended Putnam Catholic Academy.  On May 29, 1941, Eva married Louis Victor Cormier at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.  Except for a period of a few months early in their marriage, Eva and Louis spent their 56 years together in Putnam.  Louis died Dec. 5, 1997.

Eva’s life was guided by her strong faith and her commitment to her husband and family.  She presented a loving home environment where she was always present, offering physical and emotional care, support and guidance based on her wisdom and life experience.

Once her children were grown, Eva worked during pre-Christmas seasons as a clerk at Toni’s Specialty Shop, a children’s clothing store in Putnam.  For many years, she volunteered as a library aide at St. Mary School and held memberships in AARP, Ladies of St. Anne, Daughters of Isabella, and League of Catholic Women.  In the early 1990s, she also joined Quinebaug Pomona Grange No. 2 and Putnam Grange No. 97.

Eva enjoyed reading and sewing, and was especially skillful with knitting.  She and Louis had a special relationship with Eddie and Irene Briere; together they enjoyed traveling, ballroom dancing, and performing with the RSVP Happy Singers.

She leaves her children, Claire Emond (Philip) of Woodstock, Al Cormier (Joyce) of Putnam, and Janet LaBelle (John) of Dayville; grandchildren, Deborah Bayne, Carolyn Riendeau (Christopher), Amanda Bernat (James), Joanne Sward (Ross),  and Jacqueline Young (Joshua); great-grandchildren, Brandon Emond, Samantha Pedersen, Stephanie Emond, Marcus Riendeau, Miller Riendeau, Caitlyn Sward, Garrett Sward, Louis Young, Marion Young, and Emmanuel Young; great-great-grandchildren, Sage Bibbee, Christian Bibbee, Kezlee Baker, and Maxson Morrarty. She was predeceased by her siblings, Lillian Marion, Doris Provencal and husband Gabriel, Leo Marion and wife Leonie, Lawrence Marion and wife Marjorie, and by her grandson, Steven Emond.

Visitation is from 8:15 to 9:45 a.m. Sept. 30 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Interment follows in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678 (stjude.org or 800-805-5856); or The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, 565 Ashford Center Road, Ashford, CT 06278-1720 (holeinthewallgang.org or 203-772-0522). 

 

W. ‘Wayno’ Cotnoir,

Vietnam era vet

THOMPSON — Wilbur Wayne “Wayno” Cotnoir, 62, of Quaddick Town Farm Rd., died Sept. 18, 2017.  He was the husband of Harriett (Keech) Cotnoir.  

Born in 1954 in Putnam, he was the son of Helen (Gawlik) Cotnoir of Thompson and the late Arthur W. Cotnoir.

Wayno worked as a machinist for Wycoff Steel and then later worked for Pratt & Whitney.  He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era.  

He was a member of Thompson Rod and Gun Club, Thompson American Legion Post 67, Danielson American Legion Post 21, Past Commander of Putnam American Legion Post 13, the Men’s Auxiliary of Albert J. Breault VFW Post 1523, the Worcester County Van Club, and a past member of the Valley Springs Sportsman Club. He volunteered for and was a founding member of Christmas in August Toys for Tots Drive. He enjoyed van meets, his Harley Davidson, fishing, camping, hiking, painting, etching, playing horse shoes and shooting pool.  He especially loved cooking for his family and large groups, and playing fetch with his dogs.  

In addition to his wife and mother, he leaves his son Christopher Cotnoir (Cassie) and their children Dakota, Kaden, Isabelle, and Emmalin of Wichita Falls, Texas; his two daughters Jamie Aubin (Craig) of Thompson and their children Ashel and Bodhi and Michelle Teague (James) and their children Justin, Aidan and Austin of North Attleboro, Mass.; his stepdaughter Jessica Jellison of Pomfret; his stepson Karl Kuhn Jr. of Thompson; and a brother Brian Cotnoir of Thompson. He was predeceased by a brother Joseph Cotnoir. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 23 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation, 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106. Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Jeanne Robert

PLAINFIELD — Jeanne T. Robert, 101, of Plainfield died Sept. 18, 2017, in Plainfield.

She was born Feb. 16, 1916, in Natick, R.I., daughter of Albert and Amelia (Blais) Robert. 

Jeanne was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Wauregan and she donated much of her time to the upkeep of the church. 

She belonged to the Daughters of Isabella and was also secretary for many years. 

She loved Misquamicut Beach and also loved the Senior Center in Plainfield. She worked at Wauregan Mills, Grant Shirt Factory and Wauregan Dairy Farm in the payroll department.  She was a very giving person and assisted the sick and elderly. 

She leaves her nieces Phyllis Beaudoin of Plainfield and Elaine Lavallee of Woodstock; great-nieces and great-nephews. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 21 in Sacred Heart Church, Brooklyn, with burial I Sacred Heart Cemetery, Brooklyn.  Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. 

 

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