Category: Current Issue


Gunnar Johnson Sr.
POMFRET CENTER — Gunnar Johnson Sr., 89, of Pomfret Center, died Sept. 27, 2018.
Gunnar was born in Chicago, but while an infant, his family moved back to Sweden. When he was 18, he came back to the U.S. with an American passport and spoke not a word of English. He taught himself.
Gunnar was a retired truck driver (Pilot Freight) and after a few years of retirement, went back to work for M&M Trucking. He was known on the local golf courses not only for his fondness of golf, but for switching from playing left handed to playing right handed. He was a man of many talents and would repair the “unfixable” and construct whatever was needed.
He leaves his wife, Sarah and their children, Gunnar Johnson Jr., Diane (Frank) Simu, and Glenn (Nicole) Johnson; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister; nieces and nephews and their families. Gunnar was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, and a sister.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Congregational Church of Eastford. Donations: Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260 (Deary Fund) in Gunnar’s memory. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Rose M. Beauregard
THOMPSON — Rose M. Beauregard, 90, of Thompson Hill Rd., died Oct. 6, 2018.  She was the wife of the late William H. Beauregard Jr.
Born in 1928 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Cataldo and Anna (Ricci) Pronto.
Rose was employed by the Marianapolis Preparatory School and worked in the kitchen. She was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale. Rose enjoyed cooking, flower gardening and spending time with her six dogs Laddie, Bella, Primo, Bum Bum, Capo and Molly.
Rose leaves behind four daughters, Dianne Beauregard of Brooklyn, Sister Donna Rose Beauregard of the Sisters of the Lady of the Garden in Rhode Island, Cynthia Gazzara (Paul) of Thompson, Deborah Franco of Oxford; three grandchildren, Anthony, Aaron and Fallon; five great-grandchildren, Adrianna, Ava, Autum, Aidan, and Jordin. She was predeceased by her husband, William Beauregard in 1993, enjoying 46 years of marriage; her daughter, Beverly Suss; brother, Nicholas Pronto; and two sisters, Rita Caplette and Gloria Ogden.
A graveside service at 10 a.m. Oct. 13 in the St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes, 104 Church St., Putnam.

John D. Hession
THOMPSON — John D. Hession, 88, of Sand Dam Rd., died Oct. 3, 2018, in the Matulaitis Nursing Home.  He was the husband of Constance (Lonergan) Hession for 62 years.  Born in 1930 in New Bedford, Mass., he was the son of the late Thomas and Helen (Hushon) Hession.
A 1952 graduate of Holy Cross, John taught at Putnam High School for many years. While teaching at Putnam High, John served as the recreation director and coached both the golf and basketball teams.  John enjoyed playing golf and could be found playing a round at the Raceway Golf Course in Thompson.
In addition to his wife Constance, he leaves his son Dan Hession (June) of Uxbridge, Mass.; daughter, Kathleen Houle (Thomas) of Fabyan; his brother, William Hession (Dee) of Southington; two sisters, Mary Bertschmann (Peter)  of Sherborn, Mass., and Helen Howard (Bruce) of Sarasota, Fla.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. John was predeceased by his son, John F. Hession and a brother, Thomas Hession.
Donations: Day Kimball Hospital, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Onnolee J. Rader
BROOKLYN — Onnolee Jane Rader, 93, formerly of Dayton (Oakwood) Ohio, died peacefully Oct. 2, 2018, at Pierce Memorial Baptist Home.
Born in 1925 in Clark County, Ohio, to the late Harmon G. and Florence B. (Deaton) Group, she graduated from The Ohio State University cum laude in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, the University Chorus, Business Club, and served as president of Pi Omega Pi, the honor society recognizing academic achievement in business.
Although her passion was accounting, women in the post-WWII era rarely found a job in that field. She turned instead to teaching business education at Mechanicsburg High School in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, from 1947 until 1950. Twenty years later while living in Dayton, she re-entered the work force as a budget analyst for the Special Products Division of the National Cash Register Company. She then worked as an accountant for Tait Manufacturing Company and ended her formal career as the vice president for Finance and Treasurer of the H. A. Jones Company. For 10 years, she was a member of the Board of Directors for the NCR Universal Credit Union (now the Universal 1 Credit Union).
In addition, she spent more than five decades working for the Lutheran Church of Our Savior where she served on the Social Ministry Committee, Lutheran Church Women, and sang alto in the choir. During her retirement years, she found great pleasure in cross-stitching, knitting, reading, attending Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, enjoying theatrical productions at Wright State University’s Nutter Center, and cruising with Princess.
In 2015, she moved to Creamery Brook Village to be closer to her family. Her sunny disposition and acerbic wit will forever be remembered by the staff at Sherwood’s, Creamery Brook Village, and Pierce Memorial Baptist Home.
She was predeceased by her high school sweetheart and husband of 60 years, Caryl Eugene Rader, in August 2008. She leaves her daughter Carlee and son-in-law Michael Drummer of Pomfret Center; three nephews, Joseph Mack Stewart III and Philip Alan (Ruth) Stewart of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and Stephen George Stewart of Houston; great-niece Sheri Stewart Usrey of Indianapolis.
A Celebration of Life will be from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 13 at Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. Donations: Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation, 742 Upper Maple St., Danielson, CT 06239.

Robert M. Capiga
THOMPSON — Robert M. Capiga, 75, died Sept. 27, 2018, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.
He was born in Putnam, son of the late Walter Capiga and Hilda (Chauvin) Capiga and lived in Thompson most of his life.  He was employed by the State of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection division.   Robert enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping.
He leaves his brothers, Howard Capiga of Dayville and Walter Capiga of Winston Salem, N.C.
Donations: American Cancer Society.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

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