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Leonard P. Dexter,
Vietnam vet
DANIELSON — Leonard P. Dexter, aka “Jenny,” 67, of Mason St., died Dec. 8, 2019, at home. He was the husband of Rita (Lupien) Dexter.
Born Feb. 14, 1952, in Providence, he was the son of the late Stephen and Claire (Fortin) Dexter.
Leonard worked as a maintenance mechanic for Frito-Lay while also going to school at H.H. Ellis Tech as a post grad for electrical and then went on to New England Institute of Technology receiving his associate’s degree in electronic technology. He retired from Frito-Lay after 33 years. He was a musician who enjoyed playing the bass guitar and had a band in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s called “Blu Shag.” He spent his time enjoying photography, playing cards and pool, building things, working around the house, and lending a helping hand anytime it was needed. He was an avid softball player in his younger days and enjoyed playing with his uncle Jerry “Foxy” Fortin; people still talk about how special he was on and off the field.
Mr. Dexter was a Vietnam veteran and received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal W/DVC 60, 2 O/S Bars, Army Commendation Medal, Sharpshooter (Rifle M-16), and Expert (Rifle M-14).
In addition to his wife of 41 years, he leaves his son, Tyler Dexter; his daughter, Lindsey Smith; his brothers, Raymond Dexter and James (Kathy) Dexter; and sister, Lucille Benson; his brothers in-law, Roland Lupien, John Lupien, Richard Lupien, Joseph Lupien, Marc Lupien, and Donald Egan; and his sister in-law, Marie Chapdelaine. He was predeceased by his brother Donald, two sisters Linda and Jeanne, two half-sisters, Marie and Michelle.
Donations: Day Kimball Hospice Care, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT. 06260. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.
Frederick Coons Jr.
MOOSUP — Frederick “Freddie” Raymond Coons Jr., 58, died Dec. 10, 2019, from complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
He was born on Dec. 2, 1961, in Norwich to the late Frederick Raymond Coons Sr. and Ruby Bell Lamberston.
Freddie was a doting husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend to all he met. A kind and caring soul who always put family and friends first.
He leaves his wife of 21 years Yvonne; children Ryan Risley, Jordan Coons, James Bernier, Joshua Bernier, Kristopher Hopkins and Theresa Hopkins; granddaughters, Ivy Bernier, Brooke Hopkins and Gabbie Hopkins; siblings, Diane Hayward, Yvonne McClintock, John Coons, Nina Coons and Alice Morse. He was predeceased by his brother Bernard Coons, nephews John Coons Jr. and Justin Sparkman.
Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.
Beverly Campbell
Beverly Campbell, wife of the pastor of the Putnam Baptist Church from 1966 to 1968, died Nov. 17, 2019, at a hospice house in Florida, after a struggle with a rare disease that ravaged her lung. She also was a thyroid cancer survivor.
She was born July 16, 1943, in Wellsboro, Penn., and graduated from the Wellsboro-Charleston Senior High School in 1961 and went to work as a secretary at an insurance agency. She married Douglas Campbell June 16, 1963, at the Wellsboro First Baptist Church. She then moved with him that year to Rochester, N.Y., where he was graduated from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1966. She took a position as a secretary-administrative assistant at the University of Rochester Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Science.
She earned an associate’s of applied science degree in nursing from Corning Community College in 1979 and a bachelor’s in management science from Lock Haven University in 1987.
She served as a charge nurse in the Pediatrics Department, Divine Providence Hospital, Williamsport, Penn.; as the manager of physician billing, Divine Providence; as manager of billing, Oncology Associates, State College, Penn.; as the assistant director of Nursing at Broad Acres Nursing Home in Wellsboro; and as director of Nursing at Susque-View Home in Lock Haven. She retired in 2003 as a case manager at Health-South Rehabilitation Hospital in Pleasant Gap, Penn. She was a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and a Certified Case Manager.
She leaves her husband of 56 years Douglas Campbell of Wimauma, Fla.; her son Christopher Campbell, who was born in Day Kimball Hospital, (Maria) of Lebanon, Penn.; grandsons Andrew of York, Penn., and Arden of Columbia, Md.; son David Campbell (Susan); granddaughters Tarryn and Emmalyn of E. Stroudsburg, Penn.; and son Channing Campbell (Perly) and granddaughter Taylor of Lock Haven.
Donations: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc., P.O. Box 1102, Olney, MD 20830-1102.
Edyth Gucwa
Edyth Gucwa, 67, died Dec. 9, 2019, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
She was born May 16, 1952, in Ashford, daughter of Herbert and Olive (Owen) Rogers. She was a 1970 graduate of Woodstock Academy.
She married Dennis Gucwa on Dec. 15, 1972, in Ashford. She worked as an administrative manager with UConn. Edye truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; chatting with friends and family, playing cards and spending time with her granddaughter. Edye had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way.
She leaves her husband Dennis; her son Benjamin Gucwa; two brothers; nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Gucwa home, 43 Suzanne Lane, Brooklyn. Family, friends and others whose lives Edye has touched are invited to help celebrate Edye in the way she would want to be remembered. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Bernice A. Paquette
THOMPSON — Bernice A. (Lareau) Paquette, 55, died Dec. 10, 2019, at home after a long illness.
She was born and raised in Worcester, the oldest child of Roger and Jean (Larson) Lareau and was a high school graduate. She lived in N. Grosvenordale and in Thompson for most of her adult life.
Mrs. Paquette was a coder of medical records at UMass/Memorial Hospital for more than 20 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish in N. Grosvenordale.
She leaves her husband of 31 years, Brian R. Paquette; a son, Joseph P. Paquette of Thompson; 2 step-sons, Kyle S. Paquette (Penny) of Putnam and Nicholaus B. Paquette (Sarah) of Roxbury, N.H.; three grandchildren, Chandon, Aubrey and Amara; two sisters, Lisa Lareau of S. Carolina and Brenda Gallo of W. Boylston, Mass.; five brothers, Roger, Ronald, Robert, Paul and Leo Lareau, all of Worcester.
The Funeral Mass was Dec. 19 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.
Roberta Rivers
PUTNAM — Roberta (Robin) Rivers, 87, of Little River Acres, Putnam, died Dec. 14, 2019, at Westview Health Care Center. Born Dec. 10, 1932, in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Lillian (Anderson) Henry and stepdaughter of the late Frederick J. Henry.
Robin grew up in the Quiet Corner and graduated from Putnam High School in 1950. After receiving a degree from Virginia Intermont College, she worked in the insurance industry in Hartford until marrying Raymond Rivers, a career Naval Officer, who died in 1968. Robin relocated her family from California to Putnam, where she later met her loving companion of 30 years, John (Jack) Mullen, who died in 2001.
Robin enjoyed a lifetime of traveling the country, forming lifelong friendships along the way. She enjoyed gardening, listening to her talking books and going out to dinner and family gatherings and the card games that followed. She was an avid participant on WINY radio’s “Remember When”.
She leaves her children Rodney Rivers of Putnam, Rhonda Brooks of Pomfret, Roslyn Hauser (Frank) of Dayville, Roxanne Miller of Titusville, Fla., Laurence Mullen (Amelita) of Cocoa, Fla.; granddaughter Virginia Miller of Waterbury; and grandson Andrew Miller of Bloomfield. She was predeceased by her sister Ann in 1935 and son-in-law James Brooks in 2000.
Visitation is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21 at Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a service at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial in the Brooklyn South Cemetery will be scheduled at a later date. Donations: Foundation Fighting Blindness, 7168 Columbia Gateway Dr., Ste 100, Columbia, MD 21046; or the American Cancer Society 931 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick, RI 02886.
Kathryn Sargent
WOODSTOCK — Kathryn Sargent of Woodstock, 93, “Sarge” to her students, died Dec. 10, 2019, after a long and wonderful life. She taught at Woodstock Academy in Woodstock for 18 years and at Rectory School in Pomfret before that, affecting the lives of hundreds of students.
Born Dorothy Lang Tulloch in Elizabeth, N.J., on March 10, 1926, she was renamed Kathryn after her mother died following her birth. She graduated from Harvard’s Radcliff College in 1947 having lived through the Depression and WWII.
Sarge was devoted to her children and to her profession. She cared very deeply for her students and they loved her in turn. She had a keen interest in history and languages and was an avid reader. She loved birds and dogs. Nothing made her happier than seeing her children and her students succeed in life.
She leaves sons Owen of Woodbury, N.Y., and Peter of Gardner, Mass.; daughter Mary Lloyd (Doug) of Milford, Mass.; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
A Celebration of her Life and interment of her ashes will be held at 2 p.m. March 10 at Christ Church in Pomfret with a reception afterwards in the parish hall. Donations: Christ Church, Pomfret CT, “Clergy discretionary fund” in memo line. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Christopher J. Thomas
PUTNAM — Christopher J. Thomas, 40, of Putnam died unexpectedly Dec. 11, 2019, at home.
He was the husband of April (Kennette) Thomas. They were married Oct. 28, 2006.
He was born Jan. 20, 1979, in Putnam, son of Richard Thomas and Pauline Laprade.
Chris was a correctional officer at the Brooklyn Correctional Institution for 12 years. He loved ice fishing and snowmobiling. He also worked for Napa in Putnam and Dudley for many years. Chris was a friend to all and helped everyone he knew and many he didn’t know!
He leaves his wife April of Putnam; two daughters Madison and Taylor Thomas of Putnam; father Richard Thomas (Lisa) of Woodstock; mother Pauline (Lamoureux) Laprade (Norman) of Washington, N.H.; paternal grandmother Annette Thomas of Fabyan; brother Brian Thomas and significant other Vanessa Travers of Fabyan; niece and nephew MacKenzie and Noah Langevin of W. Virginia.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 18 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in Mount Zion Cemetery, Webster. Donations: Madison and Taylor c/o bankHometown. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Martha Bonneville
WEBSTER/DANIELSON — Martha (Kacerik) Bonneville, 94, died Dec 9, 2019, at home in Webster.
Martha was born on April 25, 1925, in her grandparent’s home in Webster. A few years later the family moved to Putnam where Martha grew up. She was the daughter of Stephen and Margaret (Stefanik) Kacerik.
Martha had a passion for learning that served her and her family well. Growing up in the Depression era with immigrant parents (Slovakia) she was required to start working before graduating high school, but that didn’t stop her from walking miles each night in the dark to take classes. That continued as she learned bookkeeping on the job, first at Putnam Woolen and then through her father-in-law at Bonneville’s Pharmacy in Danielson. Martha raised (and made clothes for) three kids, cooked the old-fashioned way and grew and canned vegetables, all while serving as the bookkeeper, office manager and silent partner in a successful family business. If she ever complained along the way, no one can recall it.
Martha and Bob had an amazing partnership in life and in business. From scratch, they started the family business - Colonial Nursery/Colonial Paving, whose success afforded them a long enjoyable retirement that included time with family and close friends, gardening (at a passionate level), traveling and crafts — weaving and needlepoint for Martha and stained glass for Bob at their beautiful home of 65 years on Morin Avenue in Danielson.
She leaves her daughter Cynthia Koziak (Ed) of Webster, her son David Bonneville and partner Jen, of Orinda, Calif.; her sister Mary Vandi and brother Steve Kacerik of Putnam; her sister Barbara Ives (Rich) of Lebanon; grandson Derek Martin (Erica) of Webster; grandson Adam Bonneville (Arizona) and granddaughter Stephanie Bonneville (Eastford), granddaughter Rebecca Bonneville (Los Angeles) and grandson Noah Bonneville (San Francisco), great-granddaughter Lainey Martin and three great-great-grandsons Bradley, Kane and Logan of Webster. She was predeceased by her husband Robert, with whom she spent 68 years in Danielson; her son Steve; and her sisters Pauline and Frances; grandson Lance Martin; great-granddaughter Amanda and daughter-in-law Nancy.
The Memorial Service was Dec. 13 in Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace in Webster. Donations: St. James Church in Danielson or the Central Mass Hospice.
Dwight S Lambert
veteran
Dwight S Lambert died Nov. 29, 2019, after a five-year battle with cancer.
He was born Feb. 28, 1952, in Putnam, son of the late Ellsworth and Mildred (Nichols) Lambert.
He also served for several years on the USS Iwo Jima.
He lived in Houston for 20 years before moving back to Connecticut in 2017 after his retirement, where he worked as a security guard at Woodland’s Mall and at O’Riley’s Auto Parts.
He leaves four children: Richard Lambert (Arlie) of Texas, Faith Warner of Danielson, Heather Lambert and her fiancé Cody of Texas and David Lambert (Kathleen) of Texas; eight grandchildren Kira, Ayla, Jacob, Zack, Chloe, Megan, Annabelle and Ellie; brothers Robert Lambert of Vernon, William Lambert (Peggy) of Florida; sisters Carol (Brian) Plesz of Lebanon, Charlene (Eric) Belanger of Danielson, Helen (David) Schwend of Putnam. He was predeceased by a sister Barbara Molnar and brother Gary Lambery and two nephews Gary Lambert Jr and Curtis A Lawrence.
Donations: Northeast CT Hospice.
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