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Robert L. Swenson,
Air Force vet
PUTNAM — Robert L. Swenson, 74, of Woodstock Ave., died Nov. 2, 2021, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was predeceased by his first wife, Diane (Conway) Swenson who died in 2002. Born in 1947 in Greenwich, he was the son of the late William and Bernice (Comeau) Swenson.
Mr. Swenson graduated from Greenwich High School in 1965. He served his country proudly with the U.S. Air Force from 1965 through 1969. He worked at and retired from AT&T in 1995. Robert was a part-time dispatcher for E-911 for the Town of Putnam for 10 years also volunteering for the Putnam Fire Department Ladder Company. He held office with the Registrar of Voters for both the Democratic and Republican parties. He volunteered with the Putnam EMS and was a member of the American Legion in Putnam.
He leaves his daughters, Jennifer Diehl of Danielson, and Renee Deveau (Robert Jr.) of Newtown; his brother, Phillip Swenson (Susan) of Brooklyn; his sister, Margaret Jaffer of Florida; his grandchildren, Brittany, Billy, and Josh; and his former wife, Laurie (Kilborn) Swenson. He is predeceased by his brother, Michael Swenson.
The Funeral Service was Nov. 6 at Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: Putnam Fire Dept., 189 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260.
Patricia Shaw Hall
Patricia Shaw Hall died on Nov. 1, 2021, in Putnam at the age of 98 years. She was the second daughter of Florence Gilbert Shaw and George Stanley Shaw Sr. Parental plans to name their daughter Carol changed at the last minute when she decided to enter the world at Day Kimball Hospital on St. Patrick’s Day 1923. Pat grew up in a 1700s era colonial house on Putnam Heights with her older sister Martha Shaw (Sheppard) and her younger brother G. Stanley Shaw Jr.
Upon graduation from Putnam High School in 1941, Pat attended Westbrook Junior College in Portland, Maine. In 1944, Pat married James W. Hall Jr., also of Putnam. The marriage was in South Augusta, N.C., where Jim was undergoing training as a radio communications specialist in the U.S. Army Air Force before he shipped out to a desert post in Morocco, North Africa where he served during WWII.
Following the war, Pat and Jim lived for a short time in Chicago where Jim completed his studies at Illinois College of Optometry in 1948. Their first child, James W. Hall III was born just days after their long drive back to Putnam. Jay is married to Missy Heidelberger Hall. Their first daughter, Tamara Shaw Hall, was born a few years later. Tami was married to Jody Heidelberger (Missy’s brother) until her untimely death on June 25, 2018. In 1955, the number of children in Hall family doubled with the birth of twin daughters Faith St. Pierre (husband Chuck) and Florence Lajeunesse (husband Carl). Children also include Russell Hall (wife Nanci).
Pat and Jim were divorced in the 1970s but subsequently remarried and lived many more years together than apart. Jim died Aug. 27, 2012. Pat was always very active in and supportive of the Putnam Methodist Church, now the Living Faith United Methodist Church. For some time after the children were grown, she was employed at Shaw Stationers in Putnam. On retiring in 1985, Pat was a founding member of Eastern Connecticut Community Kitchens that operated first at the Putnam Congregational Church and later at the Putnam United Methodist Church, where it is still in operation. To the very end, Pat had a sharp mind with a remarkable memory for names and events both recent and in the distant past. Those who know her would agree that Pat was strong willed and never reluctant to comment unequivocally on who should do what and when.
In addition to her children, Pat leaves her younger brother, George Stanley Shaw, Jr. and her older sister, Martha Sheppard, her grandchildren Jason Charles Hall (Courtney), Austin Shaw Hall (Alessandra), Victoria Gilbert Hall McNeal (Mitchell Fraley), Michael R. Deary, Shannon Deary Mohan (Wamsi), Michael Heidelberger, Lauren Heidelberger, Kiersten Heidelberger (husband Allen Beauchene), Neil J. Lajeunesse (Mindy), and Alicia Lajeunesse; 10 great-grandchildren: Jacob, Grace, and Benjamin Zifcak, Brenden Womak (mother Lauren), Austin Charles (Charlie) and Ana Sofia Hall, Jackson Lajeunesse, Nashua Lajeunesse, William-James Finn McNeal, and Luke Fraley.
Visitation is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13 at Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. A Funeral Service follows from noon to 1 p.m. that day in Living Faith United Methodist Church, 53 Grove St, Putnam with burial the Putnam Heights Cemetery. Donations: LFUMC, 53 Grove St. Putnam, CT 06260.
David Liberty
DUDLEY — David Liberty, 68, died Nov. 4, 2021, at home after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
David was born Nov. 11, 1952, in Whitinsville, Mass., son of the late Eli and Beatrice (Bourassa) Liberty.
He recently retired from A. Duie Pyle Trucking Company after 24 years. Before that David worked for Pillsbury, and N&D Trucking. David’s most recent years at work were his favorite — he greatly enjoyed the opportunity to teach his skills to the next generation of truckers.
David was a hardworking man his entire life, dedicated to providing for his dear wife and beautiful family. Anyone who knew David well or perhaps only met him once, quickly learned that he had the “gift of gab,” he loved to talk, and talk, and talk; he especially enjoyed telling corny jokes. He found pleasure in the simple things of life, spending time outdoors, fishing, riding his tractors, and tending to his yard. He especially loved bicycle riding; in fact, he went riding for 600 miles in 2001, and 100 miles in 2003 and 2004 during the Flattest Century Fundraiser.
He leaves his childhood sweetheart and wife of nearly 50 years, Lorna (Burbo) Liberty of Dudley; his daughters Christina Fontaine (Dean) of N. Grosvenordale, and Lisa Liberty (Kristen) of Thompson; his brothers Ronald Liberty of Southbridge and Daniel Liberty of Whitinsville; his sister Joan Lamontagne of Uxbridge, Mass.; his grandchildren Chase Hailey Fontaine and Glen David Fontaine of N. Grosvenordale. Services are private. Donations: Lorna Liberty, 55 Baker Pond Road Dudley, MA 01571. The Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
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