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Lionel J. Bergeron,
WWII vet
KILLINGLY — Lionel J. Bergeron, 96, of Killingly, died Nov. 23, 2017.
He was born April 23, 1921, in Thompson, son of Ernest & Evangeline (Sarette) Bergeron and raised in the Ballouville section of Killingly where he lived his entire life.
He was a 1939 graduate of Killingly High School and captain of both the baseball and hockey teams.
He married Marguerite Humes, the love of his life, on June 19, 1942, before joining U.S. Army for WWII. He participated in the European Theater and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
After returning home in 1945, he worked at Jacobs Rubber and later at Hales Manufacturing. At this time, Lionel also drove bus at Killingly Schools for 35 years while forming many friendships with the students. He was an avid Red Sox and UConn women’s basketball fan plus a lover of all animals. Lionel enjoyed gardening, which was admired by everyone.
Besides his wife, Marguerite of 75 years, he leaves his son, Richard, daughter-in-law Patricia Bergeron of Putnam, and grandson Bryan Bergeron of Billerica, Mass. He was predeceased by his grandson Jeremy Bergeron and his brother Ovide Bergeron.
Graveside Services were Nov. 28 in Westfield Cemetery in Danielson. Donations: NECCOG Animal Services, 125 Putnam Pike, Dayville, CT 06241. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Raymond A. LeClaire,
Korean war vet
DAYVILLE —  Raymond A. LeClaire, 89, of Primrose Village, died Nov. 24, 2017, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.  He was the husband of 67 years to Lorraine (Poulin) LeClaire.
Born in 1927 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Alfonse and Irene (Joly) LeClaire.
Ray joined the Merchant Marines and was later drafted by the U.S. Army serving during the Korean war.
On Nov. 29, 1952, he was united in marriage to the former Lorraine Poulin in St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.
Mr. LeClaire worked for many years for Southern New England Telephone Company as a dispatcher.
He was a member of the American Legion Post #13 in Putnam and the VFW Post #2650 in Danielson. Raymond was a true “people person”, and enjoyed traveling and going camping with his family.
He leaves his wife; three sons Bruce LeClaire (Debbie) of Scituate, Mass., Kevin LeClaire of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Wayne LeClaire of Cape Coral, Fla.; a daughter Lori Peabody (Ed) of Eastford; siblings Norman LeClaire of Cape Cod, Pauline Carter of Danielson, Jeanette Haskel of Jewett City, Madeline Dore of Moosup, and Helen Normandie of Danielson; six grandchildren Michael, Patrick, Christopher, Jonathan, Dylan, and Andrew; two great-grandchildren Mackenzie and Ella. He was predeceased by a granddaughter Melissa,
The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 29 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery.  Donations: VFW Post #2650, 29 Mechanics St., Danielson, CT 06239. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Florence Kennette
PUTNAM — Florence Kennette, 92, of Putnam, died Nov. 13, 2017, at the Westview Health Care in Dayville. She was the wife of the late Theodore Kennette. They were married Dec. 5, 1946. He died in 2003.
She was born Oct. 15, 1925, in Putnam, daughter of the late Warren and Una (Fortney) McNally. She had worked as a telephone operator for SNET and a sewer for Wellington Curtain. She enjoyed travelling. She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam, a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Putnam VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Putnam Travelers.
She leaves her son Allen Kennette (Janice) of Punta Gorda, Fla.; her grandchildren, Allison Langevin of Martinsburg, W.Vir., and April Thomas of Putnam;  great-grandchildren, Madison, McKenzie, Taylor and Noah; sisters, Sandra Peterson of Putnam, Arlene Altmeier of Putnam, Phyllis Miller of Oneco; her brother Francis McNally of Brooklyn. She was predeceased by her sister Cynthia Laurion.
A Graveside Service will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 9 in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Kevin J. Walsh
N. GROSVENORDALE — Kevin J. Walsh, 66, of Blain Rd., died Nov. 20, 2017, at Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester.  He was the husband of Sharon L (Laliberte) Walsh.  Born in 1951 in Hartford, he was the son of the late William and Joanne (Hickey) Walsh.
Mr. Walsh worked for many years as a sales representative for D. J. D. Medical.
Kevin enjoyed playing golf, gardening, and local politics. He was an avid New York Giants and Boston Red Sox fan.
He leaves his wife Sharon; three sons Joshua Austin Walsh of Willington, Andrew Adam Walsh (Elizabeth) of Holden, Mass., and Bryan Curtis Walsh of Thompson; 12 siblings Gregory Walsh of Danielson, Christopher Walsh of Dayville, Bernard Walsh of Montague, Mass., Martin Walsh of Putnam, Matthew Walsh of Moosup, David Walsh of Worcester, Thomas Walsh of Evans Mills, N.Y., Benjamin Walsh of Sharon, Mass., Maura Mills of Morre, S.C., Monica Bouchey of Richmond, Vir., Jenny Sullivan of Lyman, S.C., and Brigid Saucier of Berlin, N.H.; four grandchildren Grace, Daniel, Elijah, and Maxen Walsh.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 25 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Donations: Daily Bread, 53 Grove St., Putnam, CT 06260. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

Lucille K. Duhamel
PUTNAM — Lucille K. Duhamel, 86, of Thurber Rd., formerly of Ballou St., died, Nov. 21, 2017, at Matulaitis Nursing Home. Born in 1931 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Napoleon and Marie (Caron) Keroack. She was the wife of the late Arthur Duhamel.
Lucille graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, Washington, D.C., and was employed as the organist for St. Mary Church for 40 years.
She leaves five sons, David Duhamel, Robert Duhamel, James Duhamel, Paul Duhamel and William Duhamel; two daughters, Louise Duhamel of Springfield, Vir., and Claire Duhamel.
The Funeral was private. Donations: St. Mary Church 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Doris B. Gravel
N. GROSVENORDALE —  Doris B. (Pelletier) Gravel, 97, formerly of Riverside Dr., died Nov. 24, 2017, at Westview Healthcare in Dayville.  She was the wife of the late Albert J. Gravel.
Born in 1920 in N. Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Roseanna (Houle) Pelletier.
On May 1, 1948, in St. Joseph Church she was united in marriage to Albert J. Gravel, who died in 1991.
Mrs. Gravel worked as a winder at local woolen mills as well as in the St. Joseph School cafeteria, Cluett – Peabody, and N. Grosvenordale candy store. Mrs. Gravel was a member of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale.
She leaves a daughter Phyllis Larson (David) of Thompson; four grandchildren Timothy, Daniel, Joshua, and Benjamin; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her 12 siblings
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Judith Ann LeSage
BROOKLYN — Judith Ann LeSage, 79 of Brooklyn, died Nov. 22, 2017 at the Hartford Hospital. She was the wife of the late Rene P. LeSage, who died Dec. 4, 2007.
She was born Sept. 27, 1938, in Putnam, daughter of Joseph and Lillian (Provost) Lamoureux.  She had made her home in Ballouville for many years. She operated Judy Ann’s Salon, worked in Food Service at Rectory School in Pomfret, and operated a cleaning service for many years. Judy was a communicant of St. James Church and Sacristan of St Mary’s Chapel along with a friend David for over 14 years.
She leaves her children Karen Provost (Thomas) of Ashford, Joseph Cacciapuoti (Melissa) of Dayville, Keith LeSage (Jennifer) of Plainfield, John Cacciapuoti and Toby of Ogunquit, Maine, and Renee Wilson of E. Killingly; her grandchildren Brandon, Ashley, Jocelyn, Madison, Alexa-Kate, Johnathan and a great-granddaughter.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 29 M at St. James Church, Danielson. Donations: The Michael J. Fox  Foundation for Parkinson’s Research P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 www.michaeljfox.org. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Irene S. Shaffer
PUTNAM —  Irene S. (Shea) Shaffer, 90, of Woodstock Ave., died Nov. 25, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital.  She was the wife of Robert A. Shaffer. 
Born in 1927 in New Haven, she was the daughter of the late Gerald T. and Dorothea (Riley) Shea.
Mrs. Shaffer retired from working as a mail order clerk at Crabtree and Evelyn, prior to that she was the telephone operator at Annhurst College.
Irene was a faithful member of the Epsilon Nu Sigma Sorority.
She leaves her husband; five children Robert Shaffer (Lisa) of Scituate, R.I., Susan Kachur (David) of Putnam, Timothy Shaffer (Deborah) of Griswold, Philip Shaffer of Putnam, and Christopher Shaffer and his companion Sandy Goulet; 10 grandchildren Eric, Rory, Natasha, Jenilee, Julia, Jessica, Hunter, Andrew, Thomas, and Tim, 19 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her siblings Gerald Shea and Dorothea Lewis.
Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 30 in the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial follows in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Daughters of the Holy Spirit, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260.

James 'Jim' Yacko
DAYVILLE — James (Jim) E. Yacko, 67, of Dayville, died Nov. 25, 2017.  Jim was a psychotherapist for many years in the Worcester area.
In his free time, Jim was an avid fisherman, spending many hours on the Long Island Sound and at his favorite lake in upper Maine.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, who in turn loved when Jim barbecued his famous ribs.  Jim also loved following his favorite sports teams, especially his beloved New York Yankees.
He leaves his wife and best friend, Maureen McKeon; his sister Paula (Jon) Maynard; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will be sorely missed by his dog, Blue.  Jim was predeceased by his parents George and Evelyne Yacko and his younger sister, Barbara Maione. 
A Celebration of Life will be at 1 p.m .Dec. 9 at the United Church of Christ, Federated, Church Street, Webster .Donations: Soundkeeper at www.soundkeeper.org; or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Cecile Miller,
WWII vet
DANIELSON — Cecile A. (Peloquin) Miller, 94, died Nov. 25, 2017, at home.  She was the wife of the late Virgil Miller who died in 1946.
She was born in Moosup daughter of the late Alphonse and Mary (Moulin) Peloquin and lived in Danielson most of her life except for 20 years nursing at Cape Cod. She served as a 2nd LT. in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII.  She was a registered nurse working in convalescent homes in the Manchester, Windsor area.  She was a Gold Star wife and mother.  She was the first nurse to give the Polio Vaccine.  She was a special nurse for Senator Teddy Kennedy during her time at Cape Cod.  She enjoyed knitting, and travel.
She leaves two sons, Col. Kipp Miller (Danuta) of Manchester, Leslie Miller of Lihue, Hawaii; three daughters; Beverly Miller of Brattleboro, VTt., Mina Miller of Danielson, with which she made her home, and Emile Miller of Eastham, Mass.; six grandchildren.  She was predeceased by a son, Keith Miller.
The service was private.  Donations: Disabled American Veterans.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

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