Robert R. Cates Sr.,
truck driver
BROOKLYN — Robert R. “Bobby” Cates Sr., 55, of Paradise Lake Drive, died April 5, 2010, in Worcester. He was born Feb. 22, 1955, in Putnam, son of Robert E. and Leona (Berthiaume) Cates. He had made his home in Brooklyn for the last 14 years, formerly of E. Killingly. He attended the Killingly High School. He worked as a truck driver, mechanic and a heavy equipment operator, working for J & B Transportation in Dayville. His hobbies included collecting scrap metals, grandfather clocks, and he enjoyed his Harley Davidson motorcycles.
He leaves in addition to his mother and father, his companion, Sandra Theriaque and her children, Brandy, Ashley, Jeremy and Jason; his children, Jamie Cates, Robert Cates Jr., Chris Cates, Nicole Cates; siblings, Darlene Chase, Deborah Maynard, Michael Cates Sr., Donna Corbine; 21 grandchildren.
Calling hours were April 12 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Donations: To his family to help with final expenses.

Frederic A. Vigue,
raised horses
N. GROSVENORDALE —  Frederic A. “Tony” Vigue, 72, of LaPorte Road, died April 10, 2010, at home surrounded by his family.  He was the husband of Norma (Marsh) Vigue for 30 years. 
Born in 1938 in N. Grosvenordale, he was the son of the late Antonio Vigue and the late Angelina (Termine) Vigue. He was in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958 serving as an airman. Mr. Vigue worked as a millwright for Industrial Transfer & Storage. He enjoyed all his animals and raising horses.He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion.
In addition to his wife Norma, he leaves three sons, Stephen Milligan and Phillip Vigue both of Fitchburg, Mass., and Daniel LaFlamme of Debary, Fla.; three daughters, Cristina Keegan of Canterbury, Teri Anne Buck of Woodsville, N.H., and Belynda Cae Daniels of Parishville, N.Y.; three brothers, Richard Menga of Florida, Anthony Vigue of Robstown, Texas, and Gary Vigue of Charlton; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.  He was predeceased by two children, Christopher and Elizabeth Vigue;  a brother, Phillip Vigue.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with “Fred/Tony’s” family from 9 to 10 a.m. April 16  in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale,  followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 20 Main St., N. Grosvenordale and burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: American Cancer Society, Franklin Commons, 106 Rt. 32, Franklin, CT 06254.

Pauline M. Dube,
dietary aide
DANIELSON — Pauline M. Dube, 72, of Geer Road died April 7, 2010, surrounded by her family at the Day Kimball Hospital after an illness. She was the wife of the late Jean-Paul Dube. He died May 18, 2001.
She was born Sept. 15, 1937, in Coaticook, Canada, daughter of the late Arthur and Jeanne (St. Cyr) Arnold.
Following their marriage in Canada on Jan. 26, 1957, they moved to the U.S. She attended schools in Canada. She was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson and St. Joseph Church in Dayville. Pauline stayed home and raised her family, when they were grown she went to work at Haven Health as a dietary aide and worked there for 18 years and after retirement volunteered there for the last 5 years up until her death. Pauline was active with the Plainfield Senior Center, loved her trips to Canada and enjoyed playing bingo and cards with her friends and her sister, She enjoyed family gatherings, especially at the lake. She especially cherished her trip to Florida last year with her son and his family where she was finally able to see “live” palm trees.
She leaves her children, Sylvia Marcoux of Killingly, Nancy Blake (Richard) of Plainfield; Peter Dube (Linda) of Canterbury, Bruno Dube (Kimberly) of Killingly;  siblings, Georgette Arnold of Willimantic, Lucille Desindes of Willimantic, Jean-Yves Arnold of Canada; grandchildren, Nicholas and Jonathan Blake, Nicole and Michelle Marcoux, Mathew and Owen Dube, Chalei and Makala Dube; close friend Doris Bernier. She was predeceased by her son Donald Dube and a son-in-law Yves Marcoux.
The Mass of Christian Burial was April 12 at St. Joseph Church. Donations: Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Dr., Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

David W. Fairfield Jr.,
church member
WOODSTOCK — David W. Fairfield Jr., 54, of Woodstock, died unexpectedly at home April 5, 2010. He was the son of Jean Fairfield of Woodstock, and the late David Way Fairfield Sr.
He was a 1974 graduate of the Woodstock Academy. He made his home in Woodstock, Putnam and Danielson. He attended the First Congregational Church of Woodstock and the Evangelical Covenant Church of Woodstock. He enjoyed cooking and music, listening to many varieties on his satellite radio. He attended classes in Torquay, Devonshire, England and took several classes at Harvard H Ellis Technical School in Danielson.
He leaves his mother. He was the nephew of Janice and Robert Lomasney of Texas, Eileen Peterson of Quincy, Mass., Florence and Roger Wiggans of California, Albert Mitchell of Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his twin brother of James Fairfield.
The Funeral was private with burial in Woodstock Hill Cemetery. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
 
Paul J. Yargeau,
foster parent
DANIELSON — Paul J. Yargeau , 69, of Airport Road, died April 8, 2010, at the Hartford Hospital. He was the husband of Theresa  (Bodo) Yargeau. They were married May 30, 1959, in St. Ignatius Church, Rogers.
He was born  March 14, 1941, in Putnam, son of the late Roland and Fidella (Martel) Yargeau. He made his home in Danielson all his life, a communicant of St. James Church. He was a machinist working for C.E.M. for 10 years and Superwinch for 23 years. He was active with the Foster Parents program for 18 years. He enjoyed woodworking, cooking and working in his yard.
He leaves his wife Theresa; son, Brian Finn of Danielson; sister, Lorraine Brown of Brooklyn. He  was predeceased by his brother Roland “Pete” Yargeau.
The Funeral was private. Gagnon and  Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

James Battista,
WWII vet
DUDLEY — James H. Battista, 86, of Hall Road died April 6, 2010, in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester. He was the husband of the late Olga (Borodenco) Battista who died in 1995.
He was born in Webster, son of the late Peter and Angelina (Menzone) Battista and lived in Dudley for the past 55 years prior to that living in Webster.  He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII.  He worked at Cranston Print for several years then working for Carpenters Local 107 in the construction field.  He was a member of the Webster-Dudley American Legion, DAV, Sons of Italy and Carpenters Union 107.
He leaves a daughter,  Susan A. and her husband Robert Wolak of Woodstock; brother, Albert Battista of Southbridge; sister Viola M. Galvin Testa of Colchester; a granddaughter, Julie Wolak of Malden, Mass.; dear friend, Celia Willett of Quinebaug.
The Funeral Mass was April 9 in St. Louis Church, Webster, with burial, with military honors in Calvary Cemetery, Dudley.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

P. 'Archie' Peckham,
woodworker
PUTNAM ---  Philip B. “Archie” Peckham, 65, of Fairmount Street, died  April 11, 2010, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.
He was born in Putnam, son of the late Adelbert and Bernice (Sheldon) Peckham and lived in Putnam all his life.  He was a graduate of Ellis Tech School and was a heavy equipment operator for many years.  He loved the New York Yankees, woodworking, birdwatching and Mustangs.
He leaves his fiance‘, Mary A, Kindler of Putnam; a daughter, Kimberly M. Peckham of Beverly, MA; Mary’s children, Carmen and Katie Kindler; grandchildren, Alexis DisChamps, Troy Spenard, Cailyn Spenard, Fenway Archie Peckham, Dominik Kubera and Michael Philip Brousseau.
Donations: American Lung Association, 460 Totem Pond Road, #400, Waltham, MA 02451.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home,  Webster.

Sandra Flitt Garston,
gardener   
UNION --- Sandra (Flitt) Garston, 71, of Hall Road, formerly of Woodstock, died  April 10, 2010, at home with her family by her bedside. Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Isadore and Molly (Kurtin) Flitt. Sandra loved gardening especially growing lilies and bird watching. She also loved to play Bingo and have family gatherings.
She was the wife for 55 years of Gerald N. Garston; cherished mother of Steven Garston and his wife Virginia of South Windsor, Dean Garston and his wife Erin of Boxford, Mass., and Donna Garston of Enfield; beloved grandmother of Karlie Garston, Kerianne Garston, Garrett Garston, Alanna Garston, Jonathan Garston, Brian Healis, and Robin Christy and her husband Nick; devoted sister of Myron Flitt of West Hartford, Bella Benmaor of Bloomfield, Rita Brown of Lauderhill, Fla., Annette Arren of West Hartford, Ethel Frank of Simsbury, Faye Baron of Pembrook Pines, Fla. She was predeceased by her sisters, Bessie Ginsburg, Tessie Goldberg, Edith Callender, Ruth Jacobson, and Lillian Michaels.
The Funeral was April 14 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, with interment in Congregation Bnai Sholom Memorial Park, Wethersfield.

Marilyn J. Laliberte,
church member
DANIELSON — Marilyn J. Laliberte, 63, of North River Lane, died April 8, 2010, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was the wife of Dennis N. Laliberte. There were married Feb. 19, 1966.
Mrs. Laliberte was born Jan. 8, 1947, in Putnam, daughter of the late Philip Robichaud Sr. and Dorice (Eno) Robichaud. She has worked for the past 37 years for the Killingly School System at Killingly Intermediate School, most recently as kitchen manager. She is a communicant of St. Joseph Church in Dayville.
Besides her husband she leaves her children, Julie White (Chris) of Gloucester, Va., Kim Ellis (Andy) of Sterling, Sheila Bash (Robert) of Putnam, Dennis N. Laliberte Jr. (Tara) of Plainfield and Dorice Barrows (Dave) of N. Grosvenordale; brother, Michael Robichaud Sr. (Peg) of Woodstock; sister, Brenda Holden of Danielson; 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren.
The Memorial Mass was April 10 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville. Donations: American Cancer Society, 106 Rt. 32, Franklin Commons, Franklin, CT 06254. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.

Peter Wolak,
WWII vet
BROOKLYN --- Peter Wolak, 90, of Brooklyn died April 11, 2010, Sunday at Regency Heights Health Care facility of Danielson. He was born March 28, 1920, in Putnam, the son of the late Albert and Antonia (Chrabazez) Wolak.
He joined the army in September of 1941 and served as a tail gunner with the 366th Bombardment Squadron 305th Bombardment Group. The B-17 bomber was shot down on a mission over Germany and he served as a Prisoner of War for the next 13 months, after his release he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was discharged in July of 1945. Prior to his departure overseas, he met and married the love of his life, Frances Rogers and they were married June 30, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas. She died March 2, 2006. Pete started a plumbing and heating business in the mid 1950’s and was a successful contractor until his retirement. He also became a gentleman farmer for many years.
He is survived by a son William Wolak of Brooklyn.
 A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. April 15 at  Tillinghast Funeral Home, 433 Main St., Danielson.