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- Category: Past Issues
Eleanor Copeland,
church member
BROOKLYN — Eleanor Mann Copeland, 96, formerly of Woodstock, died Oct. 1, 2010, at the Pierce Memorial Baptist Home where she lived for the past year. Born March 9, 1914, in Pomfret, she was the daughter of the late James and Annie (Bennette) Mann. Her husband of 44 years, Albert Harvey Copeland Sr., died in 1976.
Eleanor graduated from Putnam High School in 1932 and then from Quinebaug Valley Community College in 1985 at the age of 71 with a Certificate in Business Administration. She worked at Westview Convalescent Center for 15 years supervising housekeeping and laundry, and then for eight years at QVCC as a secretary and math tutor. Eleanor was active in the Pomfret Congregational Church, and provided many years of volunteer service and leadership with the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, Literacy Volunteers, and Hospice.
She leaves her son, Harvey Copeland of Putnam and his children Elizabeth Jaworski, Patricia Giavara, and David Copeland; her daughter, Sylvia Illinger of Lisbon and her sons, Paul, Thomas and James Illinger, and her daughter-in-law, Janice Copeland and her children Wendy Sessums and Scott Copeland; and 13 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her son, Roy Copeland, daughter-in-law, Ann Copeland and son-in-law Charles Illinger.
The Funeral Service will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, followed by burial in Grove Street Cemetery. Calling hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 6. Donations: Masonicare Home Health and Hospice, 12 Case St., Ste. 316, Norwich, CT 06360.
James Simmons Sr.
E. KILLINGLY — James Simmons Sr., 78, of Slater Hill Road, died Sept. 29, 2010, after a battle with cancer. He was born March 16, 1932, son of the late Harry and Bertha (Melleu) Simmons.
James was a hard worker throughout his life and loved to be working outside. He enjoyed OTB and doing yard work. He leaves his wife Phyllis (Wade) Simmons; seven children; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one brother; four sisters. He was predeceased by 10 family members. There will be a Memorial Service at 1 p.m. Oct. 9 at E. Killingly Fire House on Hartford Pike. Burial is private at High Street Cemetery, Dayville. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynold St., Danielson.
Laura Rousseau,
church member
N. GROSVENORDALE — Laura A. Rousseau, 55, of Redmond, Wash., died Sept. 28, 2010, at home. She was the wife of Patrick Rousseau. Born in 1955 in Putnam she was the daughter of Lorraine (Coderre) Durand of North Grosvenordale and the late Lionel Durand.
Raised in N. Grosvenordale, Laura attended Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Becker College and received her bachelor’s degree in economics from Eastern Connecticut State University.
Mrs. Rousseau took pride in caring for her family. Through her life’s journey, she was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale, St. Patrick’s Church in Mystic, St. Mary’s Church in Canandaigua, N.Y.; and St. Thomas Becket Church in Cheshire.
In addition to her husband and mother, Laura leaves her daughter, Diana Rice of Cromwell; son, Alan Rousseau of Athens, Ohio; brother Roger Durand of N. Grosvenordale; sister, Linda Dry of Burlington, N.J., and grandson, Patrick Rice. The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 2 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
William Cote Jr.,
Vietnam war vet
PUTNAM — William H. Cot, Jr. 62, of Battey Street, died Sept. 27, 2010, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester. He was born Sept. 23, 1948, in Worcester, son of the late William and Viola (Depinto) Cote. He was the husband of Jeannette (Mattson) Cote. They were married April 7, 2001.
William and Jeannette started their lives together in the summer of 1977. Throughout his entire life he was a very selfless man, making sacrifices for the sake of others. He was a Vietnam was veteran serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He leaves his wife Jeannette and their children: Kelly Dawn Ranoy (Ricky) of Wallace, N.C., Shawna Husby and her husband of Annapolis, Md., Daniel Mattson of Hampton, Anthony Mattson of Quinebaug; sister, Joyce Gulley of Worcester; grandchildren, Tristian, Mackenzie, Brenden, Olivia, Delana.
Donations: His family to help with final arrangements. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Claire Dexter,
church member
BROOKLYN — Claire Fortin Dexter, 91, of Tripp Hollow Road, died Sept. 24, 2010, at home after a bout with cancer. She was born, July 13, 1919, in Putnam, daughter of the late Nelson and Rose (Dufresne) Fortin. She retired from Idlewild Farms after 15 years of service. She was a communicant of St. James Church.
She had a full life, enjoyed her trips to Arizona, Hawaii with Jeannie, cross country with Jim and Kathy, Disneyland and Disney World, Tennessee with family; motorcycle trip to New Haven with Lenny; Sunday motorcycles trips with Don and Linda, Yankee and Red Sox game fighting over a ball with Raymond; driving Jim’s ca. and more.
She leaves her children: Lucille (Barrett) Benson of New Hampshire, Raymond Dexter Sr. of Queen Creek, Ariz., Jeannie Dexter of Doyle, Calif., Donald Dexter of Danielson, Linda and Don Egan whom she lived with in Brooklyn, James (Kathy) Dexter of Danielson, Lenny (Rita) Dexter of Danielson; special daughter Marie Merrill of Rhode Island; grandchildren: Robert Williams (Dot), Raymond Dexter Jr. (Jeannie), Debra Dexter; Douglas Dexter (Michelle), Kathy Fitzwater (Dusty), Lynn Woods (Eric), Valerie Dexter (Tony) Kentucky, Richard Egan, Cary Egan Goodwin, Jason Dexter (Kara), Jesse Dexter, Tyler and Lindsey Dexte; 25 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law; longtime friend, Mary Grady of Rhode Island. She was predeceased by her brothers, Norman, Germaine (Foxy); sisters, Lillian, Beatrice, Aline, and Yvette; daughters-in-law, Sandy A. (Raymond) and Sandy J. Dexter (Donald).
The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 4 at St. James Church. Donations: Special Olympics of New Hampshire c/o F.N. E. 213 Center Rd., Hillsborough, NH 03244. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home 33 Reynolds St. Danielson.
Charlotte Gwizdala,
mother of 1
WOODSTOCK — Charlotte (Langlois) Gwizdala, 80, of Paine District Road, died Oct. 1, 2010. She was the wife of Antoni Gwizdala who died in November of 2006. She was born May 30, 1930, in N. Grosvenordale, daughter of the late Willie and Anais (Martin) Langlois. She leaves her daughter Gail White (John) of Woodstock; two grandsons Daniel and Aaron of Woodstock; two brothers Norman Langlois (Loretta) of Thompson, Joseph Langlois (Norma) of Thompson. She was predeceased by a sister Annette Brousseau and two brothers Maurice Langlois and Roger Langlois. Donations: Hospice of Northeast Connecticut, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260; or Muddy Brook Fire Department, PO Box 222, E. Woodstock, CT. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Bruce A. Phillips,
Vietnam war vet
DANIELSON — Bruce A. Phillips, 61, of Danielson died Sept. 29, 2010, at Westview Healthcare in Dayville after a long battle with cancer, caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam.
Bruce was born in Putnam on March 17, 1949, son of the late Donald A. and Virginia (Hornby) Phillips. He was the husband of Melissa (Varney) Phillips. They were married Sept. 21, 1984. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1970 which included a tour of duty in Vietnam. Bruce had been employed for 35 years with the Town of Killingly Highway Department. He was a member of the VFW Post 4908. Besides his wife he leaves two sons who were the pride and joy of his life, Eric A. Phillips (fiancée Caryn Rosoff) of Braintree, Mass., and Gregory A. Phillips of Danielson; brother, Barry Phillips (Patricia) of S. Killingly; sister, Patricia Zadora (David) of S. Killingly. He was predeceased by a brother, Donald Phillips and a sister, Gloria Lawrence.
A Memorial Service was Oct. 4 at Westfield Congregational Church, Danielson, with burial in S. Killingly Cemetery with full military honors. Donations: DKH Deary Memorial Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Tillinghast Funeral Home.
Raymond Lafortune,
church member
PUTNAM — Raymond A. Lafortune, 82, of Edmond Street, died Sept. 28, 2010, at Matulaitis Nursing Home. He was born Aug. 8, 1928, in Pawtucket, R.I., the son of the late Leonidas and Alice (Lefebvre) Lafortune. Raymond was the husband of 57 years to Pauline (Belleville). They were married June 21, 1953. Raymond had worked for Cranston Print Works for many years, retiring in 1992. He was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Raymond enjoyed his motorcycle rides.
He leaves his wife Pauline and their children: Alan Lafortune (Connie) of Putnam, James Lafortune (Denise) of Sebastian, Fla., Richard Lafortune (Deborah) of Plainfield; brothers: Armand Lafortune of N. Grosvenordale, Lucien Lafortune of Putnam; sisters: Estelle Hebert of Brooklyn, Loretta Mikkelson of Florida; grandchildren: Timothy, Joel, Lauren, Lindsay, Courtney; great-grandchildren: Thomas James, Bailey, Connor. Raymond was predeceased by a son Dennis Lafortune; brothers, Alfonse and Emile Lafortune; a sister Juliette Perreault. The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 1 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: American Heart Association, PO Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.