John W. Winstanley,
Korean war vet
WOODSTOCK — John W. Winstanley, 88, of Lyon Hill Rd., died June 25, 2018.
Born in 1930 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the middle son of three, of the late Arthur and Catherine (Murphy) Winstanley. He was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur and Bernard.
Mr. Winstanley was a U.S. Army veteran who proudly served his country during the Korean war. He was the English Department coordinator and teacher for Elmont Memorial High School in New York City for many years. Formerly a resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., he retired to Woodstock in 1985 where he did volunteer work for the New Roxbury Land Trust, Woodstock Garden Club, Woodstock Historical Society, PARTS and the Woodstock Theft Detecting Society. He enjoyed gardening, traveling, art and literature. He was a very cultured man. John will be remembered by many for hosting the annual, “Thanksgiving in the Woods” celebration, a long-standing Thanksgiving Day tradition among many families, at which he and his partner in life, Jack Mona, presided.
He leaves many relatives and friends including his nephews, Bernard Winstanley and Ken Miller; his nieces, Catherine Miller, Ellie Ricci, and Alice Winstanley; his great-niece and Godchild, Leighla Jaymes Kelly; and his close friends Penny and David Foisey. He was predeceased by his partner of 60 years, John E. “Jack” Mona.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. July 7 in Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: New Roxbury Land Trust, P.O. Box 98, Woodstock, CT 06281. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 104 Church St., Putnam.
George B. Lawrence,
Korean war vet
POMFRET CENTER — George B. Lawrence, 88, died June 23, 2018, at home. He was the husband of Elsie (Baker) for 53 years.
He was born Feb. 10, 1930, in Sturbridge, Mass., son of the late Philip E. Lawrence and Frances B. Tower.
He was a graduate of Mary E. Wells High School in Southbridge and was an Army veteran of the Korean war. He became a resident of Pomfret Center in 1956 and ran Lawrence Brothers Farm with his brother Edric from 1956-1987. He also owned and operated a standard bred racing stable where his father trained the horses that they raced throughout New England.
He was on the Board of Directors of the Putnam Farmers Co-op for more than 40 years and was also a member of the Wolf Den Grange. He was a very proud 32nd Degree Mason of the Ionic 110 Lodge, and also belonged to the Sphinx Temple Shriners. His dog Percy and his 56 Chevy pick-up were two of his favorite things.
Besides his wife, he leaves sons Thomas (Jennifer), Brian (fiance Chris) and Bedford (Courtnay); six grandchildren, Carolyn, Virginia, Thomas, Mary, Taylor and Reid; his sister Carolyn Langevin. He was predeceased by his brother, Edric and his granddaughter Kaitlyn Marie.
A Memorial Service was June 30 at South Cemetery, Pomfret, with military honors. Donations: Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Tamara Shaw Hall
Tamara Shaw Hall, 67, died unexpectedly from a health problem following surgery on June 25, 2018, in Florida.
She was born Dec. 10, 1950, the daughter of Patricia Shaw Hall and the late James W. Hall Jr. Tami grew up in Putnam. In 1969 she graduated from Putnam High School where she was a cheerleader, a drum majorette, and a member of the girls’ basketball team. Tami’s siblings include James W. Hall III (Missy Heidelberger Hall), twin sisters Faith Mercedes Hall (Chuck St. Pierre) and Florence Ellen Hall (Carl Lajeunesse), and Russell Hall (Nanci).
Tami was married first to Michael Deary Sr.
Even though the marriage ended, Tami remained close to the large extended Deary family. In 1988, Tami married Charles Joseph (Jody) Heidelberger, Missy’s older brother. They enjoyed 30 years together.
Tami was a talented nurse who provided skilled and compassionate care to children and adults in different educational and health care settings in northeastern Connecticut.
For a number of years, she cared for residents at Westview Health Care Center in Dayville. Later, until her retirement in 2015, Tami continued her career of service to students in the Sweeny School within the Windham School System who required skilled nursing care during their educational day.
As everyone who spent any time with Tami knows very well, she was a voracious reader.
Without exaggeration, Tami read more books in a typical year that most persons read in a lifetime.
Tami was, for more than 50 years, an avid Beach Boys fan. Before and during her retirement, she and Jody attended dozens of Beach Boys concerts around the country. Tami and Jody lived most of their years together at a home on the shores of Witches Woods Lake in S. Woodstock, which is connected to Upper Bungee Lake. In the dead of winter in 2010, a horrible fire destroyed the house and most of the contents. Tami and Jody regrouped with the generous help of friends and strangers who provided food, clothing, and shelter while a new house was built on the site.
They were particularly thankful for the valiant efforts of the Bungay Fire Department in fighting the fire in very challenging wintery conditions. Tami partially expressed her gratitude by enlisting as a volunteer member of the Bungay Fire Brigade.
In addition to her siblings she leaves children, stepchildren and grandchildren. She was an incredible mother for her son Michael Deary Jr. and daughter Shannon Deary Zifcak; plus her stepchildren Michael and Lauren, and Kiersten. Her grandchildren: Jacob, Benjamin and Grace Zifcak, and step-grandson Brenden Womack.
Over the years, Tami and Jody gave shelter and comfort to other young persons who needed it at the time.
A Memorial Service will be at 4:30 p.m. July 28 at the Living Faith United Methodist Church on Grove St, Putnam.
Donations: Scholarship Fund at Putnam High School, 152 Woodstock Ave., Putnam CT 06260; or to the Bungay Fire Department, 1256 CT 171, South Woodstock CT 06267.
Jean-Marc Perreault Sr.
DAYVILLE — Jean-Marc B. Perreault Sr., 82, formerly of Putnam and Northbridge, Mass., died June 25, 2018, at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
He was born July 9, 1935, in Sainte-Marguerite-de-Dorchester, Quebec, Canada, son of the late Raymond and Olivine (Fournier) Perreault. He was the husband of Martha (Griffiths). They celebrated their 25th anniversary last year. They were married Aug. 30, 1992, at the Canterbury Chapel in Las Vegas.
Jean-Marc was a Communicant of St. Peter’s Parish in Northbridge. He loved traveling with his wife, visiting all 50 states, the Panama Canal and all the Canadian Provinces. He loved reading and the Hale YMCA in Putnam as he enjoyed going every day. He loved his career, as he was owner of Jeans Drywall, Inc.
Besides his wife Martha, he leaves his children, Robert (Lynn) Perreault, Yvon Perreault, Daniel Perreault, Lise Kenniston (Kevin), Michael Perreault Sr., (Deborah), Jean- Marc B. Perreault Jr. (Kelly), sisters, RoseAlma Lallier, Raymonde Lallier, Theresé Sayer, stepchildren, Marcia Metcalf (Leonard), Robert W. Fierley Jr. (Sue Mae), Michael Joseph Fierley Sr. (Melissa), Deborah Thiebault (Edward Jr.), grandchildren, Richard Hilditch Jr., Nichole Perreault, Michael Perreault Jr., James William Parker, Danielle Perreault, Alexandra Lynn Perreault, Jessica Sarah Perreault, Lucas Jean Perreault, Mabel Rose Perreault, Michael J. Fierley Jr., Justine Allen, Jacob Fierley, Madison Fierley, Jordan Fierley, Joshua Thiebault, Lindsey Thiebault, Felicia Fierley, Nicholas Fierley, Mia Lynn Metcalf, great-grandchildren, Isabelle Hilditch, Richard Hilditch III, Gabrielle Hilditch, Dagny Fierley, Kira Fierley, Isaac Allen, Joseph Fierley. He was predeceased by two children, Collette Forward and Bertrand Perreault.
A Mass of Christian Burial was July 2 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial to follow in Acote’s Hill Cemetery, Chepachet. Donations: Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Joseph Beaudoin Jr.
PUTNAM — Joseph A. “Joey” Beaudoin Jr., 56, of Green St., died peacefully June 29, 2018, at home. Born in 1962 in Norwich, he was the son of Mary (Michael) Beaudoin of Putnam and the late Joseph A. Beaudoin Sr. Joseph was employed by Crabtree and Evelyn as a sorter. Joseph’s true love was watching and rooting for the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
In addition to his mother, he leaves two sisters, Sherry Mead of Thompson and Sharon Mahlert (Mike) of Putnam; his niece Hannah Mead; and his nephew, Nicholas Dimopoulos. Joseph was predeceased by his sister Shelia Gardiner. A Graveside Service will be at 10 a.m. July 9 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: Muscular Dystrophy Association, 127 Washington Ave., 4th floor, North Haven, CT 06473. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Conti Jr.
WOODSTOCK — Anthony Conti Jr, 76, of Harrisville Rd., died peacefully June 22, 2018, at the Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was the husband of Jane (Higgins) Conti. Born in 1941 in Providence, he was the son of the late Antonio and Pasqualina (Martone) Conti. He was married to his best friend and partner Jane M. Higgins on the 4th of July 1998, in Sterling, Mass. Tony worked for many years as a member of the CIA and went on to become a financial advisor and stock broker for the Wells Fargo Company, retiring in June of 2015. He loved to travel. Tony will always be remembered as a true “gentle”man and gracious host. He leaves his son, Christopher Conti (Kimberly) of New Jersey; stepdaughter, Elena Pratt (Ted) of Virginia; a sister, Janice Conti Taraborelli of Colorado; two grandsons; a lifelong friend and brother by another mother, Michael Ilaria. A Celebration of his Life is being planned. Donations: American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org; Scouts of America at www.scouting.org; or PAWS Animal Shelter at www.woodstockcats.org. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Ellen Larsen Geer
WOODSTOCK — Ellen Larsen Geer died June 25, 2018. She was born Nov. 2, 1927, to Axel and Helga Larsen, a first-generation American daughter of Danish immigrants. She was proud of both her Danish heritage and American citizenship, Ellen grew up in Laurelton, Long Island, N.Y. Her family moved to Ledyard to farm, where she met the love of her life, Earl Geer. Ellen attended Bates College in Maine, returning to Ledyard to care for her mother after a year. She served as school teacher for the Geer Hill School in Ledyard, a one room schoolhouse, and then went on to graduate from Eastern State Connecticut Teachers College.
After having met on the school bus on the first day of school in Ledyard, Ellen and Earl dated in middle and high school, but went their went their separate ways upon graduation, Ellen to college and Earl to the U.S. Navy. They reunited soon after and were married in 1954, and lived in New York City and then moved to Bronxville, N.Y., to raise their four children. In Bronxville, Ellen was active in the PTA, tutoring in Harlem, church life and the Garden Club. She started an antique jewelry business, and worked as a substitute teacher.
Part-time residents in Woodstock since 1956, Ellen and Earl moved full time to Fairlane Farm in 1987 to enjoy their retirement. The farm became a bevy of activity around gardens, Christmas trees, friends and a landing spot for their grown children, spouses and soon, nine grandchildren. Ellen was active in the life of the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, where she served as a deacon, and in the L’Apres Midi organization.
She leaves her children Kristen Kaiser (Charles), Earl III, (Sara), Susan (Daniel) and Karen Donovan (Jim) and grandchildren, William, Emma, Nell, Rose, Lucy, Beatrix, Charlotte and Roan. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Eric Larsen, her husband Earl Jr, and grandson John, Donations: Day Kimball Homemakers or Connecticut Hospice. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Margaret Robichaud
WOODSTOCK —— Margaret (Peg) Louise Robichaud, born Oct. 2, 1965, died at 52 years old on June 30, 2018, after a four-year battle with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Those who knew Peg know that she was a stubborn soul and fought this battle with everything she had.
Peg was a hard-working individual at the Rite Aid Distribution Center as an area manager in Dayville since 1992, not letting her cancer get in the way of her job. Throughout everything, one of her main goals was always to return to work and to her “people.”
She leaves her husband Michael; daughter Nicole; her lifelong best friend (and sister in-law) Brenda Holden; stepdaughter Pamela Trites; stepsons Michael Robichaud Jr., and Ernest Robichaud; brothers Albert Sharpe and Eric Sharpe; sisters Judy Chauvette, Leslie Gilbert, Reenie Soltys, and Paula Sharpe; granddaughters Abigail Robichaud and Elissa Robichaud; grandsons Ernest Robichaud Jr., Sullivan Trites, and Michael Trites.
She was remembered for telling people to get out of her office at work, giving people her famous “glare,” being a horrible and humorous driver, her love for iced coffee and cats.
Services were private. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.
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