George Price,
Korean war vet
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. — George Price, 85, formerly of Boston and Wellesley Hills, died Oct. 8, 2018, at Maristhill Skilled Nursing Facility in Waltham, Mass. He was the husband of Laima (Miknius) Price. Born in 1933 in Cambridge, Mass., he was the son of the late William and Harriette (Merritt) Price.
George attended the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston and served as a Marine during the Korean Conflict. Mr. Price owned and operated the George Price Advertising & Design Company and patented a headrest called OPTIMVS (Real Ease).
George was an award-winning graphic designer and artist loved by his family and friends for his talents, jokes, intellectual curiosity, dancing, and singing skills.
He leaves his wife Laima; her children, Elyte and Edward; nieces, Karen, Christine, Marlys, Robin, and Shelly; five step-grandchildren; and many great-nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his six sisters and one brother.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date and the burial is private. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Brian B. Bonin,
Navy vet
WOODSTOCK — Brian Bernard Bonin of Woodstock a hard-working truck driver who mixed humor with traditional family values, died Oct. 11, 2018. He was 78.
He was born in Hartford to Bernard and Evelyn Bonin. He attended Harvard Ellis Technical High School in Killingly and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1957. He served honorably in the Navy from 1957 - 1961, and was stationed at Virginia Beach and at Newport, R.I.
He was a gifted storyteller and could captivate a crowded room with his jokes. He was happiest on his motorcycle, leading the way with his family behind him, exploring the backroads of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Or seated at the head of the table at one of the local diners or restaurants with his family and with his best friend, Lowell Bond, telling tales and holding court. He never missed a birthday celebration, baptism, graduation, or family event. And he was always available and willing to listen and to help when anyone needed him. He believed in the value of hard work, often working more than 80 hours per week in order to provide for his family. He worked at Wajer’s Express Company in Dudley and at Ostermann Gas Company in Northbridge, Mass.
He devoted his life to his wife of nearly 60 years, Celina Marie Bonin, who survives him. He leaves five children: his son Bruce Bonin (Christina) of N. Grosvenordale, his daughter Brenda Bond (Thomas) of Hopkinton, Mass., his son Bradford Bonin (Sherry) of Woodstock, his son Matthew Bonin (Kelly) of St. Augustine, Fla., and his daughter Melissa Davis (Jeffrey) of N. Grosvenordale; nine grandchildren: Chad Bonin, Jason Bonin, Chelsea Bonin, Danielle Bond, Travis Bonin, Samantha Bond, Zachary Bonin, Aaron Davis and Lia Friedman; five great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Jane Daigle of Putnam and Gertrude Carr of Brooklyn.
There will not be a memorial or burial service: his final wish was to be remembered just the way he was. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Hope Listro
WOODSTOCK — Hope (Hovey) Listro, 88, formerly of Revere, Mass., died Oct. 9, 2018. She was the wife of the late Salvatore E. Listro. Born in 1930 in Houlton, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Wallace and Pearl (Lynt) Hovey. She was raised in Houlton.
Hope moved to Boston after graduating Houlton High School in 1948. She then worked as a cost estimator for Simplex Wire and Cable. She married Salvatore in June of 1957 and raised her children as a stay-at-home mom, volunteering at their schools and various other organizations for her children. Hope summered with her family at their cottage on Big Island Pond in Atkinson, N.H. After her children were grown, she worked for several years as a secretary at St. Dominic Savio High School’s Spiritual Office in E. Boston. In retirement, she spent her winters with her husband at their home in Lakeland, Fla.
She loved knitting, making everyone hats, mittens and afghans. She enjoyed Cribbage and other card games, Scrabble and crossword puzzles.
She leaves three children: Laura Listro (Patrick) of Tewksbury, Mass., Joann Listro of Derry, N.H., Anthony Listro (Joanne) of Woodstock; a brother, Bert Hovey (Jess) of Manchester; 10 grandchildren, Salvatore, Steven Jr., Joseph, Nicholas, Sarah, Derek, Linnea, Samuel, Benjamin, and Anthony. She was predeceased by a son, Steven Listro Sr.; seven brothers Noel, Rex, Kenny, Paul, Carl, Arthur, and Leo Hovey and three sisters Laura Hovey, Ruby Rhoda, and Jean (Estabrook) Moscone.
Visitation is from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 17 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a Funeral Mass at 12:30 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret. Burial will be at 10:45 a.m. Oct. 18 at the main gate of the Woodlawn Cemetery, 302 Elm St., Everett, MA 02149, followed by a graveside service at 11.
Phyllis M. Thornton
DANIELSON — Phyllis M. Thornton, 94, of Danielson, died Oct. 5, 2018, at Davis Place in Danielson. Born Jan. 28, 1924, in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Burnys (Kenyon) Thornton. Phyllis worked as a private caregiver most of her life and in her younger years at Danielson Glass. She enjoyed being outside and she built her own house. She leaves her sisters Minola Nola Terwilleger of Inverness, Fla., Dorothy Caparrilli of Scituate, R.I., and Cecilia Cristosori of Danielson; nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by a brother Fred Thornton and a longtime friend Charles Pike. A Graveside Service was Oct. 16 Old North Cemetery, Hampton. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Shirley A. Wilbur
N. GROSVENORDALE — Shirley A. Wilbur, 97, of N. Grosvenordale died Oct. 12, 2018, at Matulaitis in Putnam. She was the wife of Marvin Wilbur of 53 years.
She was born on Sept. 4, 1921, in Fabyan, daughter of the late Eddy and Sadie (Wilbur) Arnold.
Shirley attended Paine District School and graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Class of 1939. She worked on the family farm and at American Optical in Southbridge for more than 40 years.
Shirley was very active in her church. She held many offices but enjoyed missions the most. She was the church organist for many years. Shirley was the coordinator for the Community Kitchen at the N. Grosvenordale United Methodist Church for 25 years. She enjoyed helping to prepare and feeding all the clients with a good meal. She had clothes available for them as well. She enjoyed watching the birds that came to the yard, especially the cardinals and bluebirds. Shirley was an avid follower of the UConn w basketball team and she also followed the Red Sox games. She loved to cook and she enjoyed a good meal. She loved making fudge. In earlier times she enjoyed crocheting, latch hook and plastic canvas. Shirley loved her animals, especially all the cats she had on the farm and the last one Buttercup. Throughout her life she did her best to follow the teaching of her Lord. She was a Certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church.
She was a member of the Living Faith United Methodist Church of Putnam. She was a 7th Degree Member of the Grange and she joined the Quinnatisset Grange in 1936 and was secretary of the Grange No. 65 until joining with Senexet Grange No. 40 in Woodstock, she enjoyed going to different Granges and meeting new friends. Shirley was a pianist for the Cameron-Wilbur Installation Team. She enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable gardens. She made jelly and jam, all kinds of pickles as well as preserving tomatoes, corn, beans and produce from her gardens. Shirley had a great sense of humor. Shirley liked poetry especially poems by Helen Steiner Rice.
Besides her husband Marvin, she leaves her nephew Stanley David Arnold of N. Brookfield, Mass. And his children Philip and Kristen. She was predeceased by sister Vera Drury (Lewis) and brother The Rev. Darnold Arnold (Elizabeth).
Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. A Funeral Service follows at 11 a.m. at the Living Faith United Methodist Church, Putnam, with burial in W. Thompson Cemetery. Donations: The Living Faith United Methodist Church; or Quinnatisset Grange scholarship fund, c/o Town of Thompson, 815 Riverside Dr., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255.
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