Patricia A. Steinbrick,
Air Force vet
PUTNAM — Patricia (Taylor) Steinbrick, 78, of Providence Pike, died April 27, 2020, at Bayberry Commons.
She was the wife of Donald E. Steinbrick for 58 years. Born in 1941 in Philadelphia, and raised in Bristol, Penn., she was the daughter of the late John and Helen (Cobb) Taylor.
She proudly served her country as a crypto operator for the Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict.
She obtained a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University Cum Laude and then when on to receive her master’s degree from UConn. She taught at Putnam Elementary School, Putnam Middle School, Putnam High School, and St. Joseph School and Ellis Technical High School. She substitute taught for St. Mary’s School in Putnam. She was a communicant and Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.
She was a proud member of the American Legion, the Waves National 118th and Veterans for troops in Afghanistan. She treasured growing up and was proud of her “Taylor Wit”…making life happier with everyone she would meet. She loved traveling, family gatherings, music dancing. She served as treasurer for the United Veterans Council and served on the Board of Finance in Putnam for 6 years. She was a charter member of Woman and Military Service for America and volunteered for TACTS-Teens and Achievement for Community Service. She was a member of the Women’s Veterans of CT from 1986-1996 holding the position of commander in 1994. She was a member of the Moosup Little League and was the Banquet chairperson in 1976. She was the vice president and secretary for All Hallows Home School Association and enjoyed being the Plainfield Bicentennial Ball chairman.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her sons, David Steinbrick (Laurie) of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Christopher Steinbrick of Putnam; her brothers, Jack Taylor of Vernon, and Richard Taylor of Coweta, Okla.; grandchildren Nicole, Alexa, Oscar, and David Jr. She was predeceased by her sister, Diane Spaulding and her infant grandson, John Alexander Steinbrick. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, a private Funeral Service with military honors was held in Grove Street Cemetery. Donations: American Legion Post 13, c/o Flag Fund, P.O. Box 123, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Ruth Brouillette
N. GROSVENORDALE — Ruth Brouillette, 78, faithfully fought the good fight against chronic illnesses until the Lord gave her rest April 27, 2020.
Ruth was born in 1942 in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, the daughter of the late William and Annie (Heywood) LaPorte where she attended Roxborough High School.
Her USO days brought her to Connecticut in 1962, where she married and raised four children: Charles Trudeau Jr., Denise Harkins, Michael Trudeau and Kathy Bowen. After marrying Ray, their blended family doubled in size to include Danielle St. Laurent, Nicole Brouillette, Renee Freudenberger and Michelle Richard.
She leaves her husband of almost 35 years, Raymond Brouillette; her children; 19 grandchildren: Charles’s kids Candis, Cayla, Taylor and Victoria. Denise’s kids Trevor and Stephanie Vogel. Michael‘s kids Nicholas and Cody (she enjoyed a special connection with Maggie, Kathy’s daughter), Danielle‘s kids Francine and Elliott, Nikki‘s kids Chrissa, Christopher, Joshua (and baby Hannah, who passed in 1998 at 5-months-old), Renee‘s daughter Amanda and Michelle‘s kids Brandon, Bradie and Brylie; eight great-grandchildren: Damian, Deken, Dmetri, Amelia, Willow, Mackenzie, Jeminai and Addilyn. She was also predeceased by her first husband, Charles R. Trudeau Sr.; her brothers, William, John, and Elwood LaPorte; and her sisters, Annie Swalla, Mary Hanson, Doris Biggs and Helen Martorelli. Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St. N. Grosvenordale. Donations: Hospice of Northeastern Connecticut, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT. 06260.
Barbara Champoux
Barbara Champoux died April 23, 2020, at Hartford Hospital. Born Jan. 15, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Claire (Adams) and Aram Saba.
Barbara was a member of the Putnam High School Class of 1959 and was happy to attend their 60th class reunion this past summer.
After high school she worked with her grandfather and father in their family restaurant Joe’s Wagon in Putnam; it was there she began her love of cooking. After working many long hours, she decided to pass the business on and spend more time with her family. She then started a cake business making all occasion cakes and teaching decorating skills. Barbara went on to work for Linemaster Switch Co. in Woodstock, where she retired from after 25 years.
Barbara enjoyed cooking Syrian food and whenever she would have a procedure done or anything that she was nervous about she would ask the doctor and nurses if they liked Syrian food and then they would talk all about it and it would ease her mind. She would always make good on her promise to bring them Baklava the next time she would see them. She loved to talk about how she made hers with rose water and not honey. Barbara loved taking long rides down back roads just to see where they would come out to. She loved family picnics and most of all the beach. She dreamed of being a beach bum with her longtime friend Dot Englelhaupt.
She leaves a son Ronald Champoux and his companion Bonnie Mahood of Hubbard, Ohio; daughter Nancy Brosky (Ed) of Woodstock; a sister Ruth Lamoureux of Danielson; granddaughters Sarah Deslongchamps of Putnam, Lauren Beck (James) of Putnam and April Seibert of Warren, Ohio; great-grandsons Noah and Morgan of Warren, and life her “Ham and Eggs”. Gaven and Anita. She was predeceased by a brother Thomas Adams. Donations: Strong Foundation, 550 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Harry O. Hasson
PLAINFIELD — Harry Oliver Hasson, 79, died unexpectedly April 25, 2020. Harry was a strong and hardworking man that did everything for his wife Gertrude. He was born Jan. 23, 1941, in New London, and then lived in Brooklyn with the Greens. He worked on local farms, worked for the Jolly’s and he was an avid mechanic.
He then met the love of his life and was married on Nov. 26, 1964, at Sacred Heart Church in Wauregan where they lived. He was a Teamster truck driver for NEW PENN., where he retired after 33 years.
He had a passion for collecting coins, Hess trucks and hats. He enjoyed NASCAR races and camping with numerous camping clubs. Harry enjoyed being outdoors and being a part of Alivia’s and Tammy’s world and going out for ice cream.
He leaves his wife Gertrude Hasson of Danielson; goddaughter Tammy Shippee of Canterbury. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Wauregan. Gagnon & Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
John R. Mayo Jr.
MERCER, Maine — John R. Mayo Jr., 64, died suddenly April 28, 2020, at home in Mercer
Born Oct. 2, 1955, in Putnam, he was the son of John R. Mayo Sr. and Irene Mayo. John attended schools in Eastford.
He proudly owned a successful lawn care business until his retirement.
John loved spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and golfing.
He loved a good cigar.
He leaves his wife of 43 years Valerie J. Mayo of Mercer; daughter Rebecca Ball (Verne) of New Sharon; daughter Amanda Bootz (Kyle) of Waterville; son John R. Mayo III (Tina) of Norwich; grandchildren Michael Ball, Zachery Ball, Abigail Ball and Oakley Bootz; great-grandchildren Amelia Ball and Lilah Ball; siblings Rosemary Mayo Mineau; Randy Mayo and Mark Mayo; best friend Bob Clark. John was predeceased by his parents and brother Timothy Mayo.
Due to the Covid 19 virus a Memorial Gathering will be set later.
Barbara L. Pratt
Barbara L. Pratt was born on Oct. 12, 1922, to Clarence and Bessie Warren (Eldridge) in Putnam and died March 2, 2020, at the age of 97.
She graduated from Putnam High School and was a war bride, as she married Walter Pratt of Thompson in 1941 in Colorado Springs where Walter was stationed as a member of the Army Air Corps.
After the war, Barbara gave birth to five boys and worked hard to be a caring, nurturing mother. She loved the flora and fauna of New England and passed that love onto her sons. She also had an infectious sense of humor.
She leaves her sons Terence (Teresa) of Cottonwood, Ariz., and Sean (Maria) of Milford; daughter-in-law Susan of Naples, Fla.; six nieces and nephews; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Walter; her sons Lawrence Dennis and Timothy. Services have been postponed. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Elizabeth ‘Lib’ Putnam
WILLIMANTIC — Elizabeth (“Lib”) Putnam (neé Sprague) died peacefully in her sleep April 26, 2020, at Vanderman Place, Willimantic.
Born Nov. 29, 1930, in Boston, to Isaac (Jr) and Elizabeth (Clarke) Sprague of Boston, she attended the Northfield School (Northfield, Mass.), and spent five summers working as a waitress at the hotel on Star Island, one of the Isles of the Shoals (N.H.), which she often called one of her favorite places “in the world”. After Northfield, she attended the University of New Hampshire (1949-51), but left to marry Stanley Reno Putnam of Winchester, N.H., March 24, 1951 in Peterborough, N.H. (They divorced in 1976.)
They moved to E. Woodstock in 1957, where she lived until moving to S. Woodstock, where she opened a one-woman plant and garden center, The Watering Pot, on Rt. 169. While running The Watering Pot, she completed her bachelor’s degree in business and horticulture at UConn. She closed The Watering Pot in 1995 and moved to Dayville, where she lived on Weeks Lane, until moving to the Seely Brown Village in Pomfret Center in 2018.
An expert gardener—planting 2000 daffodils or tulips was all in a day’s work — and prodigious swimmer (swimming back and forth across Pond Factory in Woodstock, and Lake Alexander in Dayville were favorite routines), Lib was also a skilled musician who sang in the choir, served as substitute organist and pianist at E. Woodstock Congregational Church, and put her children to sleep by playing Mozart or Beethoven on the piano. While at EWCC she drove meals to shut-ins and seniors as part of the ministry of FISH (Friendship in Serving Humanity), and was instrumental in raising funds for the church’s carillon.
After moving to S. Woodstock, she became a faithful and active member of First Congregational Church of Woodstock, where she volunteered for a variety of projects and ongoing ministries—anonymously sending hundreds of birthday and anniversary cards on behalf of the church, knitting dozens of prayer shawls and scores of hats for preemies. Her great-grandchildren love to wear the sweaters that she knitted from patterns that were “in her fingers”, and always receive compliments when they wear them.
Lib’s counsel was often sought by her many friends, and freely given when requested, always with a warm and cheering smile.
She was predeceased by both of her sisters and her brother, a son (Robert Stanley), grand-daughter (Lydia Tribbie Marlowe), and great-grand-daughter (Kathryn Elizabeth Godshall). She leaves four children; Frederic Clarke Putnam, Elizabeth Louise (Wickman), Patricia Jane (Yang), Pamela Carrie (Marlowe); four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A public memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church of Woodstock at a time and date to be announced. Donations: First Congregational Church of Woodstock Music Fund (543 Rt. 169, Woodstock, CT 06281); or to Windham-Tolland 4H Camp Scholarship Fund (326 Taft Pond Road, Pomfret Center, CT 06259).
Jason Nicholas King
ASHFORD — Jason Nicholas King, 37, of Ashford went to be with his Lord on April 27, 2020.
Jason was born April 7, 1983, in New Haven, to Peter and Melinda Basto King. A 2001 graduate of Woodstock Academy, he worked as a skilled carpenter and became versed in plumbing and electrical. He made his home in Maine, Rhode Island, E. Killingly, Eastford and Ashford. Jason was a gentle soul, always eager to say a kind word and lend a helping hand. Nature was his soul mate. In the woods with Ox, his golden lab, was where he felt most comfortable.
He leaves his parents, Peter of Springfield, Mass., and Melinda King of Ashford; brothers, Peter of Woodstock and Brandon King of Eastford; grandparents, Dana Basto of Woodstock and Marieann MacGinnis of Auburn. His Memorial Service will be scheduled at a later date. Donations: The Evangelical Christian Ctr., 574 Ashford Center Road, Ashford, CT 06278.
Barbara A. O’Leary
THOMPSON — Barbara A. (Lathrop) O’Leary, 95, died April 23, 2020 at Matulaitis Nursing Home from natural causes.
Barbara was born March 5, 1925, and was raised by Hazel and Walter “Pappie” Burton and their son Davis in the Quaddick area of Thompson. She was a resident of Thompson her whole life. She was a member of the Thompson Congregational Church. Barbara enjoyed cross-stitching, going to yard sales, reading books, watching game shows and Jane’s cherry nut bread. Joy also came to her when she was around animals. She cared for many children in the Thompson area, especially the Vercelli family. Until a year ago, she was working as the secretary for O’Leary Construction. Barbara was a woman of strong support for anyone who needed it, was sharp-witted and creative.
She leaves her daughter and best friend, Audrey of Thompson; sons Craig (Pauline) of N. Grosvenordale and son Linden (Jane) of Webster; four grandchildren, Jason O’Leary of Dayville, Jeremy O’Leary of Middletown, Tyler and Katie O’Leary of Webster. She was predeceased by her husband Vernon and sons Ronald and Wendell and her half sister Fae Hewko. Her wish was to have neither calling hours nor a funeral and ironically, it would be in her nature to pass during a pandemic to have that wish granted. Donations: Thompson Hill Fire Department 70 Chase Road Thompson, CT 06277. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
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