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Julia K. Artiaco,
mother of 4
PUTNAM — Julia K. Artiaco, 86, of Sabin Street, died April 11, 2013, in Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Progulo Artiaco.
Born in 1926 in Moosup and raised in Killingly, she was the daughter of the late Adam and Julia (Pietras) Krajewski.
Mrs. Artiaco started working on her parents’ farm in Killingly, and then worked for Acme Cotton, W.T. Grant, Bates Shoe and retired as a packer for Glass Container. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, playing cards, puzzle making, feeding the birds, reading poetry and keeping up with the news.
She leaves her sons, William Artiaco of Putnam, and Edward Artiaco (Carol) of Putnam; daughters, Geraldine Peyton of Woodstock, and Michaela Davis (Jim) of Danielson; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was the youngest of 10 children and was the sister of the late Mary, Benny, Stephen, Helen, Adam, Jennie, Henry, Alice and William.
The Funeral was April 16 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Eli Spink
EASTFORD — Eli N. Spink, 35, of John Perry Road, died April 10, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. He was born Dec. 9, 1977, in Putnam, son of Ellsworth Jr. and the late Peggy (Newth) Spink.
He was a 1996 graduate of the Carpentry Program at H.H. Ellis Technical School in Danielson. Eli was a hard worker and he lived every day to the fullest. He enjoyed mowing the lawn and loved his dog very much.
He leaves his father Ellsworth Jr., of Eastford; daughter Kaitlyn Spink of Killingly; brothers David Lewis Jr., William Spink; grandmother Helen Spink, all of Eastford.
A Graveside Service was April 13 in Grove Cemetery, Eastford. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Glenn A. Gavis
DANIELSON — Glenn A. Gavis, 38, of Hubbard Hill Road died suddenly, April 9, 2013, in Plainfield. He was born on Sept. 29, 1974, son of Rosae (Lynn) Zak. His father, Richard Gavis Sr., died in 2006.
G-Dog loved spending his time with Mr. G and Jeffro. Glenn’s entire world was his son Miles. His passions in life were cooking, biking, playing basketball, fishing, hiking and staying physically fit with Miles and his best friend Jeffro. He previously worked at local casinos and most recently at Zip’s Diner.
He leaves his son Miles R. Gavis; mother Rosae Zak; grandmother Catherine Bugbee; aunt Janet Lynn; siblings Cleve Blankenship, Jeffrey Blankenship (Sheila), Rosae Marie (Blankenship) (Steve Watrous), Catherine (Blankenship) Nadeau, James Gavis, Richard Gavis Jr., Matthew Gavis, Lisa Marie Gavis, Leland Zak, his wife Nicole and Keirre Leigh Zak; best friend Jeffrey M. Davis. He predeceased by a brother J. Scott Blankenship in 2007.
The Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. in St John The Apostle Parish, 10 Railroad Ave., Plainfield with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery Danielson, CT. Donations: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Gloria Jones
WOODSTOCK — Gloria Jones, 87, of Woodstock, died April 8, 2013, at the Westview Health Care Center in Dayville. She was the wife of Lawrence E. Jones. She was born May 22, 1925, in E. Hartford, daughter of Herbert and Gladys Johnson.
Gloria had made her home in Woodstock most of her life, a member of the Woodstock Hill Congregational Church. She was a Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack #27 Woodstock, was a former Sunday School teacher and handled the cradle roll at the church. In her youth she raised chickens and enjoyed horseback riding. From 1967 to 1981 she was a historical interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village.
She leaves in addition to her husband Lawrence; three sons: Gary M. Jones of Woodstock, Stanley E. Jones of Pembroke, N.H., Steven A. Jones of Bethlehem, N.H.; three grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be at noon April 20 at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, 543 Rt. 169, Woodstock, CT 06281. Burial was in Storrs Cemetery. Donations: Charity of donor’s choice. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
James Smith Jr.
company VP
WOODSTOCK — James Edward Smith Jr., 62 of Woodstock, died unexpectedly on April 13, 2013. He was born on March 30, 1951, in Norwalk, to Jean Smith and James Edward Smith Sr.
James graduated from Wilton High School and Southern Connecticut State University. He worked 40 years in the fastener/seals industry and was the V.P. of manufacturing for Seals It in Ellington, CT. Jim was an avid NASCAR member and fan and he enjoyed passing along his knowledge of race car mechanics to anyone interested in learning. He had a passion for automobiles, history and dogs, especially his Boxers Tina and Peanut. He was excited about his new grandson Taylor James and often said he was going to get him a quarter midget.
He leaves his wife and best friend of 35 years Debra T. Smith; daughter and son-in-law Jenna and Jason Seymour and grandson Taylor James; daughter Jessica Smith; sister and brother-in-law Lebris (Lee) Quinn Gamble and Travis Gamble; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pamela and Thomas Bannon; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Matthew and Tracey Tedone; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Thomas and Joyce Tedone; racing buddies Ernie Dupont and Damon O’Palick and mentor and friend of 30 years Stanley Matzak; pets Mya, Harper, Jack and Jezebel.
Calling hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. April 17 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Funeral is at 10 a.m. April 18 at the funeral home. Donations: PAWS – CT, P.O. Box 191, Eastford, CT, 06242; or Second Chance Animal Shelter, 111 Young Rd. PO Box 136, East Brookfield, MA. James generously gave the gift of life through organ/tissue donation.
Adelard Lemay,
Navy vet
BROOKLYN — Adelard “Chief” Lemay, 91, died April 13, 2013. Born Dec. 8, 1921, son of the late Adelard and Mary (Lofland) Lemay.
Chief served his country in U.S. Navy as a gunner’s mate; he also worked as a plumber, mechanic, auto body mechanic, steeple jack, painter and most loved as a janitor at Enosburg Falls High School, Vt., and Brooklyn Elementary School. He was a master of all trades. There was nothing he could not fix.
Chief was also very involved with the American Legion. He was commander several times in Manchaug, Mass., Enosburg Falls, and Putnam. He loved a good game of cribbage with all.
Chief as he would always put it, “began my life” with Rachel Manosh, 71 years together. Son Robert Lemay, granddaughter Kimberly, grandson William Lemay, several great-grandchildren, sister Albertine Putnam and several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by a brother Jean Lemay and daughter-in-law Linda Lemay.
There will be no services. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Blaga Naum,
seamstress
N. GROSVENORDALE — Blaga Naum, 99 of Thurber Road, formerly of Carriage Square Apartments, died April 13, 2013, in Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Anastasios Naum who she married on June 15, 1930.
Born in 1914 in Bitolia, Macedonia, she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Vasilikia Naum.
Mrs. Naum was a self-employed seamstress. She had also worked as a weaver for Cluett Peabody and an upholsterer for Risom Furniture. She was a member of the Thompson Senior Citizens and enjoyed cooking, baking and her photographs of her family.
She leaves her sons, James Naum (Anna) of N. Grosvenordale, and Victor Naum and his fiancée Dorothy Whitney of Webster; sister, Zorka Georgiavic of Worcester; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, John Naum and her grandson, Michael Naum.
The Funeral Mass was April 16 at St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Webster, with burial in Mount Zion Cemetery, Webster. Donations: Day Kimball Homemakers, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260; or to St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 713, Webster, MA 01570. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.
Fred LaChance
N. GROSVENORDALE — Fred W. LaChance, 69, of N. Grosvenordale, died April 10, 2013, at Harrington Memorial Hospital in Southbridge.
Fred was born in Putnam, son of the late Xavier and Emily (Botteri) LaChance and lived in N. Grosvenordale most of his life. He was a retired factory worker having worked many years at Hyde Manufacturing.
He leaves his cousin, Cynthia M. Bourbeau of Webster; two nephews, Corey LaChance of Brooklyn, and Justin LaChance of Webster. He was predeceased by a brother, Eugene T. LaChance and by a nephew, Ernest LaChance.
The funeral was private. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Helen Wojciechowski
QUINEBAUG — Helen A. (Noga) Wojciechowski, 89, of Quinebaug, died April 9, 2013, in Regency Heights, Killingly. Her husband of 60 years, Edward J. Wojciechowski, died in 200
She was born and raised in Southbridge, a daughter of William and Josephine (Olearczyk) Noga. She lived in Webster, and N. Grosvenordale before moving to Quinebaug in 1950.
Mrs. Wojciechowski worked at the AO in Southbridge for many years. She was a member of St. Stephen’s Church and a member of the Holy Rosary Sodality, Sacred Heart Society and St. Anne Society of St. Joseph Basilica in Webster. She also belonged to the American Optical Quarter Century Club and to the Golden Harvest Senior Club of Thompson. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting and listening to polka music.
She leaves two sons, Robert Wojciechowski (Susan) of Port Orange, Fla., and David Wojciechowski (Mary) of Quinebaug; a daughter, Nancy Murray (Ken) of Farmington; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a sister, Jeannette Curboy of Sturbridge. A sister, Leocadia “Loda” Lewandowski, died Sunday, April 7. She was predeceased by three brothers, Alec, Frederick and Emile Noga.
The funeral Mass was April 12, in St. Stephen’s Church. Donations: Quinebaug Valley Fire Dept., PO Box 144, Quinebaug, CT 06262-0144. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.
Joseph Smoolca
DUDLEY — Joseph Smoolca, 85, of Dudley died April 8, 2013, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester.
He was born and raised in Eastford, the son of Michael and Eva (Humenczuk) Smoolca. He graduated from Putnam Technical School. He worked on his parents’ farm for many years. He moved here in 1959, into a home he had built. Mr. Smoolca was a building contractor for over 40 years, building many custom homes in the area. He also built cabinets and furniture for family members. He retired in 1990.
He was a member of St. Stephen’s Church in Quinebaug.
He was a former member of the Dudley Planning Board, a Dudley assessor and building inspector.
He leaves his wife of over 56 years, Rose M. (Gulczynski) Smoolca; one son, Joseph P. Smoolca (Mary) of Windsor; three daughters, Susan R. Brown (James) of Plano, Texas, Dr. Mary Ellen Smoolca (Daniel Northrup) of Ithaca, N.Y., and Carol A. Walsh (Peter) of Katonah, N.Y.; seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers, Paul and Alexander Smoolca and by one sister, Tessie Tishon.
The Mass of Christian Burial was April 12 in St. Stephen’s Church, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. Donaqtionbs: St. Stephen’s Church, PO Box 222, Quinebaug, CT 06262; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St. Watertown, MA 02472-2407. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.