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Stanley Ozog
PUTNAM — Stanley Ozog, 70, of Sabin Street, died Sept. 9, 2013, in St. Vincent’s Hospital. He was the husband of Barbara (Mitchell) Ozog for 49 years. Born in 1942 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Stanley and Mildred (Rucki) Ozog.
Stanley graduated from Killingly High School in 1960 and in 1972 received a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College. In 1976 he received his master’s degree in education from Assumption College, graduating cum laude. In 1981 he earned a 6th year degree in Professional Education at UConn. He taught in the Brooklyn School System and was a Jr. High Crisis Counselor retiring after 27 years. Stanley served 20 years in the 250th Engineer Co. of the CT National Guard retiring as staff sergeant.
Stanley became a Supernumerary of the Putnam Police Department in 1966. He was a member of the Putnam Finance Board in 1979, a Democratic Alderman for the City of Putnam Ward 4, co chairman of St. Mary’s Church Circle of Fun from 1977-1980, a member of the Putnam Board of Police Commissioners, the 25th and last Mayor of the City of Putnam from 1982-1984, Vice Chairman of the John Dempsey Center State of CT Advisory Council, Past Exalted Ruler lifetime member of the Putnam Lodge of Elks, 4th degree member of the Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion.
Stash was an avid New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboy fan. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, solving crossword puzzles, and reading. He and Barbara traveled extensively to places like Europe, Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Mediterranean, but their favorite spot was their summer home on Halls Lake, Newbury, Vt.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Michael Ozog (Stephanie) of Merrimack, N.H.; his daughter, Anne Marie (Ozog) Zielski (Michael) of West Warwick, R.I.; his sister Millie Sokolowski (Ron) of Brooklyn; grandchildren: Madison, Mackenzie, Mitchell, Rachel, and Joshua.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 13 in St. Mary Church, Putnam, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Killingly. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or DKH Women’s Board 320 Pomfret St. Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Matthew Nowakowski
EASTFORD — Matthew S. Nowakowski, 79, of Eastford, formerly of Griswold, died Sept. 14, 2013, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was the husband of Charlotte (Amberg) Nowakowski.
He was born on April 6, 1934, son of the late Stanley and Veronica Nowakowski.
Matthew loved hunting, fishing, bowling, his vegetable garden. He enjoyed woodworking and knife collecting.
He leaves his wife Charlotte; children Ernest and his wife Cindy, Debi and her husband Chris, Nancy and her husband Ed, Judy and her husband Henry, Kathleen and her husband Fred, Amy and her husband Gene, Janet and her husband Mark, Sally and her husband Bill, Beth, a sister Sophie Kichline; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his siblings Walter, Mary, Julia and Celia.
Services was private. Donations: Eastford Independent Fire Company, PO Box 333, Eastford, CT 06242. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Michael Lafontaine
N. GROSVENORDALE — Michael Lafontaine, 69, of Gaumond Road, died unexpectedly Sept. 11, 2013, in his sleep at home. He was the husband of Marge (Grenier) Lafontaine. Born in 1944 in Putnam, he was the son of the late J. Arthur and Theresa E. (Myette) Lafontaine.
Mike was a graduate of St. Joseph School in N. Grosvenordale, Class of 1962 where he starred in basketball and also met the love of his life, Marge. They married at St. Joseph Church in 1964.
Mr. Lafontaine worked as a correctional officer in Somers and Brooklyn, retiring in 1996. He was an energetic and generous man who enjoyed working out and giving back to his community. As president of the Thompson Senior Society, he was very passionate and devoted to enhance the social life of his fellow seniors. Mike was also a 4th degree of the Knights of Columbus St. Bernard Council and a communicant of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale.
He leaves his wife of 49 years Marge; three sons, Dan Lafontaine(Karen) and Jim Lafontaine (Cecilia) both of N. Grosvenordale, and Mark Lafontaine of Somers; a brother, Steven Lafontaine (Kathy) of N. Grosvenordale; a sister, Paula Walsh (Peter) of Brooklyn; two grandchildren, Tamara and Seth; He was predeceased by three sons Michael, Thomas, and Martin Lafontaine.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 16 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.Donations: St. Joseph Food Pantry. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Robert K. Lajoie
N. GROSVENORDALE — Robert K. Lajoie, 52, of Labby Road, died Aug. 12, 2013, in UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Born Sept. 22, 1960, in Putnam, he was the son of Roland “Pete” and Lillian (Labonte) Lajoie, of Summerfield, Fla., formerly of N. Grosvenordale.
Mr. Lajoie worked as an engineer and consultant for several fiber optic companies and most recently, Sterlite Industries in India. He enjoyed working on cars, especially when he could fix car problems for others.
Besides his parents he leaves a son Robert “R.J.” Lajoie of Thompson; a sister Jacqueline Lajoie of Thompson; a brother Michael Lajoie of Ohio; nephews Ryan and Jeffrey Lajoie; godparents Mr. and Mrs. Eugene “Jim” Lajoie.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 14 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph Food Pantry, PO. Box 897, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Gilman and Valade Funeral Home.
Doris S. Warren
KILLINGLY — Doris S. Warren, 94, of Killingly died Sept. 11, 2013, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Special Care. She was the wife of 53 years to the late Russell Warren. He died in 1992.
She was born in Putnam, daughter of the late Daniel and Bertha (Yates) Labonte.
Doris worked for Connecticut Bank and Trust for 25 years, retiring in 1982.
She leaves a daughter Louise Warren of Putnam; a sister-in-law Barbara Pratt of Thompson; nieces and nephews.
She will be buried in South Killingly Cemetery at a later date. Donations: Charity of one’s choice. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Jeannette Gorman
BROOKLYN — Jeannette Rose (Leger) Gorman, 80, of Brooklyn, went to join her sweetheart in everlasting life Sept. 7, 2013. She was the wife of the late Carlton Henry Gorman Sr. They were married on Oct. 1, 1949. Mr. Gorman died April 15, 2013.
Mrs. Gorman was born on April 7, 1933, in Killingly, daughter of the late Wilfred and Ruth (Bowen) Leger.
She was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn.
She leaves her children, Jeannie Duris of Virginia, Carlton H. Gorman Jr. (Linda) of St. Augustine, Fla., Heidi Gorman and husband Frank Zak Jr. of Moosup and Becky Gorman of Pomfret; grandchildren, Daniel Paine, Jennifer Paine, and Taylor Phillips; great grandchildren, Shyonne Challinor, Jason Challinor, Oliver Paine, Myleah Challinor. She was predeceased by her brother Wilfred Leger.
A Memorial Service will be held later at Trinity Episcopal Church, Brooklyn. Donations: The Mortlake Fire Department, P.O. Box 301, Brooklyn, CT 06234. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Brian O’Brien Jr.,
WWII vet
FABYAN — Brian O’Brien Jr., 90, born March 13, 1923, died Sept. 11, 2013, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Skilled Care. He was born in Pittsburgh, the only child of Brian and Ethel (Dickerman) O’Brien. Brian was predeceased by his wife, Kathryn “Towie” (Jensen) O’Brien.
Brian was a graduate of the University of Rochester, N.Y., where he majored in optics and chemistry at the request of Mr. Eastman. He earned his master’s in chemistry at MIT, Boston, after serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a lieutenant.
He worked for Todd-AO early in his career, and along with his father, was very involved in the technology development of wide-screen system for cinema. Later in his career, he worked for Itek and Northrup Grumman. After his retirement, he mastered Photoshop and cataloged thousands of slides and photographs on his computer. He was an avid supporter of increasing the railroads in the U.S. and was a member of the Worcester Model Railroaders. He was an Eagle Scout and a long-time Scout Leader in Thompson. He also held a pilot’s license and piloted his own Cessna, yet abhorred commercial flying choosing to travel by train whenever possible.
Brian leaves his close friends, Kerstin and Richard Forrester of Fabyan, and his caretakers who provided 24/7 care during the past two and a half years: Dianna Rebello of Woodstock, Timothy Arsenault of Fabyan; Nicholas Rebello of Woodstock; Ashley Morin of Woodstock. He also leaves his brother-in-law, William S. Jensen (Carolyn) of Vancouver, Wash.; sisters-in-law Eloise N. Jensen of Tucson, Ariz., and Susan M. Jensen of Seattle; step-brother-in-law James B. Leonard of Seattle. He was predeceased by brother-in-law George J. Jensen.
A Graveside Service will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 21 in New Boston Cemetery, Parker Road, Fabyan. Donations: Boy Scout troop #30, Quinebaug, CT; or to the Towie O’Brien Memorial Fund of the Mary Fisher Memorial Elementary School in Thompson. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Helen Matthews
WEBSTER — Helen R. (Dona) Matthews, 88, of Webster, died Sept. 12, 2013, at Webster Manor.
Her husband, Raymond J. Matthews, died in 1998.
Helen was born in Dudley, daughter of the late Yrackle and Gladys (Augustynkski) Dona and lived in Webster most of her life. She was a graduate of Bryant College in Rhode Island and worked for many years for the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare.
She leaves a brother, George W. Dona of Webster; a nephew, Paul Dona of Dudley; her nieces, Arlene Keegan of Shrewsbury, Lynn Wentworth of N. Grosvenordale, Noreen Dona of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Carol Watrobo of Dudley; great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Christopher Dona.
A graveside service will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 19 in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster. Donations: St. Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb St., Webster, MA 01570. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.