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Dorothy Porter
WOODSTOCK — Dorothy Elizabeth (Sweeney) Porter was welcomed home by our Good Lord on Sept. 21, 2013.
Dorothy was born May 23, 1926, in Kingston, N.Y.. After graduating from Kingston High School, she earned her R.N. and bachelor’s degree from Fordham University. While raising her family, Dorothy worked at St. Raphael’s Hospital, at nursing homes and on private duty assignments along the Connecticut shoreline. She moved with her family to the Quiet Corner in 1965.
Always an avid reader, Dorothy shared this interest with many people when she served as the West Woodstock librarian for nearly 20 years. She prided herself on knowing her patrons’ special interests and would often greet them with the latest books by their favorite authors.
Dorothy also loved gardening, bird watching and taking pictures. She seemed blessed with a green thumb. Her favorite flowers were pink geraniums and night blooming cereus. When bluebirds arrived in the spring, she joyfully announced it to her whole family. Dorothy always carried her camera and lots of family pictures wherever she went.
Dorothy’s pride and joy was her family. She will be missed and forever loved by her five children and their spouses: Mary-Ellen and Samuel Porter-Price of Canterbury, Clyde and Barbara Porter of Dayville, Douglas and Gail Porter of East Woodstock, Eric and Debra Porter of West Woodstock, and Jane and Michael Wolak of South Windsor; her nine grandsons and four granddaughters-in-law Jonathan and Brynn, Justin and Priscilla, Adam and Kate, Craig, Seth and Jessica, David, Andrew, Steven and Matthew and her two great grandchildren Keegan and Kenzie; brother-in-law Jerry Levine of Syosset, N.Y., and his family. She was predeceased by her parents Dorothy and James Sweeney, her siblings Donald Sweeney and Jeanne Levine, her husband Herbert F. Porter Jr. and her two dear friends Annie Abel and Vicky Maroon Owen.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam. Burial will be private in Barlow Cemetery, W. Woodstock. Donations: West Woodstock Library, 5 Bungay Hill Connector, Woodstock, CT 06281.
Spencer Bowen
EASTFORD — Spencer Leavitt Bowen went peacefully home to be with the Lord on Sept. 17, 2013. He was a life long resident of Eastford.
Spencer was an honest and trusted business man running/working in the family business, Bowen’s Garage in Eastford, for more than 75 years. He worked everyday until Sept. 2008 when he retired at the age of 83. He was a long time member of Eastford Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon, head usher and bell ringer for many years. He was a member of the Gideon’s Northeast Camp for over 35 years. He loved handing out New Testaments to people he met especially children and college kids. His hobbies were his family whom he prayed for daily. He was also an avid collector of toy cars.
He leaves his wife of 67 years Arline (Marvin) Bowen; his children Nancy and Carl Norman of Woodstock, Marjorie and Steve Krug of Catonsville, Md., Stephen and Diana Bowen of Eastford; his grandchildren, Jason and Melissa Norman of Elizabethtown, Penn.,, Michael and Jenn Norman of Eastford, Joanna and Rich Fitte of Woodstock, Alexandra Krug of Ashville, N.C., Rebekah and Ryan Ciliax of Catonsville, Jonathan and Carriel Bowen of Eastford and seven great-grand children; his sister Betsy Erickson. He was predeceased by his sister Nancy Ann, and his brothers, Charles and Russell.
The Memorial Service was Sept. 23 at Eastford Baptist Church, 133 Union Road, Eastford. Donations: Eastford Baptist Missions or the Gideon’s Northeast Camp.
George L. Landry,
WWII vet
THOMPSON — George Leon Landry, 77, of Terrace Drive died Sept. 22, 2013 at home after a battle with lung cancer.
He was the husband of more than 56 years of Grace (Harrington) Landry.
Born in 1936 and baptized in Lowell, Mass., he was the son of the late George H. and Jeannette (Lanseigne) Landry.
At the age of 19, George completed his engineering degree at Lowell Technology Institute, and later received an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.
After being commissioned by way of the Officers Candidate program at Newport, RI, George reported for duty to Norfolk, VA as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. His service included tours of duty aboard the flagship USS Mount McKinley in the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic. After completing his service as a Lieutenant J. G.
George and Grace settled with their young family in Thompson where George applied his engineering education and naval background to a career in textiles. He served as Assistant Plant Manager at Belding Heminway and took a career position with J.P. Stevens & Company in the U.S. and Canada
He leaves his wife Grace (Harrington) Landry; his children David Landry (Maureen) of Putnam, Martina Rutkovsky (Michael) of Brookfield, Vt., John Landry (Joan) of Downers Grove, Ill., and Matthew Landry of N. Kingston; grandchildren Bridget, Caitlin, Sean, Meghan, and John Thomas.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 28 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38101-9908. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Shirley E. McKusick,
Air Force vet
PUTNAM — Shirley E. McKusick, 78, formerly of Sabin Street, died Sept. 11, 2013, in Regency Heights of Danielson. She was the wife of the late Elwood McKusick. Born in 1935 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Irene (Hakey) Evans.
Shirley worked at the Memorial Hospital in Worcester, as the coordinator of outpatient registration and clinics, UMass Medical Center as the director of patient accounts, and at the University of Virginia Hospital as the director of patient financial services. She also worked for Day Kimball Hospital. She was also briefly enlisted in the USAF during the time of the Korean conflict.
Shirley had an effervescent personality. She loved to go dancing, which is how she met the love of her life, “Mac” McKusick. Together they enjoyed hunting and fishing in Maine, as well as their many travels, including a cross-country trip, eventually retiring to Florida until Mac’s death in 2000 when Shirley returned to Putnam. Over the years previous to that, Shirley skillfully decorated and furnished the several homes that Mac, a skilled craftsman, either built from scratch or renovated.
Shirley also spent several summers camping at seasonal RV resorts in Connecticut and Westerly, R.I., with her son, Greg and his family and extended family. After returning to Putnam, Shirley was especially close to her daughter, Cindy, who she lost just this past May, and her husband Jimmy and their children, James and Rebecca.
She leaves three sons; Greg Glass of Portland, Gary Glass of S. Gardner, Mass.,, and Martin McKusick (Colleen) of W. Brookfield, Mass.; son-in-law James Stafford of Woodstock, stepdaughter Janice Braun of Lake Park, Fla.; stepson Roger McKusick (Joyce) of Cromwell; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter Cindy Stafford, brother, Ernest Evans, and sister, Nancy Palozie; daughter-in-law Nancy Glass, and son-in-law Art Braun. The graveside service was Sept. 20 in Grove Hill Cemetery, Rockville. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Rose Millette
DUDLEY — Rose A. (Grasso) Millette, 93, of Dresser Hill Rd., died Sept. 16, 2013, in Southbridge Rehabilitation, Southbridge after a long illness. Her husband of 67 years, Alexander Millette, died in 2010. Rose was born in Framingham, Mass., the daughter of the late John and Jenny (Viglioni) Grasso. Rose was a member of St. Stephen’s Parish. She leaves two sons: John Millette of Dudley, George Millette (Patricia) of Dudley with whom she lived; three daughters: Rose Monteiro (Tony) of Worcester, Alice LeBouef (Willie) of Warren, Mass., Annie Salmon (Tony) of Warren; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be at noon Sept. 28 at St. Stephens Church, corner Of routes 197 and 131, Quinebaug. Donations: Southbridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare, 84 Chapin St., Southbridge, MA 01550, Att.4th floor. Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley.