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Julia A. Marcoux
THOMPSON — Julia Ashall Marcoux of Thompson died Dec. 18, 2013.
She was born Aug. 7, 1928, in St Helens, Lancashire, England. Her father was killed in a coal mining accident when she was 8. Her mother remarried shortly before the outbreak of WWII in Europe. Her late stepfather, Robert Ashall, served in the British Armed forces.
Enduring periods of relentless aerial bombardment from the German Luftwaffe against the nearby port city of Liverpool, she often spent the night huddled in an air raid shelter with her mother, Margaret (deceased), brothers Robert (deceased) and Thomas (deceased), along with her sister Margaret (affectionately known as Peg who died in 2007). The only link to what was unfolding around them and across the world was the nightly broadcast of the BBC. Her lifetime appreciation of newscasts, particularly radio, finds its roots in her wartime experiences.
After the war, Julia completed her professional training as a nurse and midwife. She was particularly fond of working with infants and the elderly. Her professional career took her to the Burtonwood US Air Force hospital outside of Liverpool, England, where she first met a young Air Force enlisted man named Albert (Pete) Marcoux Jr. from N. Grosvenordale. They married April 23, 1955, at St Joseph’s Church in Peasley Cross, England.
They moved to Quaddick in 1961. She became naturalized U.S. citizen on May 14, 1959
Their marriage of almost 60 years produced eight children; Albert (Stephen) III of Keene, N.H., Ann Marie of Putnam, Richard (Christine) of Milwaukee, Michael (Cathy) of Putnam, Maureen Birch (Richard) of Thompson, Patrick of Sturbridge, Margaret Dugan (James) of Chittenden, Vt., and Julie Karen of N. Grosvenordale; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law and brother-in–law; Muriel and Donat Charron of Quinebaug.
She worked as a registered nurse at Marianapolis Prep., Matulaitis Nursing Home and for many years on the maternity ward at Day Kimball Hospital. She also provided elder care services and served as a consulting nurse at a local day care. Her last professional position before retiring was as a shift nurse for The US Post Office in Hartford, CT. Julia was a registered nurse and one of Connecticut’s first certified midwives.
Julia was a strong advocate for lifelong learning including taking personal enrichment courses at Quinebaug Valley Community College and getting a bachelor’s degree in professional arts from St. Joseph’s College, Maine. She was a member of St. Bernard’s Council Knights of Columbus Columbiettes, the Thompson Democratic Town Committee and The Thompson Historical Society.
She was a strong supporter and communicant of St. Joseph Roman Catholic church in North Grosvenordale. She was especially proud of her family being selected in 1982 as the International Catholic Family of the Year by the Knights of Columbus during their Centennial year.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 21 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale (presided over by her son, Fr. Stephen Marcoux of the diocese of Manchester, N.H.) Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph School, 18 Main St. North Grosvenordale, CT; or The Immaculate Conception Convent, 600 Liberty Hwy, Putnam. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Cecilia Desautels
DANIELSON — Cecilia B. Desautels, 88, of Danielson, died Dec. 9, 2013, at Pierce Memorial Baptist Home after a brief illness.
Cecilia was one of 11 children born to the late Leon and Antonia (Bigda) Zulkiewicz. She was born Jan. 6, 1925, at home on the family farm in West Woodstock and attended Putnam High School where she played varsity basketball.
She was affectionately known as “Bobchi” to her family and as “CI” to her friends.
In addition to being a great cook, Cecilia enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, watching Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right game shows and was an avid fan of the UConn women’s basketball team. She was also very talented at word puzzles such as crossword and cryptoquote and also enjoyed knitting and crocheting.
Cecilia was a retiree of Danco Plastics in Putnam where she worked in assembly and finishing for over 30 years.
She leaves her son Jeffrey who with which she resided; her daughter Janice Valdez of Dayville, and her son John (Michele) of South Carolina; brother Fred of Putnam; four grandchildren, Nicole, Travis, Claire, and Orion; and two great-grandchildren, Kylie and Aubrey Cecilia; two special friends, Doris Atsales of Brooklyn and Pierrette McCartney of Danielson. She was predeceased by siblings Joseph, Millie, Julie, Helen, Toni, Frank, Shirley, Leo, and Adele; her infant daughter Joann, and her former husband John R. Desautels
Memorial donations: Pierce Memorial Baptist Home in Brooklyn. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Shelby M. Ball
WOODSTOCK — Shelby M. Ball, 56, of Route 171, died Dec. 16, 2013, at home. He was the husband of Rosaura Villanueva Ball.
Born in 1957 in Morgantown, WV, he was the son of Ida (McCartney) Ball of Horseheads, N.Y., and the late Robert Ball.
Mr. Ball worked as a machine operator for Loos & Co. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Tiffany Ball of Massachusetts; step-son Hugo Gonzalez-Villanueva of Woodstock; brothers, James W. Ball of Dayville, and Ryan D. Ball of Gillet, Penn.; sister, Susan D. Maynard of Horseheads.
A private burial for Shelby will take place in Abington Cemetery, in the spring. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Roland Bourbeau Sr.
PUTNAM — Roland A. Bourbeau Sr., 79, of Putnam, died Dec. 14, 2013, at home. Husband of Frances (Barrows) Bourbeau, they were married Jan. 20, 2007.
Born Dec. 5, 1934, in Webster, he was the son of the late Alfred J. and Eva (Lamiotte) Bourbeau.
He made his home in Putnam all his life, worked as a motorcycle mechanic for 20 years in Webster and Putnam until his retirement. Roland loved to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
In addition to his wife, Frances, he leaves his children, Maurice O. Raymond Jr., Daniel F. Raymond, Deborah L. Frazier, Jane E. Raymond; his sister Lorraine Daciau; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The Funeral was Dec. 19, at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in Munyan Cemetery, Putnam.
Richard Asal Sr
Marine vet
THOMPSON — Richard “Dick” Joseph Asal, Sr. of Quaddick Town Farm Rd., died Dec. 19, 2013, at Day Kimball Hospital after an illness. He was born Dec. 6, 1929, he son of the late William and Henrietta (Burby) Asal.
Richard attended Plainfield public schools. Richard served in the U.S. Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge in 1954.
In 1955, Richard married Nancy Aileen Bell.
Priscilla Asal, Cheryl Bisson, Carla (Fred) Kress of Lakewood, Colo., Sandra Law, Kristine (Larry) Campos, Scott Asal of Jewett City, and Virginia Asal; 24 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers William, Sr. and James, Sr., and granddaughter Rebekah Piper Herron. Memorial gatherings were Dec. 21 and Dec. 23. Donations: Thompson Hill Fire Dept on Chase Rd, Thompson.
Frank J. Zolenski
E. HARTFORD — Frank J. Zolenski, 85, of Woodycrest Dr., died Dec. 22, 2013, in Hartford Hospital. He was the husband of the late Barbara (Fillmore) Zolenski. Born in 1928 in Chicopee Falls, Mass., he was the son of the late John and Veronica Zolenski.
Mr. Zolenski was an experimental machinist for Pratt Whitney. He enjoyed woodworking, volunteering at the Newington Veterans Hospital and with Military Honors Firing Squad. Frank was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church in East Hartford.
He leaves his son, Francis Zolenski (Cindy) of Pomfret Center. He is predeceased by his son Fred Zolenski and his daughter Bernice Zolenski.
Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St, Putnam.
John Ozaniak,
WWII vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — John A. Ozaniak, 86, of N. Grosvenordale, died Dec. 21, 2013, at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester.
John was born in Webster, son of the late Anthony and Karolina (Vnuk) Ozaniak and lived in Webster most of his life.
He was a WWII U.S. Navy veteran.
He leaves his wife of 60 years. Lillian M. (Chupka) Ozaniak of N. Grosvenordale; a son, Stephen Ozaniak (Cathy) of Webster; a daughter, Pat Cahill of Dudley; two brothers, Stephen Ozaniak (Aurore) of Webster, Adam Ozaniak (Therese) of Webster; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Anna Yurkevicius of Webster.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 26 in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Dudley, with burial military honors in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster. Donations: Webster-Dudley Veterans Council, Veterans Way, Webster, MA 01570. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.