George P. Dumas,

Korean war vet

PUTNAM —  George Paul Dumas Jr., 83, of Sabin St., died Feb., 4, 2014, in Harrington Healthcare at Hubbard Hospital.  He is the husband of Irene (Allard) Dumas.  Born in 1930 in Burlington, Vt., he was the son of the late George and Leona (Ethier) Dumas.

Mr. Dumas worked as a crane operator and construction worker, working for AF Peasley, O&G Construction, as well as several other major construction companies.  

He was a member of Operating Engineers Local 478, Putnam VFW, American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans. George was an avid NASCAR fan never missing any racing event.  He was a Jack of all trades, and could repair anything.

Mr. Dumas was awarded two Purple Hearts as he served his country in U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean war. George was in GEORGE Company, 3rd platoon, 3rd battalion, 1st Marine division.  He is the last surviving member of his platoon.   

In addition to his wife, George leaves his children, Cheryl M. Dumas of Thompson, Karen A. (Dumas) Fuss (David) of Brooklyn, Gary P. Dumas (Kathleen) of E. Granby, George P. Dumas III of Webster, Anne Marie (Dumas) Arsenault (Alan) of E. Lyme, and Steven P. Dumas and partner Lisa Madigan of Chaplin; grandchildren, Lisa Fuss, Kaleigh, Kara and Hannah Dumas,  Alexandra and Aiden Arsenault, Cassidy Strickland and great-grandchild, Laila Monet Townes.  He was the brother of the late Rene Dumas.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at a later date in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: National Kidney Foundation, Attn: Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St. New York, NY 10016. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Exilda P. Mathieu

N. GROSVENORDALE — Exilda P. “Babe” (Robitaille) Mathieu, 95, of Buckley Hill Rd., formerly of Webster, died Feb. 7, 2014, in Regency Heights of Danielson.  She was the wife of the late Archie Billings and Richard “Cliff” Mathieu.  Born in 1918 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Ovila and Rosanna (Latour) Robitaille.

Mrs. Mathieu was employed as a mill worker for Cotton Manufacturing Company in Dayville for 18 years retiring in 1984. 

Mrs. Mathieu was a member of St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam, St. Joseph Basilica in Webster, the Children of St. Mary, and Putnam Senior Citizens.  

Babe leaves a daughter Pauline Audette of N. Grosvenordale; 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter Shirley Craig; three brothers Alberic, Louis, and Arthur Robitaille and three sisters Rose Pelletier, Louise Lavalee, and Elizabeth Defilippo. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 11 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: Charity of one’s choice. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Valeria Roireau

THOMPSON — Valeria Celia (Baczanski) Roireau Roireau, 89, artist, educator, landscaper, seamstress and model, died Feb. 1, 2014, in Westview Rehabilitation and Care Center in Dayville. 

Valeria was born Aug. 19, 1924, in Webster, the youngest child of the late John and Stasia (Ignatowicz) Baczanski. While a teen, Arthur “Ray” Roireau caught her eye while out with girlfriends.  After a wartime romance and marriage, Val followed Ray to his training in NYC where she became a model for Lerner.  After her new husband shipped out to join WWII, Val returned to Webster to await his return.  After the war they started a family. 

Besides being a model and a mom, she worked in the office of a record factory.  As a teacher’s aide at Thompson Public Schools and Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Val took great interest in witnessing children learning and tried everything, even comic books to instill a love of reading.  Ever the fashionista, Val enjoyed sewing clothes for herself and daughter Elaine from examples she found in magazines and dressing in the latest styles.  She continued her sewing expertise into a career as a mender at a woolen mill.

An avid churchgoer, she remained faithful to her original church, St. Joseph’s of Webster, even after moving to Connecticut.  Val was supportive of the church and took an active part in the St. Joseph Women’s Club.  

Val had the ability to get anyone talking and would strike up a conversation, be it in be in the middle of a busy city street or an empty parking lot, Val would be found making a new friend, often to her children’s great embarrassment whenever they went out. 

Val was a passionate lover of a good cup of coffee, which she drank black; a point of pride.  She was an accomplished artist, studying with noted artist Foster Caddell of Northlight Studio, and filled her home with the oils and pastels that she created.

She and her husband Ray built their own house and she landscaped the yard herself, building stone walls that still stand to this day. Planting and enjoying what grew around her, she would have a cup of coffee and survey her efforts.

Her first husband, Ray, died leaving Val alone in the house they built and yard she created.  Surprising herself at age 75, Val married long-time friend and Ray’s cousin, Albert, another Roireau.  Always practical, she didn’t even have to change her name.

Val was artistic and had a vivid imagination which became quite elaborate in her later years, but, unfortunately, Val contracted Alzheimer’s.  Ever cheerful, she never noticed a problem.  

She leaves three children: Elaine Mosley (Lanny) of Jacksonville, Fla., Arthur Roireau (Gwen) of Putnam, and Alan Roireau (Beth)  of Aroda, Va.; grandchildren Amanda, Arthur Edward, and Cooper and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her siblings Anthony, John and Frances.

The Mass of Christian burial was Feb. 10 at St. Joseph Basilica, Webster, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Brendan L. Smith

POMFRET — Brendan L. Smith, 56, of Paine Rd. Abington died unexpectedly Feb. 5, 2014, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam. He was born March 28, 195,7 in Hartford a son of Thomas and Mary Lou (King) Smith and had resided in Abington since 1995.

Brendan was self employed as a remodeling contractor. 

He leaves his partner in life Patricia Miller; a son and daughter-in-law Brendan and Alicia Smith and their daughter Tara of Waterford. Pat’s children Kristen Miller-Callaghan and her husband Terrance and their children Sidney and Ronna of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Robert W. Miller (Jobina) of Canterbury; two brothers Russell Smith of Central Village and John Smith of Wauregan; one sister Susan York of Moosup. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations: Your local animal shelter. Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home, Plainfield.

 

Constance Bachand

DUDLEY — Constance (Pikora) Bachand, 88, died Feb. 5, 2014, in Lanessa Extended Care in Webster after a period of declining health.  

She was born in Dudley, one of 16 children of the late John and the late Ann (Patrowicz ) Pikora.  She enjoyed traveling  to Amish Country in Pennsylvania and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.  She worked many years at Stevens Linen. 

She leaves her husband of 65 years, Edward Bachand; two sons: Thomas Bachand (Patricia) of Woodstock,  Dan Bachand  (Debra) of Dudley; a granddaughter, Marissa Farbo (Aaron) of Marlborough and a  grandson Kevin Bachand of Woodstock ; one sister: Helen Rukat  (Carol) of Dudley . She is predeceased by brothers, Adolph Suchocki, Joseph, Stanley, John, Francis, Walter and Peter; sisters, Frances ,Mary, Anna, Bernice, Anastasia “Pearl,” Rose and Teresa .

 The funeral Mass was Feb. 7 in St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley, with burial  in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster.   Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel,  Dudley . 

 

Antoinette Paglione

WEBSTER—  Antoinette E. (Grondolski) Paglione, 91, died Feb. 4, 2014, in Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge, after an illness. Her husband of 52 years, Carl J. Paglione, died in 2001.

She was born in Indian Orchard, a daughter of Peter and Victoria (Piasniak) Grondolski and lived in Webster most of her life.

Mrs. Paglione was a homemaker. She was also the head cook at the counter in F. W. Woolworth Company for 10 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of St. Louis Church.

She leaves two sons, Carl A. Paglione and his companion Michelle Cove of N. Grosvenordale and Jeffrey P. Paglione  (Mary Ann) of Putnam; two grandchildren, Michael Anthony Paglione (Jacqueline), and Elizabeth Ashley Paglione; a brother, Ralph Grondolski of California; a sister, Helen Igelski of Newington. 

The Funeral was Feb. 10 in St. Louis Church, Webster, with burial in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton, Mass. Donations: St. Louis Church, 15 Lake St., Webster, MA 01570. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Clifford D. Stark,

Navy vet

BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Clifford D. Stark of Brooksville died Jan. 29, 2014, at Oak Hill Hospital. Born in Hartford, Cliff spent most of his early life in Bloomfield, where he graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1945.  He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and graduated from Trinity College in 1951. 

Always active in sports, he played varsity soccer, baseball, and basketball in high school, and varsity soccer at Rensselaer and Trinity, as well as semi-professional soccer in Connecticut, New York and Ohio.  He held an NCAA National Coaching Diploma in soccer, and he briefly successfully coached a college soccer team upon his retirement from business.  He is a former member of both the Roseland Park Tennis Club, and Quinnatisset CC.   When in Florida, he spent considerable time playing Marina golf course and Burnt Store in Punta Gorda.  He loved table tennis, square dancing, and singing in a mixed chorus as well as a barbershop quartet.

Mr. Stark started his business career as a Management Trainee with GE in Schenectady, later moving to Cincinnati, as an Accounting Analyst for the same company.  In 1953 he joined Jack’s Tasty Snack Corp., Oneida, NY as a Staff Assistant to the owners.  In 1955 he entered the specialty food brokerage business, and he owned a New England specialty food brokerage business known as M.A.R. Associates.  Its headquarters was in Woodstock, with branches in several other New England towns.

He was a Charter Member of the National Association of Specialty Food & Confection Brokers, serving as its Secretary and President, as well as in other offices.

Cliff joined the Woodstock Lions Club in 1958, and filled various roles including President in 1962.  He also served on the District 23-C Cabinet of CT Lionism holding several offices before becoming District Governor in 1965-66.  In 1967 he was the Chairman for International Convention Activities for Lions from CT.

He was a Past Master of Cornerstone-Quinebaug Masonic Lodge #122 in Thompson,  and an affiliated member of Putnam 46 Lodge in Woodstock.  He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Knight Templar, having been a member of both the Scottish Rite and the York Rite bodies.  He was also a Shriner, and was a Past President of the Sphinx Moslem Shrine Club, now known as the Northeast CT Shrine Club.  He transferred his membership in the Shriners from Sphinx Temple to Tampa Egypt Temple.

Cliff was a U.S. Navy veteran, a member of Benson-Flugel American Legion Post for over 50 years, and favored the Evangelical Covenant Church of Woodstock.  He had been instrumental in the formation of the Woodstock Seniors’ Club, and he also contributed considerable time to The Elmvale Cemetery Association.  

Clifford leaves his wife Beverly (Beverly J. Holmes of Fall River, Mass.); sons – Jeffrey (Valerie), Douglas (Amy), and Philip; five grandchildren. Clifford was predeceased by his parents Percival and Norma Stark, his step mother Beulah Merriman Stark, his two sisters Helen and Dorothy, and his youngest of four sons Steven. 

 

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