Frederick L. Bigelow,

U.S. Navy vet

POMFRET CENTER — Frederick L. Bigelow, 70, of Pomfret, died July 17, 2014, at UMass University Hospital.  He was the husband of Joyce (Rivard) Bigelow.  Born in 1943 in Brunswick, Maine, he was the son of the late Ronald A. and Georgia M. (Wallace) Bigelow.  

Mr. Bigelow was proud to have served in the U.S. Navy as a signalman on the USS Moale in the early 1960s.  He owned and operated Bigelow Lawn & Garden, after retiring from Southern New England Telephone Company. He loved to read, play darts, croquet and garden.  He enjoyed Jeopardy, crossword puzzles and shooting pool. Fred was a competitive member of the Pomfret Croquet Club and the Minute Man Dart Club and also of the VFW in Manchester. 

In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Rebecca Lambert (David) of Woodstock; son Michael Bigelow (Marian) of Hampton; grandchildren, Danielle, Samuel, Aaron and Rachel Lambert and Shayne, Gregory and Kyleigh Bigelow; sisters Judith Bohman of Marlborough, Linda Klimasewski of Georgia; brother Richard Bigelow of Oregon. He is predeceased by his brother Gregory Bigelow. 

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. July 25 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 9 a.m. July 26, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 in St. James Church, Danielson.  Burial will be private. Donations: American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005.  

 

Harold Williams III

PUTNAM — Harold A. Williams III, 28, of Courtney Lane, died July 19, 2014.  Born in 1985 in Putnam, he was the son of Harold A. Jr. and Betty Ann (Auger) Williams. 

Harold formerly worked as a cook at McDonald’s in Charlton. 

He loved music and drawing. He was a very social person.  He could start a conversation with anyone and enjoyed making people laugh.  He loved being with children.

In addition to his parents, he leaves his daughter, Sara Williams of Southbridge; his sister, Jessica Britland of Dayville; his paternal grandmother, Sheila N. Williams; his niece, Isabella; and three nephews, Bobby, Wyatt and Austin. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Harold A. Williams Sr., his maternal grandparents; Ruth M. Auger and Leonard H. Auger Sr.; and his uncle, Leonard H. Auger Jr.

Donations:Harold Williams Fund, PO Box 131, Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam.

 

Bernard Gerling

PUTNAM — Bernard F. Gerling, 67, of Putnam, died July 13, 2014, at Matulaitis Nursing Home.

He was born in Punxatawney, Penn., son of the later Bernard E. and Mary L. (Dubrosky) Gerling and lived here most of his life.

He was the husband of the late Lucille M. (Bedard) Gerling, who died on June 5, 2014. He leaves two brothers, Stephen Gerling of Ashford and Michael Gerling of St. Louis.

Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Alice Parker

N. GROSVENORDALE — Alice M. (Armes) Parker, 85, of N. Grosvenordale, died July 20, 2014, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.

Alice was born in Yorktown, N.Y., daughter of the late Lawrence and Lillian (Sundean) Armes and lived in Colorado before moving to N. Grosvenordale 35 years ago.  She was a retired cook, having worked many years at Day Kimball Hospital.  She enjoyed bowling, knitting, baking and crocheting.

She leaves a daughter, Barbara J. Basley of Danielson; a brother, Rawlins Armes of Florida; four grandchildren, Bradley Belanger, Kayla Belanger, Kara Langevin and Eric Belanger; a great-grandson, Kyle Langevin.  She was predeceased by a son, Edmund Motrucinski.

A Celebration of Life will be heldfrom 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 2 2 at Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.   Burial will be private. 

 

Christopher Kennedy

THOMPSON — Christopher J. Kennedy, 48, died July 16, 2014, in UMass University Campus, Worcester, after having been stricken ill on July 15.

He was born in Worcester, the youngest child of William F. Kennedy, who died in 1973. He lived in Webster for eight years before moving to Thompson in 1974. He attended Tourtellotte Memorial High School in N. Grosvenordale.

Mr. Kennedy was a carpenter all of his working life. He was a member of St. Joseph Basilica in Webster. He enjoyed gardening and fishing.

He leaves his mother, Sally A. (Kochanowski) Mrozinski, with whom he lived; a brother, William J. Kennedy (Deidre) of Auburn; three sisters, Kimberly J. Eldridge of Barre, Mass., Karen J. Bacon of Webster, and Kathleen J. Kennedy of Putnam; nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Henry J. Mrozinski Jr. in December 2013.

His Funeral was July 26 in St. Joseph Basilica, Webster. Donations: ASPCA (aspca.org). Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.