Maxfield J. Barclay

N. GROSVENORDALE — Maxfield J. Barclay, 82, Holmes St., died Aug. 17, 2014, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Elizabeth (Kingman) Barclay.  

Born in 1931 in Caribou, Maine, he was the son of the late Blake and Esther (Larson) Barclay.

Mr. Barclay worked for 30 years in maintenance for Anchor Glass. 

He enjoyed dart ball and bowling. He belonged to the Interfaith Dart Ball League.

He was a parishioner of the Leffingwell Baptist Church in Bozrah.

In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Michael Kingman of N. Grosvenordale; his daughter, Sandra Challinor of Jefferson, N.H.; his sister, Mavis Carignan (Raymond) of Steuben, Maine; his sister in-law, Barbara Barclay of Plainfield; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren.

The Funeral Service was Aug. 25 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Edward J. Briere Sr.,

WWII vet

PUTNAM — Edward J. Briere Sr., 90, of Harrison St., died Aug. 19, 2014, in Matulaitis Nursing Home.  He is the husband of nearly 68 years of the late Irene A. ( Robitaille) Briere who died on July 16, 2011.  Born in 1923 in Stafford Springs, he was the son of the late Frank and Laura (Masse) Briere.

Mr. Briere was a veteran of WWII where he achieved the ranking of Staff Sergeant and received a Bronze Star for heroism. Ed was a prisoner of war being held by the Nazis for six months before being liberated by the Allied troops on May 25, 1944.

Mr. Briere enjoyed watching sports especially the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Braves; traveling with his wife and close friends the Cormiers to New Hampshire, and doing puzzles especially word searches. Edward was a devoted family man and cherished the time that he spent with his family especially at their Sunday dinners. He was a Eucharistic minister and altar server for more than 22 years at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam. He also was a member of the choir and was the jack of all trades for the church for many years.

Mr. Briere was a member of the Putnam Lodge of Elks, American Legion post #13 in Putnam, the Putnam VFW, a member of the Happy Singers, and was the 2009 Parade Marshall for the Putnam Memorial Day Parade. 

He leaves his sons, Edward J. Briere Jr. (Donna) of Putnam, and William Briere of Dayville; his daughters, Marie Desautels (Paul) of Putnam, and Jane Briere of Putnam; four grandchildren John Labossiere Jr. and his fiancé Deb Rose, Lynne Labossiere, Lauren Briere, and Todd Desautels; three great grandchildren Marquis Shaw, and Dominique and Connor Desautels; his goddaughter Dolores Wallick. He was predeceased by two brothers William and Omer Briere, a sister Lillian Messier, and a nephew Theodore Messier. 

A Mass of Christian burial was Aug. 23 in St. Mary Church, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Blanche Rawson

THOMPSON — Blanche (Waters) Rawson, 85, of Thompson died Aug. 19, 2014, at Westview Healthcare Center in Dayville. She was wife of Richard Rawson. 

She was born Oct. 8, 1928, in Putnam, daughter of the late Wesley and Viola (Rondeau) Waters.

She loved her gardens and trips to the beach. 

She leaves her husband Richard of Thompson, two sons, Allan Rawson (Kathie) of Putnam, James Rawson (Donna) of Thompson; siblings, May Alvord, Marie “Phyllis” LeClair, Richard Waters; grandchildren, Jeffrey, Benjamin, Gary, Kelly Rawson, Caitlin Dutiel, eight great grandchildren. She  was predeceased by a son Larry Rawson and brothers Charles and Conrad Waters. 

Donations: Thompson Hill Fire Department, Thompson. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Peter J. Trudeau

BROOKLYN — Peter J. Trudeau, 54, of Brooklyn died Aug. 18, 2014, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was born on April 26, 1960, in Putnam, son of the late Jean Paul and Jeannette (Labrec) Trudeau.

Known as “Pete The Plumber”. Pete was an avid NASCAR fan and loved his Norton motorcycle very much.

He leaves a son Brian Trudeau of Voluntown; brothers Tom Trudeau (Rose) of Brooklyn, Guy Trudeau (Gail) of Brooklyn; a sister-in-law Deb Trudeau of Coon Rapids, Minn.; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Paul Jean Trudeau, he died in 1999.

Graveside service were Aug. 23 in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Deborah Pratt

WOODSTOCK — Deborah L. (Sheldon) Pratt, 62, of Woodstock, died Aug. 21, 2014 at UMass Memorial Health Care - University Campus, Worcester. 

She was born in Putnam, daughter of the late Wayland N. Sr. and Hazel F. (Currier) Sheldon, and lived in Woodstock all her life.  She was the assistant to the principal at Putnam High School and was also the assistant athletic director. 

She was a member of the Putnam Lions Club, was secretary and part of the support crew Woodstock Volunteer Fire Department and was very involved with community volunteer work. 

She leaves her son, Joshua Pratt of Woodstock; a sister, Susan J. Fellenius of Woodstock; two brothers, Wayland N. Sheldon Jr. of Woodstock and Ronald Sheldon of Pomfret. 

A Celebration of Life will be held and announced later in September.  Donations: Deborah L. Pratt Scholarship Fund, Putnam High School, Woodstock Avenue, Putnam, CT 06260.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Gordon G. Brennan,

Marine vet

S. KILLINGLY — Gordon G. Brennan of South Killingly died Aug. 11, 2014, at home, of natural causes.

 He was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Manchester, son of the late Gordon and Helen (Glayre) Brennan. After graduating from Cheney Technical School he joined the Marine Corps., serving four years in Korea, followed by a short period of employment with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford. Gordon’s career began at American Standard when they opened in Wauregan, and retired 33 years later when the plant closed. 

Gordon greatly enjoyed fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, wood carving and was part of the master gardeners program. He will be missed for his quick wit, jokes, stories and sparkling blue eyes.

He leaves his wife Betty (Couture), happily married for 61 years; sister Lillian; daughter Sue Ann; sons Thomas and Gordon; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by one sister Marie.

The Funeral was Aug. 15 in Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson. Donations: Thornfield Hall, Rt. 200, Thompson, CT 06277. 

 

Gary Blanchard

QUINEBAUG — Gary J. Blanchard, 63, of Quinebaug, died Aug. 18, 2014, at Harrington Health Care at Hubbard in Webster, after a long illness.

Gary was born in Worcester, son of the late Paul and Dorothy (Wilson) Blanchard and lived in Oxford before moving to Thompson-Quinebaug 32 years ago.  He was a truck driver for many years at Mass Container and was a member of the Teamsters Union.  Gary enjoyed playing pool, his guitar, fishing and sports cars.

He leaves his wife of 43 years, Darlene T. (Bertrand) Blanchard of Quinebaug; two daughters, Renee C. Wolak (John) of Webster, Lisa M. Rousseau (Jason) of Southbridge; one sister, Cynthia LaRochelle of Oxford; two grandchildren, Jake G. and Jenna M. Rousseau, both of Southbridge.  He was predeceased by two brothers, Robert Blanchard of Oxford and Paul Blanchard of Webster.

The service was Aug. 21. Donations: Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Barbara Kaliszewski

THOMPSON — Barbara A. (Mroczek) Kaliszewski, 68, died Aug. 11, 2014, in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, after a three month illness. Her husband of 27 years, Edward R. Kaliszewski, died in 1996.

She was born in Webster and raised in Dudley, daughter of the late Joseph Mroczek. She graduated from Bartlett High School in 1963 and attended Pan American Airlines Flight Stewardess Training School. She resided in Alexandria, Va., before moving back to Dudley. She had lived in Thompson since 1969. Barbara first worked for Pan American Airlines as a stewardess. She was a bobbin weaver at Beldings in Putnam. She was then the manager of Putnam Hallmark in Webster for 12 years, retiring in 2012.

She leaves four children, Holly J. Stanley (Paul) of Storrs, Mark J. Kaliszewski (Doreen) of Tampa, Fla., Peter J. Kaliszewski (Patricia), and Kelli J. Lavoie (David), all of Putnam; her mother, Stella T. (Jezerski) Mroczek of Thompson; a brother, Stanley Mroczek of Phoenix; a brother-in-law, Joseph Mayotte of Quinebaug; 14 grandchildren. She was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild in January, 2015. She was predeceased by a sister Elizabeth Mayotte.

A graveside service will be held at a later date in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster. Donations: American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Edward Sledzik Jr.,

Army vet

THOMPSON — Edward Sledzik Jr., 67, of Thompson, died Aug. 17, 2014, at home.  

He was born in Webster, son of the late Edward Sledzik Sr.  Ed lived in East Douglas before moving to N. Grosvenordale 35 years ago.  Eddie was a U.S. Army veteran and was employed by the Town of Thompson Highway Department as a machine operator.  He enjoyed cutting wood, walking, motorcycles and tractors.  

He leaves his wife, Alma M. (Arpin) Sledzik; his mother, Beth (Shiner) Sledzik of Dudley; two daughters, Kerry Bishop of Grosvenordale, and Kristine DePasquale of N. Grosvenordale; two brothers, Gary Sledzik of Dudley and Richard Sledzik of Brockton; four sisters, Patricia Sledzik and Beth Wieloch both of Dudley, Paula Olson of California and Sheila Rego of Whitinsville; four grandchildren, Misty and Ryan Bishop, Jaden and Gia DePasquale.  He was predeceased by a sister, Mary Sledzik. 

Donations: Madison and Mason Fund, c/o Southbridge Savings Bank, 253-257 Main St., P.O. Box 370, Southbridge, MA 01550.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Roland H. Snay,

WWII vet

THOMPSON —  Roland H. Snay, 89, died Aug. 20,2014, at Webster Transitional Care Unit. Roland  was born in Dudley, the son of the late Arban J and Marie Rose (LaCroix) Snay. 

Roland proudly served his country during WWII as a sergeant in the Army with the 75th Division,  seeing action at the Battle of the Bulge . Sergeant Roland  Snay received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

He leaves his wife of 68 years, Lorraine (Savage) Snay; four children Robert Snay (Eunice) of Sturbridge, Debra Cunha of Brooklyn, Norman Snay of E. Putnam, and

Paul Snay of Putnam; brother Richard of N. Grosvenordale;  eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by  brother Roger, sister Dorothy Rodman.

A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 30 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with a burial with military honors in  Joseph Cemetery . Donations: The Sisters of Notre Dame 555 Plantation St. Worcester MA. 01604. Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel,  Dudley.