G. ‘Jerry’ Lavallee,

WWII vet

WEBSTER — Gerard “Jerry” A. Lavallee, 96, formerly of N. Grosvenordale, died Aug. 28, 2014 in Brookside Nursing Home, Webster. He was the husband of Florette (Coderre) Lavallee of 67 years.  

Born on June 27, 1918, he was the son of Napolian and Alice (Pariseau) Lavallee and grew up in Webster, before volunteering for the Army and serving in N. Africa, Italy, and N. Ireland as a lineman during WWII. He came home and met his wife of 67 years Florette Coderre. He enjoyed being with family, cooking, gardening, and traveling. 

He worked as a carpenter for Gerard Morin Construction Co., as a maintenance man for Jens Risom Design and Superwinch Co., and also ran a home business sharpening saws. 

In addition to his wife Florette, he leaves his sons; Dennis Lavallee (Sherry) and Paul Lavallee (Leslie); grandchildren, Jeremy and Derek Lavallee; and a sister, Alice Peters. He is predeceased by his brother, Lawrence Lavallee and sister, Jean Koslowski. 

The Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. Sept. 3 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph Church or Kindred at Home Hospice, 130 Rumford Ave. Suite 211, Auburndale, MA 02466.  Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Dane M. Picard

N. GROSVENORDALE —  Dane M. Picard, 23, of Marcy Lane died Aug. 26, 2014, in Day Kimball Hospital.  Born in 1991 in Putnam, he is the son of Michael L. Picard of N. Grosvenordale and Monique A. (Santerre) Picard of Putnam.

Dane graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School and the United States Coast Guard TRACEN in 2009.  He worked as a System Tech for Charter Communications. He was a member of the Valley Springs Sportsman Club and the N.R.A. He was a volunteer for the East Thompson Fire Department, and a former Community Fire Department volunteer. Dane loved the great outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, shooting and scuba diving.

Dane had a beautiful spirit. He loved and embraced life, people, and his country to the very fullest.  Dane and his brother Cody were preparing for and looking forward to becoming Connecticut State Troopers together.

In addition to his parents, he leaves his brother, Cody M. Picard of N. Grosvenordale; girlfriend Emily Mackenzie of N. Grosvenordale; maternal grandparents, Maurice G. and Arlene M. Santerre of N. Grosvenordale; paternal grandmother, Ann T. Picard of Dayville. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 1 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Donations: Valley Springs Youth Activities, 65 Valley Rd. N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Brian Beeler 

NEW LONDON — Brian Joseph Beeler, 45, of New London died Aug. 23, 2014.   

Brian was born May 30, 1969, son of Bradley J. Beeler and the late Mary M. Beeler, of Pomfret Center.

He leaves his wife Lillian Otero Beeler; daughter Lillian Rosario; sisters Amy M. Beeler of Pomfret Center, Melissa S. Beeler of Bolton, Elizabeth R. Beeler of Southbridge; niece and goddaughter Emily T. Cioffari of Bolton; aunts and uncles, John McLaughlin of Pomfret, Cho Golden of Pomfret, Janice Beeler of Berwick, Maine, James and Barbara Beeler of Rocky Hill, James and Dodie Tuttle of Vernon.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 29 at Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial in South Cemetery, Pomfret. Donations: Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Doris L. Robillard

N. GROSVENORDALE — Doris (Tellier) Robillard, 85, of Riverside Drive, died Aug. 27, 2014, in Regency Heights of Danielson.  She was the wife of the late Raymond M. Robillard.  Born in 1929 in Thompson, she was the daughter of the late Adolph and Marie Rose (Dubeau) Tellier.

Mrs. Robillard worked as a teacher’s aide for Tourtellotte Memorial High School. She also worked for Belding Corticelli, Ethan Allen, and The Webster Times. She enjoyed going to the Casino and was a fan of the New England Patriots. 

She leaves her son, Michael J. Robillard of N. Grosvenordale; her daughter Susan-Raye Eklund of N. Grosvenordale; her grandchildren, John Eklund of N. Grosvenordale, and Kristen L. Robillard of Southbridge; nieces, Joyce Sledzick of Dudley and Linda Manso of N. Grosvenordale.  She was the sister of the late Theresa Vaillant, Jeannette Tellier, Anita Cournoyer and Evelyn Galinski and the aunt of the late Nancy Oleszewski.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 2 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Christopher Heights Activity Fund, 338 Thompson Rd., Webster, MA 01570. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Jannette Sullivan

E. THOMPSON — Jannette Sullivan, of East Thompson, died Aug. 25, 2014, at Westview Healthcare in Dayville.  She was born on April 7, 1923, in East Hampton to John F. and Dorthea (Charlesson) Anderson.

She attended the East Hampton school systems, moving to Cromwell with her family as teenager. She worked for several years at the W. A. Pierson Greenhouses & Nursery in Cromwell, raising and cultivating orchids. Wallace and Andy Pierson named one of their cymbidium Orchids, “The Jannette Anderson,” in honor and recognition of her care and success in growing these beautiful flowers.  She was an avid swimmer and loved music and dance. She had a passion for classic movies with an uncanny ability to identify every character in every movie.  

Those who loved Jannette will remember her wonderful baking abilities that included Swedish coffee cake, homemade roles and her famous scones. She had a deep love of cats and dogs and never turned away one of the many stray animals that arrived at her doorstep. Her passion for playing card games, like pitch, were only rivaled by her unending ability to win each hand. 

She married Norman T. “Sully” Sullivan and they moved to East Thompson, buying their homestead on Quaddick Town Farm Road. There were many a family-filled Memorial Day gatherings, packing the field with friends and relatives playing softball and eating Sully’s famous steamers.  Mrs. Sullivan was a Thompson Brownie leader for several years and also worked with the Thompson Public Health Nurses, scheduling appointments and providing transportation to clinics.  Norman “Sully” Sullivan died in 1983. Mrs. Sullivan remained at their home until her declining health required care at Westview.

She leaves her daughter, Donna Rossi (Enzo) of Buffalo, Wy.; her stepdaughter, Maureen Thomasen of Grand Junction, Colo.; her granddaughters: Ellen Reilly (Tim) of Rockford, Ill.., and Beth K. Fisher of Seymour, four grandsons: Vaughn Modeen (Sue) of E. Hartford, Christopher Modeen of Middletown, Jaime Thomasen of Manchester, and William Thomason of Grand Junction; three great-grandchildren Grace and Sullivan Reilly of Rockford, and Kyle Modeen of E. Hartford.  She was predeceased by her parents, sister Leona Smigel and brother Warren Anderson.

The Funeral Service was Aug. 30 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in E. Thompson Cemetery