‘Jim’ Russell Hilton,

Guard vet

DANIELSON — James “Jim” Russell Hilton, 73, of Danielson died Jan. 16, 2015, at  home. He was born July 10, 1941, in Pomfret, to Leonard Russell Hilton and Vera Karlson. 

He leaves his wife, Amy Flagg Hilton. Jim and Amy were married on a snowy evening on Dec.  5, 1981. He also leaves three children: daughter LuAnn Hilton Sajjadi (Shar)  of Florida, Michael James Hilton of E. Hartford, and Wade Russell Hilton of Danielson.

Jim was a guiding force in his children’s lives. He flew to Montana while Wade was active duty with the U.S. Air Force, coached Mike’s baseball team and was proud of Mike as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, and walked LuAnn down the aisle. Jim also leaves his brother, Lawrence Raymond Hilton and wife Lorraine of New Jersey. Despite distance, Larry kept in constant contact with his brother; checking in and remembering good times young and old. 

Jim was employed with the State of Connecticut for 22 years with the Department of Income Maintenance working in the Purchasing Department; he retired in 1990.

Jim was a long time member of the Eastford Independent Fire Department Company. After moving to Florida in 1990, he volunteered at the Lake Helen Fire Department in Florida. He was enlisted with the Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968, and was a devoted Free-Mason with the Putnam Lodge #46, S. Woodstock for over 40 years. Jim was an avid reader of western novels, and will be remembered as thoughtful and generous; always ready with a witty story and a sharp joke. You could not ever find a more honest or caring man. 

Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 22 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam followed by a Funeral Service at 1 with burial in South Cemetery Pomfret with military honors. Donations: Hospice and Palliative Care of NE CT: PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260; or Eastford Independent Fire Company, PO Box 333, Eastford, CT 06242. 

 

E. ‘David’ Blake

CLAREMONT, N.H. — Edward “David” Blake, 79, of Davis St. died Jan. 12, 2015, in the Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont.  He was the husband of Kathleen (Barnett) Blake. Born in 1935 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Edward and Dorothy (Jacques) Blake.

Before moving to New Hampshire, where Mr. Blake lived for 30 years, he lived in Pascoag.  He was a supervisor for Hale Manufacturing, Cyril Johnson Manufacturing, and Dartmouth Woolen.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and working in his garden.  He loved doing everything outdoors.  

In addition to his wife, he leaves his sons, David R. Blake of Thompson, Michael Riley of Maine, Jason Blake of Claremont, and Jeremy Blake of Claremont; his daughter, Diane Stevens of Oxford, Mass.; his brothers, Richard Blake, and Gerald Blake; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.  He is predeceased by his son, Daniel Blake and his two brothers, Paul Blake and Philip Wood.

The funeral was Jan. 16 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam, burial in Putnam Heights Cemetery in the spring.  Donations: American Heart Association.  

 

Gertrude M. Menard

QUINEBAUG —  Gertrude M.  Menard, 91, of Green Acres Ln, died Jan. 17, 2015, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of the late Alfred Menard. Born in 1923 in N. Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Antoinette (Gendreau) Hamel.

Gertrude owned and operated GPG Ceramics for 30 years.  She was a member of the Ladies of St. Ann, VFW Women’s Auxiliary Post 10088, American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Post 67 and the Thompson Senior Citizens.  She volunteered at St. Joseph’s Thrift Shop.  She loved her trips to the casino and traveling to Europe, Canada and throughout the U.S.  She was an avid sports fan following the Red Sox and UConn women’s basketball closely.  The highlight of her day was her telephone call with her sister-in-law Kaye Hamel.

She leaves her daughter, Pat (Bruce) Bodreau of Quinebaug; her grandchildren, Justine (William) Gendreau and Steven (Lisa) Bodreau, her great-grandchildren, Michael Bodreau, Ryan Gendreau, Ashley Gendreau, Jillian Bodreau, Madison Bodreau, Spencer Bodreau, and Dalton Bodreau. She was predeceased by her brothers, Lorenzo “Larry” Hamel, Aldelard “Del” Hamel, Leonard Hamel, Girard “Trainer” Hamel, and Richard “Oscar” Hamel; her sisters, Sr. Lucienne Hamel CSC, Claire Rocheleau, and Jeanne Hamel; and her grandson, Scott Bodreau, 

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 23 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St. N. Grosvenordale.  The funeral will assemble at 10 a.m. Jan. 24 at the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 11 in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main Street, N. Grosvenordale. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Donations: St. Joseph’s Food Pantry, 18 Main St. N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255; or to the Quinebaug Fire Department Scholarship Fund, PO Box 144, Quinebaug, CT 06262

 

Beatrice Hamel 

PUTNAM —  Beatrice Bonneau Hamel of Little River Acres, formerly of N. Grosvenordale, went to her eternal rest, Jan. 15, 2015, after a short illness. She had made her home at Davis Place in Danielson. She was the wife of Gerard Hamel, he died in 1995.

She was born May 11, 1920.

Mrs. Hamel worked at American Optical Company in Southbridge, as an executive secretary for more than 30 years. She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale.

Her only child Cynthia Hamel of Tolland died in 2008, her sister Lauretta Moriarty of Long Island, N.Y., died in 2014.  She leaves her special friend Janet Macari of Dudley, nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service was held in St. Joseph Cemetery, N. Grosvenordale. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Edward F. Loiselle,

WWII vet

DANIELSON — Edward F. Loiselle, 87, of Danielson, died unexpectedly Jan. 11, 2015, at the Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Lauriante (Lefrancois) Loiselle. 

He was born April 9, 1927, in Plainfield, son of John and Exilda (Frenette) Loiselle. Edward was a supervisor at Helikon Mfg. Co. in Taftville. He retired in 1988. He was a veteran of WWII serving with the U.S. Navy. 

He leaves, in addition to his wife Lauriante, his son David Loiselle (Francine) of Pomfret; his daughter Linda Daigle of South Carolina; his sisters Florence Tyndall of Central Village; Edna Zercie of South Carolina; Theresa Richmond of Central Village; Doris Lavallee of Central Village; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by four brothers. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 19 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery with military honors. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Lucille Lalumiere

PUTNAM — Lucille J. Lalumiere, 85, of Putnam, formerly of Danielson, died Jan. 18, 2015, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. Lucille was the wife of Gerard R. Lalumiere. He died Oct. 8, 1994.

She was born July 3, 1929, in Putnam, daughter of Alfred J. and Eva (Laflamme) Beaupre. A devoted Catholic, she was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam, and St. James Church in Danielson, and attended the Putnam Catholic Academy. Lucille had made her home in Danielson most of her life. She was a perfectionist at knitting and crocheting. She was known to many as Nana Lu. 

She leaves her daughters Linda Hall of Putnam, Diane Oppert of Thompson; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Irene LaBelle.

Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260.

 

Inger Christensen

Inger M (Traulsen) Christensen, 78, died Jan. 13, 2015, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester after a battle with bone cancer.  Born Nov. 5, 1936, in Esbjerg, Denmark, she immigrated with her husband and son to the U.S. in 1957.  She was the wife of Pouel B Christensen, and in June they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

She was the daughter of the late Orla and Magny (Christensen) Traulsen.  

In the 1960s Inger worked at the Keys Department Stores in Webster and Milford as a buyer/supervisor. Inger has been a Real Estate broker in Massachusetts and Connecticut for the past 40+ years, working at Coldwell Banker since the early 1980s.  She achieved many of the highest awards possible.

Inger has been very active her entire life as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and she always loved to help people both in a spiritual and material way

Besides her husband Pouel, she leaves her son Preben B Christensen (Mary) of Westborough, Mass.; one granddaughter Erica Marie Christensen of Westborough; by two brothers, Erik Traulsen (Ingrid) of Palm Coast, Fla., Henning Traulsen (Karlene) of Southington, and two sisters Beatta Kinz (Robert) of Framingham, Mass.,, and Doris Lisbet Giroux (Mark)  of Oxford, Mass.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 24 at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester. No flowers. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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