Marilyn Jackson,

Vietnam war vet

PUTNAM — Marilyn Jean Jackson, 77, of Putnam, died Feb. 22, 2015, at the Day Kimball Hospital.

She was born June 21, 1937, daughter of the late Alfred and Anna (Feige) Lachapelle.  

Marilyn was a veteran of the Vietnam war serving in the U.S. Air Force, as a 1st lieutenant, and received an honorable discharge March 28, 1964.  She was a Registered Nurse working as an Operating Room Nurse at Day Kimball Hospital for 15 years. 

She leaves her son Todd Jackson and his fiancée Angela Melnik of Thompson, her sister Beverly Sampson of N. Reading, Mass.; a son-in-law Joseph Hollobaugh of Titusville, Penn., her grandchildren Mathew Jackson and Leah Jackson, both of Thompson. She was predeceased by her daughter Krista Jackson in 1998.

A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. March 13 at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: ASPCA. 

 

Marie Ledogar

DANIELSON — Marie E. Ledogar, 79, of Danielson, died Feb. 23, 2015, at the William W. Backus Hospital. She was born Oct. 29, 1935, in Danielson to the late Francis and Lillian Andrews. 

Marie was married Sept. 7, 1957, to Lawrence R. Ledogar. She was a graduate of the Killingly High School, Class of 1953. Marie was an extraordinary cook. She enjoyed gardening, shopping and winning at the casinos. 

She leaves her husband Lawrence of 57 years; two sons Lawrence (Melissa) Ledogar, Andrew (Sharon) Ledogar; her two grandchildren, Gregory and Ashley; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Francis G. Andrews. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 27 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville. Burial will be in the spring in Holy Cross Cemetery. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Beatrice Buell

BROOKLYN — Beatrice Louise Buell of Creamery Brook was born Jan. 8, 1916, in Eastford to Charles Henry and Mildred Goodhall Buell. She passed into Glory Feb. 19, 2015. 

“Bea” attended the one-room Buell District School, then graduated from Putnam High School in 1933 and Willimantic Normal School in 1936, from which she received her BE in 1940. Her first teaching position was at the Cogswell School in Ellington. In 1949 she joined the staff at the newly completed Eastford Elementary School, where she taught first grade until joining the first grade staff at the Israel Putnam School in Putnam, in the late 1950s, retiring in 1971.

Bea was a member of the Congregational Church of Eastford for more than 80 years, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and was very active in Women’s Fellowship. She was a Life Member of the Wolf Den Grange, Pomfret, and a Life Member of the Betty Putnam Chapter 106, Order of the Eastern Star, Woodstock, where she served as Matron, as well as other elected and appointed offices. She was a volunteer counselor at the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp, Pomfret, CT, and Honorary Trustee of the Windham County 4-H Foundation.

She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and was a member of the Putnam Travel Club. Her favorite memories were of time spent in the garden of her Eastford home and of waterfront activities at her Crystal Pond property, where she loved to swim and canoe, all the while reveling in the antics of family and friends.

She leaves two sisters-in-law, June Amidon Buell of Gulfport, Fla., and Theresa Caya Buell of Eastford; nieces and nephews Dottie Torcellini of Eastford, Charles Buell of Shoreline, Wash., Charles Buell of Eastford, Robert Buell of Rocky Point, N.C., John Buell of Woodstock, Ken Buell of Eastford, Jim Buell of Willington, Linda Cahoon of Nunnelly, Tenn., and Faye Logee of Eastford and their families. She was predeceased by three brothers, Albert Henry, Charles Franklyn, and Robert Goodhall. 

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. March 7 at the Congregational Church of Eastford, 8 Church Road, Eastford. Donations: Congregational Church of Eastford. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Joan Martel

N. GROSVENORDALE — Joan (Joyal) Martel, 81, of Riverside Drive, died March 1, 2015.  She was the wife of the late Lucien Martel.  Born in 1933 in Burlington, Vt., she was the daughter of the late Hilaire and Blanche (Rousseau) Joyal.

Mrs. Martel graduated valedictorian of St. Joseph High School in N. Grosvenordale.  She was a very devoted Catholic and was very active for St. Joseph Church volunteering on the Parish Council as well as many other activities.  She was an accomplished musician who enjoyed playing the piano.  She also enjoyed completing crossword puzzles.  She was especially kind and helpful to everyone.

Joan leaves by her son, Robert Martel (Nancy) of Ellington; her brothers, John Paul Joyal of Thompson, and Leo Joyal of Pomfret; her sisters, Theresa Guertin of Putnam, Cecile Bellerive of Putnam, Lucille Farrell of Dayville, and Rachel Ladyka of N. Grosvenordale; her granddaughters, Heather Parrott (Rob) of Vernon, Kristen Martel of Ellington, Kelsey Martel of Vernon, and Katelyn Martel of Ellington; her great grandsons, Robby Parrott, and Shawn Parrott; her special niece, Linda Plaza- Cassidy. In addition to her husband and parents, Joan is predeceased by her brother, Willie Joyal. 

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. March 6 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. A gathering will begin at 10:30 a.m. March 7 in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Donations: St. Joseph Church. 

 

Raymond Johnson,

Vietnam war vet

PUTNAM — Raymond G. Johnson, 72, of Putnam, died Feb. 28, 2015, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home. He was the husband of Patricia (Cacciapouti) Johnson. They were married Aug. 25, 1972. 

He was born Nov. 30, 1942, in Putnam, son of Anne (Goloski) Johnson and the late Donald Harry Johnson.

He spent his youth in Thompson, after marrying Patricia they moved to Putnam, a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Era serving with the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1963. 

He worked for more than 37 years as a press operator at Wyman-Gordon of, he retired in 2006. Ray was a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed woodworking. 

He leaves, in addition to his wife Patricia and his mother Anne of Putnam, his children Allen Johnson and Timothy Johnson and his grandson Tré and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two brothers Ronald Johnson and Wm “Mike” Johnson. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. March 5 at Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial in the spring in Holy Cross Cemetery Danielson. Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Richard Pechie Jr.

Vietnam war vet

E. KILLINGLY — Richard “Dickie” Roland Pechie Jr., 66, of E. Killingly, died unexpectedly Feb. 23, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Mary C. Pechie. 

Born Dec. 5, 1948, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Richard R. and Beatrice (Duso) Pechie.

He graduated from Killingly High School in 1966 and joined the Air Force as an electronics technician. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of staff sergeant. He was a member of the VFW Post 4908, E. Killingly. He met his wife while stationed in Omaha, Neb. They were married Aug. 1, 1969. 

Dickie worked at Glass Container in Dayville as a maintenance mechanic while attending QVCC and received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from UConn. He was employed as vice president and regional sales manager at Vollmer America of Canaan. He enjoyed participating in radio contests with the Barnstormers Ham Radio Club. He loved his Springer Spaniels, Kolby and Piper, who were shown in many shows. Dickie and Mary traveled with their friends, Jack and Kathy Richie to Canada quite often for Formula 1 Racing and was an avid hockey fan, especially for the Montreal Canadiens, to the dismay of his brothers, Boston Bruin fans.

In addition to his wife Mary, he leaves his sons, Jean-Philippe Pechie (Tonya) of Sterling, Alain Pechie of Sterling, his brothers, Gary Pechie (Ann) Danielson, David Pechie (Rhonda) of Dayville, his sister-in-law, Sophie Charron (Mark) of Brooklyn, his niece Kaitlyn Whitney, Esq. (Ryan) of Longmeadow, Mass., his nephew Geoffrey Pechie of Vienna, Vir.; his aunt, Frances Pechie of E. Killingly (the late Robert Pechie Sr.; uncle and aunt Donald Hubert (Anity) of Danielson. Predeceased by his brother Kevin.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 28 in St. Joseph Church, Dayville with military honors. Burial in the spring in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Eastern English Springer Spaniel Club, c/o Adam Lester, Treas., 46 Hidden Hollow Trail, Gray, ME  04039. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Nicole L. Rickaby

WILLIMANTIC — Nicole L. “Sissy” Rickaby, 29, of Card St., died Feb. 22, 2015, in Windham Hospital.  Born in 1985 in Worcester, she was the daughter of Linda (McKay) Klingensmith of Putnam and Thomas and Joyce Rickaby of N. Brookfield, Mass.

Nicole was a graduate of Windham High School.  She enjoyed watching T.V.; swinging; smiling and the feel of the wind on her face. 

In addition to her parents, she leaves her brothers, Thomas E. Rickaby Jr. of Thompson, and Michael N. Rickaby (Caitlin) of Clinton; her sisters, Sarah E. Rickaby and her boyfriend Brandon of Cumberland, R.I., and Kayla M. Klingensmith of Putnam; her step-brothers, Jeremy Fafard (Claudia) of Newark, Del.; Nicholas Atchue of N. Brookfield, Mass., and Kyle Atchue (Erin) of Hawaii; her paternal grandmother, Faye Rickaby of N. Grosvenordale and her maternal grandmother, Loretta I. McKay of Velrico, Fla.; her special friend Sr. Anne “Tot” Cacciaputi.

The funeral was Feb. 27 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. Cremation followed in the Park Tribute Center.  

 

Carol P. Rukat,

WWII vet

DUDLEY — Carol P. Rukat died Feb. 28, 2015, at Webster Manor after a short period of declining health. 

He was born in Dudley, son of the late Stanislaw and Martha (Richert) Rukat.  

Carol served in the U.S. Army during WWII from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific / Atlantic in the Medical Core.  He was a Master Electrician in Massachusetts and owned and operated Rukat Electric on West Main Street in Dudley for more than 50 years. 

He loved his cat Fluffy, gardening and enjoyed dancing to polkas.  He was a member of St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley where he served as a collector for 40 years. 

He leaves his wife of 38 years, Helen M. Rukat, as well as nieces and nephews, some in Connecticut. He is predeceased by his brother Chester and sisters Viola Brown and Vickie Shilinsky. 

A Funeral Mass was March 4 in St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley, with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Joseph Szeredy

DUDLEY — Joseph Szeredy, 79, died Feb. 23, 2015, at home.

He was the owner of Szeredy Builders of Thompson which he started in 1971.  While he officially retired in 1991, he never truly stopped working.  He was an active member of the St. Louis Church as a Eucharistic Minister.  He was life member of the Webster- Auburn BPO Elks and the Singletary Rod and Gun Club.  He was an avid outdoors-man and enjoyed hunting and fishing.  

He was the son of the late Joseph and Anna (Milas) Szeredy.  

He leaves his wife Elaine (Dargie) Szeredy of 60 years; his daughters Diana Couture (Richard), Nicole Beck of Thompson, Patricia Sheldon of N. Grosvenordale and her children Amy Mongeau, Charity Grzelecki, and Ronald Sheldon; his son David Szeredy (Audrey) of Wilsonville, and their children Davis Szeredy and Deirdre Smith; his daughter Pamela Nachtigall (Marko Nachtigall) of N. Grosvenordale, and their children Alex and Megan Nachtigall; son Brian Szeredy (Sharon) of Dudley and their children Jake and Emily Szeredy; 10 great-grandchildren; brother John Szeredy (Joyce) of Webster.   

The Funeral Mass was held in St. Louis Church, Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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