Madeleine Uhler Lake

POMFRET — Madeleine Uhler Lake (“Mad”), 89, of Selah Farm, Pomfret, died March 12, 2015, at home. She was the wife of the late John Marshall Lake.

She was born Dec. 23, 1925, at home in Brooklyn, N.Y., to John Martin Uhler II and Alice Amelia (Nelson) Uhler of that city. 

Mad graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1944, and attended Syracuse University. She married her high school sweetheart John on New Year’s Day, 1947, and the couple lived a full and happy married life together, making their home in Montpelier, Vt., Littleton and Concord, N.H., Skaneateles and Syracuse, N.Y., and Old Greenwich and Greenwich until John’s death in 2007. 

Mad spent an active and involved life as wife, mother, and friend, attending Christ Episcopal Church during her Greenwich years. Along with family, swimming was her life’s focus. In her 30s, she participated in the “50-mile Swim-Across” program that participants completed in quarter-mile units. Mad rarely swam less than a mile each evening after a full day of homemaking, and became the first person in Onondaga County, N.Y., to swim the 50 miles. 

Mad worked as a swimming instructor for more than half a century. She was the first female Aquatics Director at the Jewish Community Center in Syracuse, and taught swimming for the Onondaga County American Red Cross with her daughter Lois, and at the YWCA and YMCA in Greenwich. She later became the YM’s Aquatics Director. Mad spent 41 summers teaching water safety to generations of youngsters at the Riverside Yacht Club.

She leaves her sister, Alice (Betty) Hale of Pomfret, with whom she made her home during the last year of her life; by three children, Nina Lake of Albany, Peter Lake (Judith) of Newtown Square, Pa., and Lois Lake Church (Allan) of Meriden; by seven grandchildren (Nathaniel and Josiah Raabe, Joshua, Stephen and Daniel Lake, and Juliane and Victoria Church); and by 11 great-grandchildren, as well as three nieces and two nephews, including Laurence N. Hale of Pomfret Center. She is predeceased by her husband John Marshall Lake, her parents, her brother John III, and her granddaughter Emily Southworth Church.

A service celebrating Mad’s life will take place at noon March 28 at Christ Church, Pomfret. Donations: Lake Pool Fund at the Regional Community YMCA in Putnam, P.O. Box 188, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Ian Barker

THOMPSON — Ian R. Barker, 67, of Thompson, died March 13, 2015, at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester,  after a long illness.

Born Sept. 14, 1947, at home in Thompson, Ian was the son of the late George E. Barker and Adeline Isabel (Tefft) Barker. 

Ian worked for more than 40 years at Colt’s Plastics Company. At home he enjoyed gardening, using his tractor, bird watching and he was an ardent Red Sox fan. He enjoyed collecting stamps and coins until his eyesight deteriorated. 

He leaves a brother, Richard, and two sisters, Gay Choiniere and Thelma all of Thompson; nieces and nephews in the U.S. and the UK. He was predeceased by two brothers, Quenton and Kermit and a sister Elaine Barker Judd

A graveside memorial service will be held later in the spring in the Grove Street Cemetery in Putnam.  Donations: St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678. www.stjude.org.  Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Victoria Jolicoeur

PUTNAM — Victoria Shirley (Buschka) Jolicoeur, 90, of Putnam, died March 15, 2015, at the Westview Care Center, Dayville. She was the wife of Raymond “Pic” Jolicoeur. They were married Dec. 1, 1956, in Putnam. He died June 19, 2012.

Born Dec. 21, 1924, in Webster, she was the daughter of Steve and Stella Buschka. Shirley worked for many years at the Danielson Curtain Company. Shirley spent her youth in Webster, moving to Putnam after her marriage. She will be remembered as a kind soul. 

She leaves her children, Denise Tsanjoures (George) of E. Putnam, Ron Jolicoeur of Downers Grove, Ill.; her daughter-in-law Judith Jolicoeur of Downers Grove; grandsons Chris Tsanjoures of Putnam and Jackson Jolicoeur of Downers Grove; siblings, Dolly Sosnowski of Dudley, Julie Dibonaventura of Webster, Hazel Buschka of Webster, Tom Baxter of Webster. She was predeceased by siblings, Michael Buschka, Billy Buschka, Clark Buschka, Leon Buschka, Alice Buschka, Martha Kenneway and Olga Buschka. 

The Funeral was March 21 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with spring burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Day Kimball Homemakers, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. 

 

Donald F. Gauvin Sr.,

Vietnam war vet

COCOA, Fla. — Donald F. Gauvin Sr., 68, of Fairview Ave, died March 5, 2015, at home.  He was the husband of Ann (Menard) Gauvin.  

Born in 1946 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Rosiare Gauvin and Rita (Walters) Burdick. Mr. Gauvin worked as a truck driver for many years. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war serving with the U.S. Navy, and was a former member of the American Legion.

He  leaves his wife Ann; his son Donald Gauvin Jr. and his companion Debbie Medeiros and her daughter Riley of Dudley;  a daughter Jami Perry (Daniel) of Cocoa; cherished friends Heather Moening and Melissa Gauvin whom he thought of as his daughters; a brother Daniel Gauvin of Florida; a sister Cheryl Lemieux of Brooklyn; four grandchildren Craig Gauvin, Rebecca Gauvin, Jeffrey Gauvin, and Veronica Perry. He was predeceased by a son Jeffrey Gauvin and a brother Raymond Gauvin. 

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. June 25 at St. Joseph Cemetery, N. Grosvenordale. Donations: Hospice of St. Francis, 1250 Grumman Pl., Suite B, Titusville, FL 32780  Burial Valade Funeral Home 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. 

 

Robert T. Gilbert

WWII vet

PUTNAM — Robert T. Gilbert, 88, of Battey St., died March 20, 2015, in Matulaitis Nursing Home.  He is the husband of Gloria (Greene) Gilbert.  Born in 1926 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Wilfred and Annabelle (Harrington) Gilbert. 

Mr. Gilbert was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII.  He worked for the State Highway Department and also for Joy’s Orchard in Woodstock.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening and was a member of the Albert J Breault VFW.  

In addition to his wife, he leaves his sons; Robert Gilbert (Donna) of Ohio, David Gilbert (Pat) of Putnam, James Gilbert (Debbie) of Dayville, John Gilbert (Patricia) of Dayville, Gary Gilbert (Mary) of Danielson, Dennis Gilbert of Putnam, Timothy Gilbert and his companion John of Manchester, Kevin Gilbert of Eastford, Paul Gilbert (Maryann) of Woodstock, Keith Gilbert (Tory) of Putnam; daughters, Terry Perron (Norm) of Putnam, Cathy O’Connor (Patrick) of New Hampshire, and Cricket Brennan (Bill) of Michigan; brother, Henry Gilbert of Putnam; sisters, Kay Lyons of Leicester, Mass., Pauline Gilbert of S. Killingly, and Leonie Dauphinais of Putnam; 27 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.  He is predeceased by his brothers, James, Wilfred and Bernard “Cookie” Gilbert; and his sister, Mary Szruba. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was March 24 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial with military honors in St. Mary Cemetery.  Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Catherine Pritchard

POMFRET — Catherine Ann Pritchard, 82, formerly of Pomfret, died at Westview Health Care Center on March 18, 2015. She was born June 6, 1932, in Putnam to William and Margaret (Weekes) Barribeault. 

Cathy attended local schools, graduating from Putnam High School in 1950 and from Annhurst College, Woodstock.  She received a master’s degree from UConn. She was an excellent student and excelled in her studies, majoring in Latin and Spanish.  

After completing her undergraduate work, Cathy began a career in teaching, her life’s mission.  She began teaching at Putnam Catholic Academy and was later hired by Putnam High School. She was loved and respected by students, fellow teachers and parents. Cathy enjoyed working with teenagers and while she set high academic standards, she also knew how to encourage and advise young people.  She happily served as the class adviser to several classes, was often the chaperone at dances and events, and with other teachers organized a number of educational trips to Europe for her students.  

Cathy retired from teaching and later returned to the classroom at Woodstock Academy, where she was a Spanish instructor until 2013.  

She volunteered for the Pomfret Lions’ Balls and the Cotillion Club and loved nothing better than an evening of gliding across the dance floor. 

She was an enthusiastic member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of women educators.  

Though ADK, she made many deep and lasting friendships. She served on the board of the Putnam Alumni Association for decades.  

A natural leader, Cathy served as chair of the board of Day Kimball Hospital Homemakers and on the board of Performing Arts, where she assisted with ticket sales. 

 She was devoted to Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret where she served as a Eucharistic Minister.  

In planning her memorial, Cathy insisted that she wanted to be remembered for the joy she felt in her many friendships. 

She remained in touch with friends from her girlhood thought her entire life. She formed deep bonds with former students, attending their weddings and family events.  David Breault was a special friend.

Cathy formed strong bonds with other teachers. She loved entertaining her ADK sisters, and encouraged and supported other teachers.  Cathy leaves her sister-in-law, Nancy Pritchard Weiss of Pomfret; her sister, Paula Williams of Chaplin; three nieces. She cherished time she got to spend with her forever friend Sandy Protze.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. April 25 at Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. Donations: Most Holy Trinity Church, P.O. Box 235, Pomfret, CT 06258; or Regional Community YMCA in Putnam, P.O. Box 188, Putnam, CT. 06260. : Gilman Funeral, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Doris L. Soucy

BROOKLYN — Doris L. Soucy, 73, of Brooklyn, died March 23, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was born Dec. 31, 1941, in Danielson, daughter of the late Eugene and Marie (Chabot) Soucy.

Doris was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson. She loved to spend time with her family and enjoyed their family gatherings. 

Doris enjoyed baking, cooking, reading books and watching her TV shows. She loved animals and her shopping trips to the malls.

She leaves several cousins. She was predeceased by her entire family. 

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. March 26 at the Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery Danielson. Visitation is from 9:30 to 11 a.m. March 26. Donations may be made in her name to NECCOG P.O. Box 759, Dayville, CT. 06241.

                                                                                                                                                                               

Alexander 

Wlaszkiewicz Jr. 

WOODSTOCK — Alexander P. Wlaszkiewicz Jr., 77, of Peake Brook Rd., died March 15, 2015, in Port Charlotte, Fla.  He was the husband of the late Lucille Wlaszkiewicz.  Born in 1938 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Alexander and Osilda (Lemieux) Wlaszkiewicz Sr.

Mr. Wlaszkiewicz worked as a maintenance helper at Rogers Corporation for 45 years. He enjoyed playing golf.

He leaves his sister Phyllis Stevens (George) of Brooklyn; his companion, Charlotte Trahan of Putnam; nieces and nephews.  In addition to his wife, he is predeceased by his son, the late Michael “Wazz” Wlaszkiewicz.  

The Mass of Christian Burial was March 20 in The Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with spring burial in St. Mary Cemetery.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

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