Frederick A. Nelson

PUTNAM —  Frederick A. Nelson, 80, of Smithfield Ave., died March 24, 2015, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Lucille J. (Beausoleil) Nelson for 55 years.  Born in 1935 in E.  Hampton, he was the son of the late William and Lillian (Moard) Nelson.

Mr. Nelson worked in maintenance department for Ellis Technical High School and for Putnam Herzl.  He enjoyed traveling, bowling and watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.  He was always very social.  He will be missed by his two cats, Sasha and Sadie.  “Mr. Book It” has booked his last journey.

In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, David Nelson (Patricia) of Putnam; his sisters, Jean Johnson of Putnam, and Joan Belanceau of Putnam; grandchildren, Jennifer Nelson, Michael Nelson, and Matthew Mayo.  He was predeceased by his five brothers; Francis, John, Donald, Robert, and Ronald Nelson.

The Mass of Christian Burial was March 28 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Donations: St. Mary Church. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Joyce C. Duval

DANIELSON — Joyce C. Duval, 84, of Mason Street, wife of Romeo Duval Jr., died March 26, 2015. She was born on March 8, 1931, daughter of the late Anathol and Winifred (Russell) Fortier. She grew up in Rogers and Dayville; graduated from Killingly High School in 1949 and on Aug. 6, 1955, married Romeo Duval  Jr., who was the love of her life for 60 years. Together they raised a family in Wauregan and then retired to Naples, Fla.  

Joyce worked for many years at American Standard in Wauregan and then at the Ritz-Carlton and LaPlaya Resort in Naples. She was a founding member of the Atwood Hose Fire Co, Ladies Auxiliary in Wauregan. She loved her dogs Wobbles and Teddy and her many cats. She really loved her home in Naples, FL and the time spent on the beaches in her retirement. 

In addition to her husband Romeo, she leaves her daughters, Penny Tyler (Tim) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Roxanne Trentlage (David) of Memphis, Tenn., Cynthia Cinami (Michael) of Woodstock; son Michael Duval (Lisa) of Holyoke, Mass.; five grandsons, Benjamin, Daniel, Micah, Caleb, and Levi; three granddaughters, Alyssia, Marina and Katherine; three great-grandchildren, Madison, Logan and Katie; her sister Theresa DeFazio of Westerly, R.I. She was predeceased by her sister Thelma Daley.

Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. April 1 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson, at a later date. Donations: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.

 

Raymond E. Heath

POMFRET CENTER — Raymond E. Heath, 85, of Pomfret Center died March 23, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam. Born July 25, 1929, in Craftsbury, Vt., Ray was a dairy farmer for most of his life.  

He was the first selectman of the town of Pomfret for eight years and worked as the bus coordinator and head custodian at Pomfret Community School until he retired in 2005.

He leaves his wife Lurena (Tarr) Heath; sons Russell and C.A., and daughter-in-law Jennifer Heath, all of Pomfret; grandchildren Lesley Slater (Gerald), Heather Stoddard (Jeffrey), Adam Heath, Kyle Heath (Tasha), and Cameron Heath; great-grandchildren Mitchell, Matthew, Summer and Mason. He is predeceased by seven brothers and one sister

The funeral was March 27 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: Pomfret Senior Center, 207 Mashamoquet Road, Pomfret, Center, CT 06259.

 

Ann H. Montigny

PUTNAM — Ann (LePine) Montigny, 71, of Sabin St., died March 27, 2015, in Davis Place in Danielson. She is the wife of 51 years to Robert H. Montigny.  Born in 1943 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Napoleon and Beatrice (Champagne) LePine.

Mrs. Montigny worked as a machine operator for Danco and Linemaster Switch.

In addition to her husband, she leaves her son, Wayne Montigny (wife Charlene Blanchette) of E. Killingly; her daughter, Michelle Rickaby (Robert) of N. Grosvenordale; her sister, Nancy Shippee (Clifford) of Danielson; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.  She is predeceased by her brother, Gerald LePine.

The Mass of Christian Burial was March 30 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Donations: American Diabetes Association, 2080 Silas Dean Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Sr. Mary Roy, DHS

PUTNAM — Sr. Mary Roy, 87, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died March 30, 2015, at the Holy Spirit Health Care Center where she had been in residence since August, 2010.

Born Mary Roy on July 2, 1928, in Pittsfield, Mass. she was the daughter of Roger and Amelia (Mercure) Roy.  She entered religious life at Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam in 1944 and made her religious profession there on Aug. 16, 1948.  She was then known as Sr. Mary Roger.

After her profession she was assigned to teach on the elementary level from 1948 to 1966 in Putnam, Gadsden, Ala., Waterbury, West Warren, Pittsfield, and in West Haven.   She obtained a bachelor’s in education in 1966 and taught middle school in Plainville in 1967 and in 1969 she was assigned to teach at Cathedral High in Bridgeport.

Meanwhile she obtained a master’s in library science and in 1972 she worked part time at Annhurst College in the library.  In 1980 she worked as librarian at Marianhill High School in Southbridge.  In 1983 she returned to Alabama and taught at All Saints School in Anniston.   In 1989 she did social ministry in Talladega, Ala., in Gadsden and in Anniston until 2010.  She retired to the Provincial House in Putnam in March of 2010 and to Holy Spirit Health Care Center in 2010.

She leaves one brother, Roger, and his wife Helen of Raynham, Mass., and two nephews—Robert of Bridgewater, Mass., and Roger Jr. of Phoenix.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. April 1 in the Provincial House Chapel with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam.  Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, Holy Spirit Provincial House, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT, 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Priscilla Viens

EASTFORD — Priscilla (Spink) Viens, 66, of Eastford, died March 26, 2015, at home, following a brief  battle with cancer. 

 

She was born Nov. 9, 1948, daughter of Helen Spink of Eastford and the late Ellsworth Spink. 

Priscilla was a 1966 graduate of Woodstock Academy and worked multiple jobs in the area. 

She gained ultimate satisfaction in serving others and cherished her time as the local “Avon Lady” and her work as a waitress. She always took care to know her customers’ personal preferences and would even bring them homemade baked goods. 

Priscilla worked at the Rite Aid Distribution Center for 17 years prior to her retirement. 

She was a hard worker and was always willing to take new associates under her wing. She cherished the friendships she made at Rite Aid. 

She enjoyed motorcycle riding and annual family trips to New Hampshire and the Woodstock Fair. Most of all, she enjoyed being in the company of friends and family wherever they were. Her selfless devotion was unwavering as she cared for her family and all around her.

She leaves her husband Henry Viens; her son Shawn Davis (Tiffany) of Southbridge; step children Ann Tonucci of Lisbon and her children, Daniel Viens of Virginia, Scott Viens and his children, Sandy Spires and her children, all of Florida; brothers Ellsworth Spink Jr., Peter Spink Sr. (Donna); sister-in-law Marie Dalton of Minnesota. She was predeceased by her infant son Sanford Davis, step daughter Mary Rita Viens, sister-in-law Peggy Spink and nephew Eli Spink.

A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. April 4 at the Eastford Congregational Church, Church Road, Eastford. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Mildred Kuszewski

DUDLEY — Mildred J. “Millie” (Antonson) Kuszewski, 90, died March 20, 2015,  at Webster Manor.  

She was born in Webster, the daughter of the late Andrew and Irene (Guerin) Antonson.  

Her husband Theodore “Teddy” Kuszewski died in 1998.  

Millie was the personnel secretary at the American Optical Company in Southbridge for more than 35 years.  

In their retirement years, Ted and Millie traveled extensively.

She leaves two brothers, Andrew Antonson (Lorette) of Putnam, and Donald Antonson (Elaine) of Wilsonville; nephews Scott Antonson (Lisa) of N. Grosvenordale, Tom Kelly (Fran) of Callabash, N.C., Eddie Kelly (Luann) of Punta Gorda, Fla., Don Kelly (Deena) of Douglas, Mass.; nieces, Dawne Rivard-Woods of Spencer, Mass.,, Nancy Ledoux (Earl) of Quinebaug, and Maureen Kline (Matthew) of N. Brookfield, Mass. 

She was predeceased by her sisters Edith Lazarowski and Dorothy Kelly.

A memorial service will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m. April 11.  

Being the thoughtful person that Millie was, she donated her body to the UMass Medical School Anatomical Gift Program.   

She was a member of St. Andrew Bobola Church in Dudley. 

Donations: Charity of donor’s choice.   

Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.