Theodore Messier Sr.

PUTNAM — Theodore J. Messier Sr. (also known as Ted or T.J.), 100, formerly of Addison St., died June 7, 2015, at Westview Healthcare Center.  He was the husband of the late Lillian M. (Briere) Messier for 74 years.  Born in 1915 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Eli and Antonia (Dragon) Messier.

Ted worked as a foreman at Pratt & Whitney, a shift manager at Putnam Woolen, and a manager at Ace Cleaners and Putnam Laundry.  He was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation.  Ted enjoyed fishing, hunting, baseball and served as Scout Leader for Boy Scout Troop 21. He was a Fourth Degree and very active member of Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus. He served as its Financial Secretary for 39 years as well as past Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator. He was honored to serve as a District Deputy for the Connecticut Knights of Columbus. 

Ted (T.J.) leaves  his son, Robert R. Messier (Dolores) of Ellington; his daughter, Carol A. Rodriquez of Ann Arbor, Mich.; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Theresa McQueeney of Newington, and Rita Hood of E. Hartford.  He is predeceased by his son, Theodore J. Messier Jr. and his brothers Louis, Lionel and Antonio Messier. 

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. June 10 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 10 a.m. June 11 followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation.  

 

Lionel ‘Pitu’ Blain,

Army Guard vet

DANIELSON —  Lionel J. “Pitu” Blain, 87, of Danielson, died June 4, 2015. He was born April 19, 1928, in Fairview, Mass., son of the late Leodore and Anna (LeClaire) Blain. He married Lucille Ferron on April 16, 1955. She died in 1980. He was also married to Ada Kelsey-Jacques-Blain in 1984 and died in 2004. 

Lionel was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson and a communicant of Our Lady of Peace in East Killingly until it closed. He loved going to his grandchildren’s sporting events and loved family gatherings.

Lionel was very proud of his military service in the Army National Guard and with the Army in Germany during the Korean war. He enjoyed square dancing, fishing and gardening.  He was an avid bowler at Friendly Bowl.  He grew up in Fairview and in Williamansett, Mass. 

He leaves his children: Leo Blain of Putnam, Linda (Lemery) Charron of Danielson, Lucien Blain of East Elmhurst, N.Y. and Lori Fafard of East Setauket, N.Y., his sisters Jean Morris of Plainfield, Shirley Holmes of Danielson and Cecile Blain of Plainfield; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Besides his wife Lucille Blain he was predeceased by his sister Theresa Boucher and brother Donald Blain. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was June 8 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial with military honors at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: Day Kimball Hospice, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Marcella P. Goulet

PUTNAM — Marcella (Blain) Goulet, 85, of Cottage St., died March, 1, 2015, at home. She is the wife of the late Edward A. Goulet.  Born in 1929 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Arsene and Beatrice (Poirier) Blain.

Mrs. Goulet worked as a card tender for Belding Heminway.  She enjoyed cooking, walking, swimming and traveling.  

She leaves her godsons, Michael Phaneuf, and James Korch; nieces; and nephews.  She is predeceased by her sister, the late Irene Korch.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. June 13 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT. 06260.  

 

Brian R. LaRoche

PUTNAM — Brian R. LaRoche, 55, died May 30, 2015, as a result of an automobile accident the day before his 56 birthday.  Born in 1959 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Laurent “Joe” LaRoche and Anne R. Hayes.

Brian was an avid Red Sox fan.  He also took in stray animals and cared for them.  He enjoyed going to local ponds and rivers to feed the ducks.  He loved animals.  

He leaves his brother John; his sisters Peggy and Jo-Anne; his daughter Jessica.  He was predeceased by his parents Joe LaRoche and Anne Hayes.

The Graveside Service is at 1 p.m. June 12 in St. Joseph Cemetery, 18 Main St. N. Grosvenordale. Cremation services have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Freda St.Rock

DAYVILLE — Freda Mary St.Rock, 90, of Dayville, died June 4, 2015. 

Freda was born Jan. 14, 1925, in Bristol, to the late Andrzej and Julyanna (Dziepak) Pepek. She was married 44 years to her late husband Joseph W. St.Rock Jr.  He died in 1990. 

She attended Bristol schools and later attended and graduated from Tourtelotte Memorial High School in N. Grosvenordale.  She worked at Mailhot Cleaners in Danielson and then worked at the A&P in Danielson for 22 years until her retirement. 

A 70 year resident of Dayville, she was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church and an active member of her community.  From 1955 to 1975, she organized and sponsored 4-H clubs for both girls and boys teaching cooking, sewing, crafts and wood working.  Many club members took top prizes in local and state competitions. She was an advocate at town meetings and on local radio for school safety and sidewalk installation on Upper Maple Street for the Intermediate School in Killingly. She loved entertaining family as well as playing cards and board games with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She enjoyed singing and dancing and listening to polka music. She was always willing to lend a hand. 

She leaves her daughter Sandra Titchenel (Michael) of Culpepper, Va.; her sons Joseph St.Rock (Kathleen) of Stonington, John St.Rock (Heather) of Redondo Beach, Calif.; daughter Stephanie Vose (Gary) of Casa Grande, Ariz.; grandchildren, great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by a sister Antoinette Pepek, brother Chester Pepek and sister Stella Pepek, and her daughter Gail Watson.

The Mass of Christian Burial was June 9 at St. Joseph’s Church in Dayville. Interment was at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph’s Church, PO Box 487, Dayville, CT 06241. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.