Category: Current Issue
 
 
Marshall Tourtellotte Jr.
WOODSTOCK — Marshall H. Tourtellotte Jr., 71, of Woodstock, died June 16, 2015, at home.  He was the husband of Karin (Rosen) Tourtellotte.  Born in 1944 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Marshall H. Tourtellotte Sr., and Florence (Baranski) Tourtellotte.
Marshall graduated from Killingly High School in 1962, where he served as Class President and co-captain of the football team.  He received his undergraduate degree from Central Connecticut State University and earned his 6th year degree from UConn. He worked as a guidance counselor for Woodstock Academy for 34 years.  While working at Woodstock Academy, Marshall served as the Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Marshall was honored with several awards for his work as a guidance counselor, including the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC) Counselor Award. After retiring, Mr. Tourtellotte opened his own private practice and was also a consultant for Killingly High School as a Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor.
Marshall was also an active member outside of school. He was actively involved with Hospice since its creation in 1983. For this dedication, he received the Friend of Hospice Award. Mr. Tourtellotte also served with his wife Karin as the General Chairpersons for the 2004-2005 Hospice Friends Campaign. He served on the Woodstock Board of Education.  He also reached out to others through his community service, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Quinebaug Valley Community College in 1989, along with the George J. Racine Sr. Humanitarian Award from the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce in 2005.
He enjoyed his family, giving back to the community, traveling, loved his home and was very passionate about his work. He will be remembered as a kind and charismatic gentleman.
In addition to his wife Karin, he leaves his children, Jim Tourtellotte (Kelly) of Putnam, Pam Tiffany of Brooklyn, Sara Gustavesen (Brad) of Putnam; his sisters, Elizabeth Gingras (Gerald) of Virginia, and Barbara Lamb (Tom) of Thompson; and six grandchildren, (Lydia and Alison Tourtellotte, Haley and Matthew Tiffany and Maya and William Gustavesen). 
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. June 26 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. June 27, 2015 in the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Rd, East Woodstock. Donations: East Woodstock Congregational Church or to New England Organ Bank.  In Marshall’s memory, consider registering as an organ donor or go to www.BeTheMatch.org  
 
Donald W. King
ASHFORD — Donald W. King, 61, of Ashford, died June 13, 2015, at home.  
Born in 1954 in Meriden, he was the son of the late Allen King and Dorothy (Balkow) King.
Donald was a self-employed Certified Public Accountant at D.W. King & Company in Putnam. He was a member of numerous local organizations including the North East Chamber of Commerce, in which he served on the golf committee, and the Putnam Rotary Club. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for The Citizens National Bank.
He enjoyed skiing, running, hiking, bicycling, golfing, fishing, gardening, swimming, vacationing, UConn basketball, music - especially jazz, and most of all, spending time with family and friends.
He leaves his wife, Constance “Connie” (Demos) King; two daughters, Danielle and Kelsey; his brother, Thomas King.
A Memorial Service will be held at noon June 26 at The Harvest / Grill 37 in Pomfret. Donations: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp Fund, 555 Long Wharf Dr., New Haven, CT 06511. Gilman and Valade funeral homes. 
 
Patricia L. Royer
DAYVILLE — Patricia L. Royer, 59, of Hartford Pike., died June 12, 2015, in Hartford Hospital. Born in 1956 in Bradford, Penn., she was the daughter of Rosanna (Sisson) Royer and the late Eugene Royer.  
Patricia enjoyed country music, animals, and gardening 
In addition to her mother, She leaves her brother Eugene Royer Jr.; three sisters Karen Hartley, Pamela Martin, and Lori Hatch; her dog Mya; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was predeceased by her father, grandparents, and a sister Debra Ferrone.
Donations: American Lung Association 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601; or the MSPCA 359 Spring Hill Rd., Monroe, CT 06468-2100. Gilman-Valade Funeral Home. 
 
Robert F. Caron
PUTNAM — Robert F. Caron, 67, Sunnyside Ave., died June 17, 2015, in Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Juliette (Sabourin) Caron.  Born in 1947 in Peterborough, N.H., he was the son of the late Hosanna and Marie Ann (LaFortune) Caron.
Mr. Caron worked at Colts Plastics as a machine operator for many years.
He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and above all spending quality time with his grandchildren.
He leaves his wife; his son Robert “Rob” Caron (Susan) of Danielson; two sisters Eva Smith of Eatonville, Wash. and Marie Duhaim of N. Grosvenordale; three grandchildren Alyssa, Nicholas, and Christopher Caron. He was predeceased by five brothers Edgar Caron, Romeo Caron, Leo Caron, George Caron, and Alfred Caron and two sisters Irene Caron and Anna Hardy. 
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. June 24 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 
 
Anna Daniels
PUTNAM — Anna (Bellanceau) Daniels, 92, of Thurber Rd., formerly of N. Grosvenordale, died June 20, 2015, in Matulaitis Nursing Home.  She was the wife of the late Albert J. Daniels Sr..  Born in 1923 in St. Pomphile, Canada, she was the daughter of the late Leon and Arthemise (Comeau) Bellanceau.
Mrs. Daniels worked for many years in local woolen mills. 
She leaves three sons Alvin Daniels of Norwich, Andrew Daniels of Virginia, Michael Daniels of Thompson; six daughters Alice Daniels of Manchester, Ann Daniels of Meriden, Amelia Daniels of Norwich, Angela Welch of E. Putnam, Maryann Daniels of Putnam, and Emily Daniels of Norwich; two brothers Leo Bellanceau of N. Grosvenordale and Norman Bellanceau of New London; and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three sons Albert Daniels Jr, Alben “Tony” Daniels, and Alfred Daniels; and a sister Florida Rankin-Marzakowsky.  
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. June 25 in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.
 
Ann-Marie Kenyon
BROOKLYN — Ann-Marie (Hattin) Kenyon, 74, of Plaza St., died June 16, 2015, at home. Born in 1940 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Irvin and Ann (Farrell) Hattin and was a graduate of Putnam High School.
Mrs. Kenyon worked for more than 18 years as a seafood clerk at the Big Y supermarket in Killingly. She also worked at Symbol Mattress.
She enjoyed line dancing, traveling, scrapbooking, and taking pictures and was active in A.A. and was a communicant of Our Lady of LaSallette.
She leaves her son Shaun Kenyon (Barbara) of Putnam; five daughters Debbie Kenyon of Dayville, Jean Mayo and her common law husband Terry of Paoli, Ind., Kelly French (Tim) of Winslow, Maine, Tracey Wissing of Brooklyn, and Brynn Blais of Brooklyn; two brothers Irvin Hattin of Thompson and Ronald Hattin of Texas; nine grandchildren Kimberli, Laura, Jeremy, Jonathan, Leela, Sunny-Rae, David, Krista, and Justin; nine great grandchildren Michael, Greenlei, Kylee, Hunter, Izabella, Jacob, Kalynn, Gabriel, and Alexis. 
A celebration of Ann-Marie’s life will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. July 12 at the Putnam Lodge of Elks, 64 Edmond St., Putnam. Relatives and friends are requested to wear their favorite New England Patriots or Boston Red Sox attire. Donations: Our Lady of LaSallette Church, P.O. Box 211 Brooklyn, CT 06234; or NECCOG Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 759, Dayville, CT 06241 Gilman-Valade Funeral Homes, 104 Church St., Putnam.
 
Pauline Lafortune
PUTNAM — Pauline (Belleville) Lafortune, 85 formerly of Edmond Street, Putnam, died June 16, 2015, at Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of Raymond A. Lafortune. They were married June 20, 1953, in St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Raymond died Sept. 28, 2010. 
They would have celebrated their 62nd Anniversary June 20. 
She was born Jan. 2, 1930, in Montpelier, Vt., daughter of Aldor and Alida (Leduex) Belleville. Pauline retired from Frito Lay. She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Pauline enjoyed cooking and sewing and an avid Red Sox fan. 
She leaves her children, Alan Lafortune (Connie) of Putnam, James Lafortune (Denise) of Sebastian, Fla., Richard Lafortune (Deborah) of Plainfield, grandchildren, Timothy, Joel, Lauren, Lindsay, Courtney, great-grandchildren Thomas, James, Bailey, Connor, Brady. Pauline was predeceased by her son Dennis Lafortune.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June 20 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Road, Putnam, CT  06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
 
Lorraine E. LaPalme
N. GROSVENORDALE —  Lorraine (Rondeau) LaPalme, 92, of Marshall St., died June 17, 2015, in Day Kimball Hospital.  She was the wife of the late Rene R. LaPalme.  Born in 1923 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Ovila and Eva (Forest) Rondeau.
Mrs. LaPalme worked as a burlier for Anglo Fabrics in Webster as well as other fabric companies.  She was a member of the Ladies of St. Anne’s, and the VFW Post 10088 ladies auxiliary.  She also volunteered at the St. Joseph thrift shop for many years and enjoyed crocheting, playing cards, dancing the Tennessee Waltz.
She leaves her son, Adrien Rene LaPalme of N. Grosvenordale; her daughters, Elaine Carol Valade of N. Grosvenordale, Denise Margaret Kuszewski of Woodbridge, Va., and Renee Lorraine Waldron of N. Grosvenordale; her brother, Ovila John “Joe” Rondeau of Putnam; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, the late Martin Gerard LaPalme; her brother Martin Rondeau; and two sisters Lucille Deslauriers and Leona Dubois.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June 23 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph Church Memorial Plaque, P.O. Box 897, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255 Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
 
Theresa LeBlanc
DANIELSON — Theresa D. (Robitaille) LeBlanc, 79, of Danielson, died June 21, 2015, at Westview Healthcare, Dayville. She fought a tough battle with Alzheimer’s and lost. 
She was born April 1, 1936, in Putnam, daughter of Louis and Eleonore (Nadeau) Robitaille. Theresa went to St. Mary’s Catholic school and was unable to finish high school in order to work to help support her parents. 
She met her soulmate Louis LeBlanc Jr. and they married in 1955. He was in the military and she traveled abroad when he got stationed in France and military bases all over the U.S. with him and their four children. She worked in the mess hall at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, Delaware State News and the Norwich Bulletin as insert stuffer. When her husband retired from the Air Force in 1976, they moved back to Connecticut where they bought a home in Killingly. She worked for Home Video Center which inspired her to open her own video store in Dayville in 1988, called Bell Park Video which she closed in 1995 due to illness. 
Theresa was a member of the Women’s VFW Auxiliary. She had a very feisty personality always telling you what she thought, she loved to have fun and always smiled, and even her eyes smiled especially when she couldn’t talk, towards the end. She was a communicant of St. James Church and did Eucharistic Ministry for them which was dear to her heart. She loved to travel and sightsee when her husband was in the military and retired. Her past-times were genealogy, camping and fishing with her family and friends. She loved animals especially her cat Bella and grand dogs Bo, Marley, Lexi, Latte and Doser.  
She leaves her two sons John L. LeBlanc and his fiancée Karen Rowland of Moosup, Anthony P. LeBlanc of Danielson; two daughters Patricia M. Kenda (Robert) of Dayville, Michelle J. Daniels and her companion Mark Tyler of Dayville; seven grandchildren, Sharon, Jonathan, Heather, Destiny, Alexis, Anthony Jr., Christine, three great-grandchildren, Brianna, Sierra, John Michael; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul and Sandy LeBlanc of Florida, and Gerard LeBlanc of Putnam, Elaine LeBlanc of Danielson.
The Funeral will be at noon June 24 from the Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, followed a Mass of Christian Burial at 1 p.m. at St. James Church Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: Alzheimer’s Research at http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/ Tributes-Alzheimers Champions?pxfid=278397&fr_id=1060&pg =fund
 
Pauline L. Peloquin
DANIELSON — Pauline L. Peloquin, 83, of Danielson, went to be with the Lord June 15, 2015, at the UMass Medical Center, Worcester, after a short illness. 
She was born March 26, 1932, in Killingly to Joseph and Therese (Mailloux) Provost and was the oldest of nine children. Pauline was married in 1950 to Norman Peloquin and had three children. 
Pauline was a retired supervisor from Danielson Curtain and an accomplished bowler. In 2014, she was inducted into the Windham County Bowling Hall of Fame. Pauline was a longtime communicant of 33 St. James Church. 
She leaves her daughter Norma West (Greg) of Tuscon, Ariz.; son Mark Peloquin (Susan) of Austin, Texas; daughter JoAnn Fortin (Jeffrey) of Danielson, her siblings Paulette Sawyer, Paul Provost, Jacqueline Walker, Rene Provost, Lucian Provost and Jean Carpenter; three grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Paul and Richard
A Mass of Christian Burial was June 22 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Danielson. Donations: St. James Parochial School, 120 Water St., Danielson, CT 06239, attn: Monique Almquist. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
 
Deborah Ann Tanny
WOONSOCKET — Deborah Ann Tanny, 60, of South Main St., died June 19, 2015, in Rhode Island Hospital after a brief illness.  She was the wife of Brian Tanny.  Born in 1955 in Newport, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Andrew Tulba and Margaret (Wasilick) Tulba. Deborah lived in Woonsocket for the past 12 years after growing up in Waterford.
Mrs. Tanny was the former director of Early Care and Education at Connecting for Children and Families in Woonsocket and former Site Manager of Child and Family Agency in New London. “Miss Deb” as she was known by her students and their families was passionate about her “kids” and tireless in her devotion to them. She was an inspiration for so many young people. Deborah enjoyed traveling, gardening, and baking. She was an active parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Woonsocket. 
In addition to her husband, she leaves her brothers, Rodney Tulba (Kathy) of Waterford, and Paul Tulba (Colleen) of Montville; her sister, Marjorie Byrne (Robert) of E. Lyme.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. June 26 in Sacred Heart Church, 415 Olo St, Woonsocket. Donations: Sacred Heart Church Restoration Fund, 415 Olo St., Woonsocket, RI 02895. Gilman-Valade Funeral Homes, 104 Church St., Putnam.
 
Joan T. Scraba
DAYVILLE & STUART, Fl. —  Joan T. Scraba, 81, of Stuart, and Alexander’s Lake, died Feb. 8, 2015, in Martin Memorial Hospital.  She was the wife of the late B.G. Stanley A. Scraba.  Born in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Dorothy (Bone) Trudeau.
Joan worked as an insurance agent for Archambault Insurance Associates and Delaney Insurance.  She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation and served on the Putnam Library Board.
She leaves her children, Susan (Mark) Johnston of Dayville,  Paula Scraba of St. Bonaventure, N.Y., Mark (Liz) Scraba of Boulder, Colo., Christopher (Melissa) Scraba of Chesapeake, Va., Sean (Tracey) Scraba of Tolland; her brother, Robert (Phyllis) Trudeau of Thompson, and Stuart; 10 grandchildren.  Joan was predeceased by her son Stanley Thomas Scraba in 1985.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. June 29 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence Street, followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery.  Donations: Scraba Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Citizens National Bank, 182 Main St., Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, Putnam.
 
Eli Mathew Leyko
PUTNAM — Eli Mathew Leyko, 33, of Putnam died June 1, 2015, in Putnam. He was son of Merton and Elaine (Smith) Leyko, born Sept. 27, 1981, in Putnam.
Eli graduated from Putnam High School in 2000 and from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2006 with a degree in psychology. He was devoted to his family and loved spending time with them.  Eli loved his many rescued pets, especially his dog Koko. Eli was a life scout in Boy Scouts and enjoyed hiking, camping, Patriot’s football, Frisbee golf, watching movies, and his warhammer gaming. He played guitar and loved to sing. Eli was very compassionate on life and helping others.
He leaves his parents Merton and Elaine (Smith) Leyko of Putnam; aunts, uncles, and cousins. 
A Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date. Donations: Putnam PRIDE , 158 Main St., Putnam, CT 06260 (c/o Romeo Blackmar). Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
 
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