Myra Neely,

WWII vet

WOODSTOCK — Myra Estelle Terry Neely, 98, of Woodstock died Aug. 11, 2015. She was born on May 28, 1917, in Barre, Mass., daughter of the late Arthur and Lizzie (Lindsey) Terry, the last of 10 children. 

Myra grew up on Rice Corner Rd. in Brookfield, Mass. A graduate of Brookfield High School and Becker Junior College, she worked as a secretary for American Optical before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a WAVE during WWII. Myra was stationed in Hawaii.

She married her husband, George, in 1946 and they made their home in East Woodstock. George died in 1982. She was a member of The East Woodstock Congregational Church. Myra loved to travel in her earlier years and enjoyed her flower gardens and was a great cook, especially known for her cinnamon rolls.

 Myra leaves her three children: Calvin R. Neely of East Woodstock, Patricia Mellen (Richard) of S. Killingly and Kim Neely (Patricia) of Woodstock; six grandchildren: Marvin and Stacy Neely, Brent and Seth Mellen and Erica O’Brien and Colleen Neely and 12 great-grandchildren. 

 A Memorial Service was Aug. 15 in the E. Woodstock Congregational Church. Donations: The East Woodstock Cemetery Association, PO Box 27, East Woodstock, CT 06244; or The East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Rd. East Woodstock, CT 06244. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Raymond ‘Pat’ Latour,

Korean war vet

SOUTHBRIDGE — Raymond A. “Pat”  Latour, 84, of Southbridge, died  Aug. 26, 2015, at home.  Raymond was born Jan. 10, 1931, in Webster, son of the late Aldage and the late Leosa (Benoit) Latour.    

He served in the U.S. Army stationed in France  during the  Korean war from March 27, 1952 to March 26, 1954. 

Raymond retired from the Dudley-Charlton school system he was a custodian at Shepherd Hill Regional High School. He worked many years in food sales and  as a branch manager for Cains Foods .

He leaves his wife of 63 years  Betty  (Balta ) Latour , one daughter: Pamela Belanger of Webster; two sons: Robert Raymond Latour of Dudley, and Paul Latour  (Melissa) of Webster; one sister: Marie St. Martin of Putnam; seven grandchildren, Michael Belanger;, Steven Belanger;, Joseph Belanger;, Rachel Didonato;, Jessica Latour; Sydney Latour; and Sage Latour; eight great-grandchildren. Lynn, Jeffrey ,Katelyn, Grace, Jared, Justin ,Jacob and Luca .

The funeral was Aug. 30 from Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley, with burial with military honors in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery  Webster. Donations:  Overlook Hospice, 88 Masonic Home Rd., Charlton, MA 01507

 

Linda (Roy) Simmons

PUTNAM — Linda M. (Roy) Simmons, 62, of Senexet Rd., died Aug. 24, 2015, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer at home.  She was the companion of James Genest for 15 years.

Linda was born May 31, 1953, in Putnam, daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Nobrega) Roy. A graduate of Killingly High School and Youville School of Nursing, Linda worked as an LPN at Matulaitis Nursing Home and previously at Village Manor.  

In addition to her companion Jim, she leaves her daughters, Kelly Gazzola (Chris), Erin Simmons (Matthew Thornton) all of Putnam, and her sister, Brenda Fournier (Don) of Plainfield; three granddaughters Chloe and Mae Gazzola and Avery Thornton; niece Kathryn Fournier; her dear friend Mai-Lis Day of New York; her dog, Ralphie.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 29 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation with burial  in St. Joseph Cemetery, N. Grosvenordale. Donations: Simmons Educational Fund, c/o Bank CNB, P.O. Box 6002, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

 

Rita D. Tappenden

POMFRET CENTER — Rita D. (Biello) Tappenden, 89, of Wrights Crossing Rd., died Aug. 24, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital.  She was the wife of the late William F. Tappenden.  Born in 1926 in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Marianna (Marcella) Biello.

Mrs. Tappenden worked for many years as a retail clerk.

She enjoyed dancing, reading, watching “Murder She Wrote” on television, visiting the Casinos and playing pinochle.

She leaves her son William Tappenden (Magda) of Pomfret Center; close friend and niece Cheryl McCartney of Annville, Penn.; a sister Antoinette Fiore of Secane, Penn.; three grandchildren Olivia Tappenden, Aida Mateo, and Felix Alicea, a great grandson Isaac Parada.

The Graveside Service was Aug. 31 in Holy Cross Cemetery, Philadelphia. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

 

Pamela Daniels

DUDLEY — Sergeant Pamela Daniels ,58,  died Aug. 26, 2015, at Harrington Hospital-Hubbard  of Webster  after being stricken ill during a training exercise at Nichols College . Daniels was born  in Southbridge, the daughter of Robert Daniels and the late Teresa (Matteau) Daniels.  

Pamela was the first and only female member of the Dudley Police Dept. she served as DARE officer and liaison officer for the court system and obtained the rank sergeant in 2002. After 34 years of dedicated service to the Town of Dudley she retired in August of 2012. She was currently employed by Nichols College in the public safety dept.  She graduated with her bachelor’s from Western New England College and  received her master’s degree in criminal justice from Western New England College in 1999. Pam lived in Dudley all her life.

She leaves her father Robert Daniels of Dudley  two brothers: Ret. Officer Gregory Daniels (Janice) of Webster and their daughter Tara; Geary Daniels (Mary) of Dudley and their children Megan, Ryan ,Maura, Justin and Taylor; her grand nephew Grayson ; her  brother-in-law, Joseph Gadory and  his son Brian. She was predeceased by her sister, Deborah Daniels in 2013 and her mother Teresa (Matteau) Daniels in 2006.

A Mass of Christian burial was Sept. 1 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, with burial of her ashes at Sacred Heart Cemetery .Donations: Compassionate Care ALS PO Box 1052 West Falmouth Mass. 02574 www.ccals.org. Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley.

 

Eugene Gaucher Jr.

THOMPSON — Eugene J. Gaucher Jr.,  47, died Aug. 22, 2015. 

He was born in Putnam, son of the late Eugene J. Gaucher Sr. and Lily R. (Koff) Gaucher and lived in the area all his life.

He leaves three daughters; Cassandra L. Gaucher of Palm Coast, Fla., Chelsea N. Gaucher of Thompson and Camryn M. Gaucher of Putnam; the mother of his children Cheryl Lefevre Reenstra of Putnam; brother Kenneth Carpenter of N. Grosvenordale; a sister Jennifer Evans of Sterling; grandmother Lily Koff of Delaware; two nieces Heather and Hayley and a nephew Matthew.

There will be a celebration of life will be private. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Morin Service

N. GROSVENORDALE — Margaret “Marge” E. Morin, 92, of Murollo Rd., died Aug. 6, 2015 in Westview Rehabilitation and Care Center.  She was the wife of Edward “Taxi” Morin.

Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Sept. 4 at St. Joseph Church, Main Street, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gilman-Valade Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.