Merritt ‘Budd’ Peck,

WWII vet

ABINGTON — Merritt Edgar “Budd” Peck, 88, of Hampton Road, died Sept. 27, 2015, at Davis Place, Danielson. Born Nov. 21, 1926, in York, Penn., he was the son of Merritt, Sr. and Frances (Platt) Peck.

He was a WWII veteran and kamikaze survivor having served aboard the naval destroyer USS KIDD DD-661 in the Pacific. He then made a living as a mechanical engineer in the metalworking and construction industry for defense programs. In retirement, he enjoyed attending yearly USS KIDD reunions in Baton Rouge, La., where his ship is memorialized and dry-docked as well as working his land and playing golf with his (Platt) cousins.

He leaves his son Gary Peck; daughters Virginia and JoAnne (Hazlett) and their families. He is predeceased by wives Lorraine (Robert), Sophie (Bonik), Dorothy (D’Amato), and brother Douglas Peck.

A private memorial service with military honors was held at Abington Cemetery. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Barry N. Genest,

Vietnam war vet

DANIELSON — Barry N. Genest, 66, died Oct. 24, 2015, at Davis Place, Danielson. 

He was born in Worcester, son of the late Norman and Pearl ( Laflamme) Genest and lived in Danielson most of his life. He worked for many years doing maintenance at the Rogers Corp. He was a Vietnam war veteran. He was a member of the VFW in Danielson. He enjoyed playing cribbage. 

He leaves a son Carl B. Larose of Danielson; two sisters, Cynthia Genest of Brooklyn, and Debbie King of Putnam; and one grandson.

Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster. Donations: VFW, North St., Danielson, CT.

 

Robert D. Botting

DANIELSON — Robert D. Botting, 38, died unexpectedly Oct. 17, 2015, at his mother’s residence.  Born in 1977 in Klamath Falls, Org., he was the son of David Botting Sr. of Florida and Lori J. (Hillman) Weimer of Danielson. 

Robert graduated from Ellis Technical High School and New England Tractor Trailer School.  He was employed by Jolley Concrete.  Bob, known as “Sponge Bob,” for his ability to absorb any job he was asked to do.  He respected and was respected by his fellow workers and supervisors.  He LOVED his job.

Bob adored his son, Gavin, who survives him.  In addition to his parents, he leaves his stepdad, Charles P. Weimer III of Danielson; his grandmother, Patt Weimer of Danielson; family, Jason and Sherry Weimer and children of Killingly; also brothers, Chaz Weimer IV of Danielson, David Botting II of Manchester, and Kenneth Botting of Eastford.  He was predeceased by his grandfather, Charles P. Weimer Jr.; and his grandparents, Emma and Stuart Hillman. 

Bob and Gavin enjoyed many hours sharing like interests; four-wheeling, fishing, biking and video gaming.  

Friends of Bob are invited to visit and “remember the good times” at a memorial reception that will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Atwood Hose Fire Department Community Room, Rt. 205, Wauregan.  Donations: “My Son’s Future,” c/o Jewett City Savings. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Kayla M. Coffin

N. GROSVENORDALE — Kayla M. Coffin, 25, of Main St., died Oct. 20, 2015, due to injuries she sustained in an automobile accident in Ellington.  Born in 1989 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Vance Coffin and Naomi (LaBrec) Clifford.  

Kayla treasured the time she spent with her daughter Madison.  She also enjoyed fishing, drawing, and writing poetry.  She was an avid Bruins, and New England Patriots fan.

In addition to her parents, she leaves her daughter, Madison S. Coffin of N. Grosvenordale; her brother, Joshua A. Stewart of Thompson; her step-father, Scott Clifford of Danielson; her step-mother, Karen Coffin of Norwich; and her maternal grandfather, Roger A. LaBrec of Danielson.

Donations: Madison Coffin Fund, P.O. Box 131, Putnam, CT 06260. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Marlene Gingras

BROOKLYN — Marlene L. Gingras, 83, of Brooklyn died Oct. 20, 2015, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. Daughter of the late Leon and Emma (Boiselle) Clark, she was born on Feb. 29, 1932, in Killingly. 

She was the wife of the late Robert F. Gingras. They were married Sept. 20, 1952, he died in 2006.

She worked for Wm. Prym for seven years, also working at Electric Motor for five years and Fishers Big Wheel. She was a communicant of St. James Church. Marlene played in the Orchestra for eight years, playing the piano.

She leaves her children Keith H. Gingras of Danielson, Colleen J. Ducat and (Timothy) of Thompson; grandchildren Patrick Ducat (Caitlin) of Griswold, Jeremy and Eythan Ducat, both of Thompson, two great-grandchildren Cole and Zoe. She was predeceased by her three siblings Donald Clark, Lawrence Clark and Dorothy Salemma.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 27 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Westfield Cemetery. Donations: Connecticut Anxiety and Depression Treatment Center, Round Hill Square, 1031 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06032. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Martha W. MacLaren 

Martha W. MacLaren (Martie), 70, died Oct. 24, 2015, at home. The cause was complications related to an acquired brain injury. 

Born on March 23, 1945 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Martie was the only child of Willard and Magrieta Wilson. Her father was professor of English and, for a time in the 1960s, acting president of the University of Hawaii. 

She graduated from Punahou School and was admitted to Wellesley College based partly on her proficiency in mathematics. However, her interests turned to psychology and social service. She was an accomplished soprano who enjoyed small chorus a cappella singing in college. Between her junior and senior years at Wellesley she married Harvard student Bill MacLaren before graduating in 1967. She and Bill sang with the Harvard Glee Club/Radcliffe Choral Society tour of Asia that summer.

In 1968, she entered a master’s degree program in social work at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She was forced to leave when Bill was called to active duty with the Navy. Martie raised her three children as a Navy wife from 1969 until Bill’s retirement in 1995. Spending five years in Okinawa, Japan she became proficient in the art of Ikebana flower arranging and volunteered with the American Women’s Welfare Association as well as Navy Relief. While living in northern Virginia during the mid-1980s she earned an associate’s degree in crisis counseling at Northern Virginia Community College. Continuing her interest in social service, she volunteered at Zen Hospice, San Francisco, in 1994 to provide support for terminally ill patients.  

After returning to Pomfret in 1995, Martie became a UConn Master Gardener. She joined the Woodstock Area Garden Club and organized garden projects for the Colonel Daniel Putnam Association at Putnam Elms in Brooklyn. She took great pleasure in designing horticultural features at her home at Tyrone Farm.

She leaves her husband as well as daughter Catharine MacLaren of Portland, Maine; sons Morgan MacLaren of Stafford and Ian MacLaren (Anne-Lise) and their daughter Lucy of Pomfret Center.

Martie’s internment at Old Trinity Church in Brooklyn will occur at a later date. The family will hold a memorial service followed by a reception at Tyrone Farm in Pomfret beginning at 11 a.m. Nov. 14. Donations: The Woodstock Area Garden Club, PO Box 141, Woodstock, CT 06281. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

 

Edmund Swierzbin

QUINEBAUG — Edmund W. Swierzbin, 81, died Oct. 21, 2015, at Harrington Memorial Hospital.

Edmund was born May 24, 1934, in Webster. He lived in Dudley for most of his life, and moved to Quinebaug two years ago.  Edmund served his country honorably in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He had a passion for music, and played the harmonica in several bands over the years. 

He leaves his longtime companion Sophie A. Desmarais; his step-son: Kenneth Noonan of Thompson;  his sister: Diane Swierzbin of New Jersey. 

A Memorial Funeral Mass was Oct. 28 at St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

.