J. ‘Larry’ Blanchette,

WWII vet

Joseph (Larry) Blanchette, died March 9, 2016, at Davis Place.  He finally wore out. Larry leaves his wife, Aline (Johnson) Blanchette, also of Davis Place. He was born in 1924.

After his retirement from Electric Boat, Larry worked as a crossing guard for Putnam Elementary School. Larry’s passion was his music. He attended countless jazz festivals and enjoyed listening to his reel-to-reel and record collections. Larry was also helping his daughter Fran research the Blanchette genealogy and was excited to have recently reconnected with a long lost cousin.

In addition to his wife, Larry leaves his two daughters, Anne (Jim) Milliard of Dayville, Fran (Donn) Pittman of Mt.. Pleasant, S.C.; two granddaughters, Carolyn (Richard) Blackmar of Putnam and Catherine (Robert) Bazinet of Pomfret; four great-grandchildren, Asa, Morgan, Lauren and Iris. He was even interviewed by two of the great-grandchildren as part of a WWII school presentation. 

Larry was a proud WWII veteran.  In 2011, he was able to take part in an Honor Flight to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., with his granddaughter Carrie. If you would like to honor Larry’s memory, please consider doing something nice for the veterans. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Richard Lemieux,

Korean war vet

DAYVILLE — Richard J. (Dick) Lemieux, 85 of Dayville, died March 2, 2016, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester, after a short illness. He was the husband of Pauline (LeBlanc) Lemieux. They were married Nov. 19, 1955. 

He was born Jan. 21, 1931, in Berlin, N.H., son of the late Arthur and Laura (Morin) Lemieux. Richard was a machinist and mechanic. He worked at Electric Boat and various machine shops. After retiring in 1987, he kept busy repairing lawn mowers and other small equipment. He loved to tinker. 

He was a veteran of the Korean war serving with the U.S. Army.  He made his home in New Hampshire for many years, moving to Connecticut in 1965.

He leaves in addition to his wife Pauline, five children: Helene Bazinet (David), Laura Sirois (Leo), Doris Denis and her fiancé Jeff, Richard Lemieux (Christine), and Arthur, his partner Debbie; eight grandchildren: Sarah, Christine, Amanda, Leo, Kimmie, Charles, Richard and Christopher; 16 great-grandchildren: Reese, Reagan, Jaden, Andrew, Gael, Calah, Maris, Liliana, Natalia, Timothy, Ashley, Jasmine, Oscar, Tara, Alec and Mark; brother: Thomas Lemieux of New Hampshire; sisters: Lorraine Amero of New Hampshire and Pauline Roller of Florida. He was predeceased by two brothers: Armand Lemieux and Edward Lemieux and two sisters: Priscilla Bouchard and Jeannette Legere. 

A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. April 8 in St. Joseph Church, 350 Hartford Pike, Dayville, followed by military honors. Donations: St. Joseph Church, PO Box 487, Dayville, CT 06241. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Simonne Gagne

SPRING HILL, Fla./WOODSTOCK — Simonne Morissette Gagne died Jan. 26, 2016 in Florida.  

She was born on Feb. 28, 1939, in Pomfret to the late Gerard and Marie Louise (Provost) Morissette. She married the late Lawrence R. Gagne on Sept. 2, 1957, and lived in Woodstock, Charleston, R.I., and in Spring Hill.  She worked at the Woodstock Public Schools, Marriott at Data General in Woodstock, and then after moving to Rhode Island,  was an office supervisor for health care services.   

She loved the ocean and enjoyed boating and fishing with her late husband and family.  Sim loved to play piano and enjoyed playing shuffleboard, cards and biking with many friends in her park. She also loved to travel.

She leaves two sons, Mark Gagne of Exeter, R.I., and Raymond Gagne (Kelly) of Woodstock; grandsons Kyle and Cody Gagne, and Paul and Keith Brousseau; brothers, Denis (Delores) Morissette of Pomfret, Gilbert (Fran) Morissette of Spring Hill, Leo (Susan) Morissette of Woodstock; a sister, Muriel (Joe) Mrakovich of Pomfret; close friend Loren Peterson of Sparta, Mich.  She was predeceased by her brother, Robert in 1991.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. June 4 at The Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. Donations: American Cancer Society or Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret.

 

B. 'Bernice' Ravenelle

N. GROSVENORDALE — Bronislawa Bernice (Karpenski) Ravenelle, 89, of Ravenelle Rd, died March 10, 2016, in UMass University Hospital.  She was the wife of Normand Ravenelle for 67 years.  Born in 1926 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Peter and Helen (Ambrosevicz) Karpenski.

Mrs. Ravenelle worked for American Optical and Cluett Peabody.  She enjoyed bingo, cooking, and playing cards. Bernice was a communicant of St. Joseph Church.

In addition to her husband, she leaves her daughters, Linda Joyal (Tom) of Ashford, Theresa Goulet (Tom) of Killingly, Margaret Auger (Tom) of Putnam, Rachel Sposato of Killingly, and Jane Sciaraffa (Michael) of Auburn, Mass.; grandchildren, Stephanie Sciaraffa of Auburn, Anthony Sciaraffa of Oxford, Troy Sposato of Canterbury, Jared Goulet of Killingly, Danielle Heersink of Woodstock, David Auger of Manchester, and Kathryn Young of Charlestown, Mass.; great-grandchildren Alexa Heersink, Rowan Heersink, and Cierra Heersink; and her former son-in-law Dennis Sposato. She was predeceased by her brothers, William Karpenski, and Joseph Karpenski; sisters, Anna Szarkowicz, Jenny Bodnar, Theresa Beaudet, and Helen Richards. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was March 14 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Anais L. Salvas

PUTNAM — Anais (Lemoine) Salvas, 74, of Church St., died March 12, 2016, at home, after a battle with cancer. She was the wife of Richard A. Salvas for 56 years.  

Born July 6, 1941, in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Leo and Florida (Raymond) Lemoine.

Anais worked for Day Kimball Hospital for 40 years and was proudly awarded ”Employee of the Month” in 2009. She loved reading. Along with her husband Richard, they were the founding members of the Tri-State Cruisers where together they helped organize several antique car events and fund-raisers.  At these events, she was known as the “50/50 lady” that helped to raise an amazing $135,000 for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

In addition to her husband, she leaves a son, Todd Salvas of Putnam; daughters, Darleen Salvas of Putnam, and Tammy Benoit (Mark) of Thompson; her sisters, Leona Espinosa (William) of Brooklyn, Dorothy Trama (Peter) of Putnam, and Jean Greene of Grosvenordale; her grandchildren, Justin Salvas, Krista Sincyr, Jada Thomas, Glenn Benoit, Dylan Benoit, and Benjamin Benoit; and her great-grandchildren, Kylee Salvas, Hunter Salvas, Ryder Benoit, Lillian Benoit, Owen Benoit, Levi Benoit, and Alexis Sinyc. She is predeceased by her son, Brian Salvas; her brothers, Arthur Lemoine and Leo Lemoine; her sisters, Alice Pastana and Diane Orlowski and her daughter-in-law Doreen Salvas.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. March 18 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. March 19 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, 555 Long Wharf Dr., New Haven, CT 06511; or to Cruisin’ for Cancer, c/o DKH, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.  

 

Margaret Anderson,

U.S. Marine vet

QUINEBAUG — Margaret M. Anderson, 82, died March 8, 2016, at Westview Health Care Center, Dayville, after an illness.

She was born in Putnam and was raised in the Thompson area, the daughter of Emil and Mary L. (Coman) Anderson. 

She lived in Quinebaug for many years. She graduated from Woodstock Academy.

Ms. Anderson served her country as a U.S. Marine and then worked at various local textile and shoe factories including Danco Inc. in Putnam. 

She was a member of St. Stephen’s Church. She enjoyed traveling, camping and crafts.

She leaves a brother-in-law, Francis Szynaka; two nieces; two nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews. Her sister, Ruth A. Szynaka died Dec. 3, 2015

The Funeral Mass was March 14 in St. Stephen’s Church, with burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, N. Grosvenordale.  Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster.

 

Teresa M. Dumouchel

DUDLEY — Teresa M. (Collins) Dumouchel, 97, died March 12, 2016, in Webster Manor after a period of declining health. Her husband of 58 years, Treffle J. Dumouchel, died in 1998.

She was born in Webster, a daughter of Edward M. Collins, Sr. and Stasia (Moronczyk) Collins. She graduated from Bartlett High School. Mrs. Dumouchel first worked at the Worcester Paper Box Company in Webster for 18 years. She then was a wrapper in the deli and meat department at Hillside Park ‘N’ Shop in Webster for 20 years, retiring in 1980. She was a member of St. Louis Church. She served as a den mother many years ago. She was known for her expertise in craft work: hand sewing, crocheting and knitting.

She leaves a son, Richard T. Dumouchel Sr. (Janice) of Dudley; two grandchildren, Richard T. Dumouchel Jr. and his companion Lauren DiBonaventura of Dudley, and Monique L. Bennett (Les) of Dayville; a great-grandson, Cody Michael Bennett; two sisters, Joan “Betty” Dumouchel of Dudley and Stasia “Barbara” Menard of N. Grosvenordale. She was predeceased by three brothers, Francis “Sonny” Collins, William Collins and Edward Collins Jr.

The Funeral Mass was March 16 in St.Louis Church, with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster.

 

Thomas F. Hession, 

Korean war vet

DUDLEY —  Thomas F. Hession, 83, died March 7, 2016, in the TCU at Hubbard after an illness.

He was born in New Bedford, Mass., a son of Thomas and Helen (Hushon) Hession.  He moved to Connecticut as a young boy. He was an Army veteran of the Korean war.

Mr. Hession was a social studies teacher for 35 years, a job he truly loved.  He taught at Putnam Junior High School for 10 years then at his alma mater, Tourtellotte Memorial High School in Thompson, for 25 years. He retired in 1992.

Tom had a great sense of humor, always kidding around, always ready for a few laughs and jokes that always made his day.  He was an avid sports fan but his greatest loves were basketball and golf.  He loved jogging and did so for many years.  He was an enthusiastic traveler, traveling extensively with his wife during school vacations – always wanting to see more and more of the world.

He leaves his wife of 56 years, Helen (Moroz) Hession; two brothers, John Hession (Connie) of Thompson, and Bill Hession (Delores) of Southington;  two sisters, Mary, wife of Peter Bertschmann of Sherborn and Helen, wife of Bruce Howard of Long Boat Key, Fla.; brother-in-law Stanley Moroz (Agnes) of Dudley.

The Funeral Mass was March 10 in St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace, Webster.  Donations: Charity of the donor’s choice. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster. 

 

John T. Siekierski

DUDLEY — John T. Siekierski, 61, died unexpectedly March 8, 2016, at home. John was born  in Webster, the son of the late Raymond and the late Santina J (DeNardis) Siekierski. 

He graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial  High School in Thompson and was active with the school band. He lived most his life in Dudley. He worked at Cranston Print Works, Webster Nursery and did local landscaping. Most recently he enjoyed helping the local elderly with their  shopping  needs and taking them to appointments. John loved animals and supported many local shelters. He loved rock music of the ‘70s and ‘80s . He was an accomplished artist in his many painting and his drawings. 

He leaves three brothers: Raymond Siekierski Jr. (Kate) of Rindge, N.H., Jim Siekierski  (Lynn) of N. Grosvenordale, and Jeff Siekierski (Kim) of Wilbraham, Mass.; four nephews Alex, Aaron, Bret and Justin Siekierski.

A Memorial service was March 15 at Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley. Donations: Your local animal shelter. 

 

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