Peter W. Krawiec,

WWII vet

N. GROSVENORDALE —  Peter W. Krawiec, 90, of Buckley Hill Rd. died July 5, 2016, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the loving husband of 68 years to the late Theresa M. (Choquette) Krawiec.  Born in 1925 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Thomas and Anna (Gwizdala) Krawiec.

Mr. Krawiec proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII.  He worked as a chocolate mixer for Borden’s Candy Shop.  He was a past commander of the American Legion Post #67 of N. Grosvenordale, the VFW, and the Southern Massachusetts Police Association where he was named “Man of the Year” several times for his hard work. He was the deputy sheriff under Cliff Green, and an elected Thompson constable for more than 40 years.  Peter was also a member, past president, trustee, and life member of the Eastern CT Police Association.  He also worked security for the Thompson Speedway and Marianapolis Preparatory School. 

He leaves his daughter, Nancy Strouse (Robert) of Putnam; his sister, Mary Sergel of Dudley; grandchildren, Jennifer Pierce (Dennis), Louis Bunker (Erin), Bonnie Falke, Daniel Bunker, and Brian Falke (Ashle); his great-grandchildren, Jasmine Falke, Ariana Bunker, Emma Lyn Bunker, Zachary Bunker, Hannah Pierce, Alliea Falke, and Justin Falke; and his great-great granddaughter Amy Berti.  He was predeceased by his daughter, JoAnn Pavone; his brothers John, Stanley, Joseph, Thomas, Michael and Anthony Krawiec and his sisters Sophie Groszswicz, Nellie Pfieffer, and Stasia Dudek;

The Funeral was July 9 at Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale with burial with full military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery, N. Grosvenordale. Donations: St. Joseph School, 26 Main St. N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255.  

 

Sylvester Hryzan Jr.,

Korean war era vet

DUDLEY — Sylvester Hryzan Jr., 78, died July 3, 2016, at home . 

Sylvester was born  in N. Grosvenordale, one of 14 children  of the late Sylvester J and the late Michalean (Kachnowicz) Hryzan. 

He leaves one daughter: Donna Hryzan of Webster, and one son: Dean Hryzan of Boise, Idaho;   one sister: Theresa Zelazo of New Hampshire; a grandchild, one great-grandchild. His partner of 35 years, Mary Mozdzierz, died in January .

He served in the Army during the Korean war era . He worked at Cranston Print Works for 20 years retiring in 2000.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. July 16 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Dudley Hill Rd., Dudley. Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley.

 

Richard H. Smith,

Air Force vet

DANIELSON — Richard Harland Smith, 87, of Danielson, died unexpectedly July 5, 2016, at home. He was the husband of Barbara (Brown) Smith. They were married May 21, 1954. 

He was born March 11, 1929, in Beckley, W.Va., son of the late Orliffe and Julia (Stairs) Smith. 

He was a graduate of Beckley College, Concord College and received his master’s degree from Marshall University. Richard served in the U.S. Air Force, 1952 to 1956. He began his teaching career in West Virginia as a teacher and basketball coach. In 1961 he moved to Killingly and joined the Killingly School System as a teacher, he was the assistant football coach, 1961 to 1964, in 1965 he became the assistant principal of Killingly High School and the following year became the principal of Killingly High School. He served from 1967 to 1980. In 1981 he joined the teaching staff at the Killingly Junior High School and in 1987 was appointed assistant principal, until his retirement in 1989. He attended the Putnam Congregational Church for many years. 

He leaves, in addition to his wife Barbara of 62 years, his children, Lisa R. Pina (Earl) of Putnam, Richard H. Smith Jr. (Barbara) of Van Nuys, Calif.; grandchildren Vayda and Victor. He was predeceased by his daughter Cheryl Ann Smith.

Donations: Memorial Fund of the Putnam Congregational Church, PO Box 463, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

A. ‘Chuck’ Etchells

WOODSTOCK — Arthur “Chuck” Henry Etchells, 61, of Woodstock, died July 6, 2016. 

He was born Aug. 27, 1954, in Putnam, the son of the late Paul and Rita Etchells.

Chuck was the CEO of URG Graphics, Inc. in Putnam. In 2001 he retired from the NHRA racing circuit which he earned 13 NHRA Funny Car victories during his driving career. In 1993 he made NHRA history by becoming the first Funny Car driver to record a four-second elapsed time. Chuck enjoyed his yearly trips to Key West, Fla., golfing, fishing, reading and spending time with family and friends. 

Chuck leaves behind is daughter Erica Etchells of Stafford Springs; a sister Karen “Lily” Carrera and a brother Gary Etchells, both of Woodstock and his partner Shelley Etchells who lived with him till his passing. He also leaves a nephew Caleb Carrera, aunts and cousins. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was July 11 at Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial at Elmvale Cemetery, Woodstock. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Dorothy Shippee

MOOSUP — Dorothy June (Auger) Shippee, 67, died July 5, 2016, after a battle with lung cancer. Born June 15, 1949, in Putnam, daughter of the late Lionel and Rita (Tetreault) Auger.     

She was a life member of the Putnam VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She retired from Connecticut Department of Correction.

She leaves her son Robert Shippee (Tammy); daughter Holly Gedney (Paul); grandchildren Ryan Shippee, Gavin Shippee, Hayden Gedney, Laurissa Gedney, sibling Arnold Auger, and her former husband Robert Shippee. She was predeceased by siblings Lionel Auger, Ruth Curran, Barbara Fortin and Elaine Ignasiak.

A Mass of Christian Burial was July 12 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: Putnam VFW Ladies Auxiliary, c/o Putnam VFW, 207 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Lillian D. Witkowski

STAFFORD SPRINGS — Lillian D. Witkowski, 93, formerly of Old Monson Rd., died July 4, 2016, in Johnson Memorial Medical Center.  She was the wife of the late Walter J. Witkowski who died on Jan. 5, 1992.  

Born in 1923 in N. Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Josephine (Taberski) Lada.

Mrs. Witkowski worked as a receptionist and switchboard operator at Cluett Peabody before becoming a stay-at-home mom.  She enjoyed reading, gardening, scrapbooking, photography and listening to Big Band music.

She leaves her son Stephen A. Witkowski (Sherry Abbate-Witkowski) of Woodstock Valley; a sister Johanna Lada of Putnam; a daughter-in-law Kelley Witkowski of Hobbs, Minn.; three grandchildren Jeffrey Allen Witkowski, Kimberley Jean Witkowski, and Evan William Witkowski; and two great-grandchildren, Ever Witkowski and Jack Witkowski. She was predeceased by two sons Anthony Albert and William Walter Witkowski.

Visitation is from 11 a.m. to noon July 16 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale with a funeral service held at noon in the funeral home. Burial follows in St. Joseph Cemetery.  

 

Richard W. Fuller

WOODSTOCK — Richard W. Fuller, 66, died July 7, 2016, at Westview Healthcare in Dayville. 

The son of the late Allan and Marjorie (Macomber) Fuller, he was born March 31, 1950, in Bangor, Maine. He moved to Connecticut in 1952 and graduated from Manchester High School in 1969.  He later enrolled at A. I. Prince Tech in Hartford for advanced education in masonry.  During his apprenticeship, he won the Bricklayers Apprentice Contest Award from Local 1 of Hartford; and the Anthony D. Gregorio 1st Prize awarded by the Masons Contractors Association, before becoming a journeyman.

Richard began working in tobacco fields at 14.  As a young entrepreneur, he opened a cleaning business in the Hartford area.  He established R & F Mason Contractors in 1974, later incorporating with long-time friend, Walter Talaga in a partnership specializing in both masonry and carpentry.  He was registered as a Major Contractor in Connecticut and was a lifelong member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craft-workers Local No. 1.  After 45 years of self-employment, and until his retirement, he held a carpentry position with Associated Construction Company of Hartford.

 Richard was a New England Patriots and New York Yankees fan, was captain of a Putnam Senior’s baseball league, and also played basketball in a Putnam Senior league. He enjoyed skiing, deep sea fishing, golfing with friends, Bebop dancing, trips to Maine for Italian sandwiches, barbequing and trashcan turkey roasting, and he could party with the best.  To hear him sing was a real treat. He was an EMT, served on the Bungee Fire Department, was active with the Boy Scouts, a volunteer Senior-ranked National Ski Patroller & Winter Emergency Care Instructor for many years with Haystack Mountain and Mount Snow in Vermont; a past member of BPOE Elks and Fin, Fur, & Feather Club and, for 40 years, spent mid-Novembers hunting deer in Maine’s Allagash with friends & family.  He enjoyed working with his hands, being outdoors, and graciously gave 100% of his heart and mind to whatever he was passionate about. He cared for the people who mattered most to him, whether it was creating a product for a client with safety first in mind, patronizing local businesses, protecting a friend from undo harm, or providing for his family. With integrity and commitment he will be remembered as tenacious, hardworking, and fearless, with an eye for design & detail. His industrial and commercial work may be seen and admired in nearly every city/town in the state.  

He leaves his wife Mary Lou (Clark) Fuller; a son, Shawn G. Fuller (Jennifer) of Thompson;  a daughter, Kyle, (Jason LePino) of Thompson; a stepdaughter, Jessi, whom he raised as his own, and her fiancé, Daniel Dombrowski, of Sarasota, Fla.; grandchildren Jayden, Simon, Caleb and Sophia; and a Zuchon he named Bailey; four siblings: Diane Snow (Howard) of Payson, Ariz., Stephen Fuller of Westfield, Mass., Jane Amaral of Manchester; a half-sister Cheryl Valcourt  (Jacques) of Howland, Maine; step-siblings, Skip, Edward, Debbie, Sandy, and Fred; and four cousins comporting as siblings: Glory, Wesley, Gail and Doreen; two brothers-in-law, William Clark of Endicott, N.Y., and Robert (Janet) Clark of Westford; a mother-in-law, Martha Clark of Eastford; aunts Laura, Esther and Arlet. He was predeceased by his half-brother, Allan “Bill” Fuller; and four step brothers, Bobby, Larry, Dutch, and Jerry White.

Visitation is from 1 to 2 p.m. July 21 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a service in the funeral home at 2. Burial to follow at the Eastford Grove Cemetery. Donations: Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH, P.O. Box  63, Putnam, CT 06260. 

 

Michael Szafarowicz

WOODSTOCK —  Michael A. Szafarowicz, 59, of Brickyard Rd., died July 10, 2016, at home.  He was the husband of the late Stephanie (Nedoroscik) Szafarowicz.  Born in 1956 in Worcester, he was the son of the late Eugene and Regina (Grudzinski) Szafarowicz.

Michael worked as a machinist for various local machine shops.  He loved model trains and was known for being a “Jack of all Trades,” was able to fix anything. 

He leaves his daughter, Kathryn Shead (Benjamin) of Thompson; his brothers, Eugene Szafarowicz of Japan, and William Szafarowicz of Wilbraham, Mass.; his sisters, Christine Biernat of Southington, Regina McFadden of Charlotte, N.C., and Theresa Mangano of Alaska; his grandchildren, Joshua, Isabelle, Zachary, Raya, Teagan, Samuel, Austin, Damion, and Alysha.  

In addition to his wife Stephanie, he was predeceased by his son, David Szafarowicz; and his best friend and dog “Teddy.” 

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. July 15 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. 

 

Michael Jon Gravel

ASHFORD —  Michael Jon Gravel, 57, of Ashford Center Rd, died June 11, 2016, at home. Born in 1959 in Putnam, he was the son of Joseph “Lucien” Gravel and Henriette (Demers) Smith of N. Grosvenordale.

Mr. Gravel worked various jobs throughout his lifetime. Mike enjoyed fishing, hunting, skiing, and playing baseball. He leaves his parents and a sister Debra Ann Huber of Putnam. 

Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

John M. Rauert Jr.

WOODSTOCK — John M. Rauert Jr., 67, of New Sweden Rd., died July 9, 2016, at home after a lengthy illness.  He was the husband of Ronnell “Ronnie” (Sorber) Rauert.  Born in 1948 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late John and Elizabeth (Ladson) Rauert.

John was united in marriage to the former Ronnell Sorber July 4, 1972, in Yonkers, N.Y.

Mr. Rauert worked for more than 15 years at International Paper as a machine operator retiring in 2010. John enjoyed reading

He leaves his wife of 44 years, Ronnie Rauert; a sister Carol Olsen of Ashford; nieces Ginger Olsen of New York, and Kyle Waterbury and Kristin Brown, both of Florida. 

The service was July 13 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Edwina Vaida

Edwina Vaida, 99,  died July 6, 2016, after a short illness. 

Edwina was born on April 3, 1917, in E. Lyme to John Paul Jezierski and Antonia Wolowicz Jezierski. 

She leaves her son Paul Kalman Vaida (Cecelia); daughter-in-law Patricia Vaida. Edwina was a grandmother to six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mrs. Vaida is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles H. Vaida, her brothers, William, Edward and Wesley Jezierski, and her son Charles T. Vaida.

Edwina graduated high school in E. Lyme. A woman before her time, with the support and encouragement of her father, she earned her bachelor’s degree from UConn in sociology. Edwina worked as a guard in a women’s correction facility. To support her country during WWII, she then took a position U.S. Navy Underwater Sound Lab, in New London working to detect submarines.  In 1956, Edwina met her husband, Charlie and moved to Phoenixville to work at the family-owned Vaida Dairy Farm. Edwina went back to school and earned her master’s degree in education from Eastern Connecticut State University. She taught in the Eastford Elementary and Killingly Middle Schools. 

Edwina was an adventurous woman who enjoyed playing Scrabble, ice skating, swimming, canoeing, and sledding with her grandchildren when they were young. She and her husband enjoyed traveling together. Family and friends were first and foremost for Edwina. She and Charlie hosted gatherings and spent endless hours sharing meals and conversations at their home. Edwina was a dedicated UConn women’s basketball fan. She loved animals, singing, reading, caring for her gardens, watching hummingbirds, and eating chocolate. Edwina was a woman with great dignity who lived everyday appreciating the many gifts of nature and life. 

Her memorial service will be private. Donations: Eastford Public Library or the Eastford Independent Fire Department. Gilman And Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

 

Elizabeth D. Tuttle

BOXFORD, Mass. — Elizabeth D. Tuttle, 90, of Boxford, formerly of Saxtons River, Vt., and S. Woodstock, died July 1, 2016, at home.

Born Oct. 23, 1925, in Danielson, she was the daughter of Irving Wilder Davis and Dorothy Dorrance (Paine) Davis. She was educated at Northfield School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College. On June 16, 1948, she married Lawrence Emerson Tuttle of Millbrook, N.Y., with whom she shared 64 years of marriage before his death in 2012. A preschool educator, Mrs. Tuttle taught at Family Kindergarten in N. Andover, Mass. She loved animals, gardening.  She leaves her five children, Elizabeth Dorrance (Dorrie) Ellsworth, Lawrence E. (Emerson) Tuttle  Jr., Harriot (Hatsy) T. McGraw, Peter B. Tuttle, and Catherine T. DeSalvo and their spouses; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sister, Martha Davis Zubretsky. Services will be private. Donations: Lawrence E. Tuttle Scholarship Fund, c/o Brooks School, 1160 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA, 01845; or to the charity of your choice. Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich, Mass.

 

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