Normand A. Auger Jr.

Air Force vet

Normand A. Auger Jr., 68, died Aug. 12, 2016, after a brief battle with mesothelioma cancer.

He was born in 1947. Normand graduated from Putnam High School in 1965 and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1966. But, Normand’s real love was sports, especially baseball and the Boston Red Sox. He was an outstanding pitcher in Little League and played varsity baseball at Putnam High School throughout his entire four years. His dream was to play pro baseball and had it not been for the Vietnam war and his enlistment into the Air Force there’s no doubt that he would have accomplished that. His love for sports continued throughout his life, and golf became a huge part of it. No golf tournament was complete without Normand playing alongside his brother Robert, and of course they usually won.

Normand also loved meeting and talking with people. And, due to the fact that he was a Putnam mail carrier for 17 years, before his retirement in 2002, he did manage to get in a few conversations while delivering the mail. His personality and wit was unsurpassed. Normand could never tell a joke or funny story without laughing half way through it. But, his laugh was so infectious that anyone listening would be laughing along with him, even before the punchline.

Normand was a one-of-a-kind man who never spoke badly of anyone. 

He leaves his wife of  19 years Jo-Ann (Dumas); son Brandon; a sister Paulette Jensen (David); a brother Robert Auger (Lynn); three grandchildren Matthew, Ryan, and Sara; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father and mother Normand and Fernande (Paul) Auger Sr. and a nephew Jeffrey Toutant.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 18  in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin at 1 p.m. Aug. 19 in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial  at 2 p.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence St., Putnam.  Burial will be private. 

 

Irene O. Cague

POMFRET CENTER — Irene O. Cague, 94, died Aug. 7, 2016, at Westview Convalescent Center. 

She was born Feb. 24, 1922, in Hartford, and lived most of her life in E. Hartford. She was preceded in death by her husband, Maynard, after 59 years of marriage. 

Before his passing Maynard described Irene as an extraordinary woman. His business partner in Maynard’s, Inc., she was a tireless Republican volunteer in East Hartford, an exquisite seamstress, competitive force on the golf course, initiator of coffee hour after Mass at St. Mary’s, and a world traveler and wonderful ambassador for the U.S. 

Irene played a mean harmonica among other instruments, and last, but certainly not least, started painting in her 60s and produced the most beautiful water colors, exquisite in their detail. She was generous with her time, talent, and treasure. 

For her, one really good laugh a day made it perfect and her thumbs up meant you should rely on the Holy Spirit. 

She leaves her son, Forest Cague (Mary Burton) of Ashford and their daughters, Jennifer Cague of San Diego, Calif.., Rebecca Cague (Glenn Greenstein) and their son Liam of Silver Spring, Md.; and by her daughter, Sandy Flath and her daughters, Dayna Flath (Mike Fineran) and their daughters, Hannah and Paloma all of Pomfret Center, and Leslie Flath Ganz (Mark) and their children David and Clara Ganz of Portland, Org.; sister Lorraine Quimby (Charles).

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. Donations: Most Holy Trinity Church, PO Box 235, Pomfret, CT, 06258. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Kenneth F. McNally

DANIELSON — Kenneth F. McNally, 63, of Danielson, died Aug. 7, 2016, at home. He was the husband of Sally A. (Ladd) McNally. They were married May 25, 1974, in the Danielson United Methodist Church.

He was born April 8, 1953, in Sherman, Maine, son of the late Patrick McNally and Frances (Lilly) Woodard. He was employed for 27 years at Anchor Glass in Dayville, working as a machinist in the Hot-end. After the plant closing, he went to work as a machinist at the Rogers Corporation in Woodstock. He retired after 12 years due to poor health. 

He was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots Fan as well as the UConn men’s basketball. 

He leaves his wife of 42 years Sally A. McNally; his sons Richard McNally and Jason McNally, both of Danielson; a brother George McNally (Pat) of Florida; a sister Sheila Cullins of Maine; his brother-in-law James Ladd of Danielson; sister-in-law Barbara Mazzarella of Dayville; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his step father Richard Woodard and his brothers James McNally and Sheldon McNally. 

The Funeral was private. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Mae Grant

Mae Vennard Grant died Aug. 14, 2016. 

Born to Immigrants from Northern Ireland, on July 2, 1927, in Manchester,  she was predeceased by her parents, Stewart David Vennard and Mary Patterson Vennard. She was also predeceased by brothers, Stewart and George, who died in childhood, and her sister, Eileen Perry.  

Mae was baptized, confirmed, and on May 14, 1949, married at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Manchester, to her high school sweetheart, Earl Hudson Grant, who died on July 10, 2004. Earl and Mae were active members of that Manchester congregation, and contributed there to a stained glass window in their memory.  In 1991 Earl and Mae  moved to the Old Mill Village of Marstons Mills, Mass., where they  thoroughly  enjoyed Cape Cod living, wonderful new neighbors, and became active members of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Barnstable, Mass., a  congregation that became their extended family throughout their lives there. A beautiful stained glass window dedicated in their memory, picturing a dolphin and ocean waves, is in the Sanctuary of St. Mary’s, Barnstable. 

She moved to Heatherwood Retirement Community in Yarmouthport, Mass., in January 2016.

 Following a memorial service her cremains will be interred with Earl’s in the Memorial Garden at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Barnstable.

She leaves daughter,  Susan Mae Grant-Nash, Joseph Nash and his daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Ron Ditzel, and their daughters, Abby and Amelia of Putnam; daughter Greta Eileen Grant McCue and James McCue, of Mashpee, Mass., and sons, Michael and Patrick, and daughter, Amy and husband Glenn McCrystal, and their children Cameron and Hannah, of  Vernon; cousins including, David Vennard Knox (Maye)  of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

She was a Registered Nurse.  She was a 1945 graduate of Manchester High School, and recently attended their 71st reunion.  She graduated from the New England Deaconess Hospital in 1948, attended Manchester Community College, and graduated from Eastern CT State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1983.  Mae began her nursing career and worked for many years at Manchester Memorial Hospital, continuing work in Manchester as director of In-Service Education and then as Director of Nursing at Crestfield Convalescent Hospital. She completed her career at the State of CT Department of Social Services, conducting reviews of nursing homes and hospitals in Eastern Connecticut. Mae was a lifelong learner and volunteer, from Girl Scout Leader for her daughters, to facilitator of support groups for the American Cancer Society, Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, and myriad church committees and activities.  In recent years Mae brought joy and comfort to friends, family and parishioners through her ministry of sending cards and letters for birthdays, anniversaries and condolences.  

A Memorial Service and collation following interment will begin at 2 p.m. Aug. 20 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Route 6A, Barnstable. 

Donations: St. Mary’s Memorial Garden, or to a scholarship in Mae and Earl Grant’s name, at the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, 25 Benjamin Franklin Way, Hyannis, MA 02601, or any branch of that bank.  This scholarship will be offered to students of Mashpee High School and Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, who wish to pursue a nursing career, and/or exemplify compassion and kindness in their volunteer activities.

Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260. 

 

Omer W. Menard

N. GROSVENORDALE — Omer W. Menard, 93, formerly of Market St., died Aug. 14, 2016, at Davis Place Nursing Home in Killingly.  He was the husband of Carolyn (Madura) Menard whom he married on June 25, 1983, after the death of his first wife Edna (Blanchette) Menard who died on Aug. 11, 1980.  

Born in 1923 in Oxford, Mass., he was the son of the late Ephrem and Letitia (Robert) Menard. Mr. Menard worked for many years at a spring factory in Oxford. He was a devout Boston Red Sox fan and in his earlier years he was an amateur boxer in N. Grosvenordale. 

He leaves his wife, a daughter Ann Gauvin of Florida; a step daughter Lisa Sharpe of N. Grosvenordale; a sister Blanche Czernicki of Putnam; two grandchildren Donald Gauvin of Massachusetts and Jami Perry of Florida; four great-grandchildren Craig, Rebecca, Jeffrey, and Veronica. He was predeceased by two sons Gerard Menard and Alan Menard; brothers Eugene, Ernest, Robert, and William Menard; sisters Dora Grochowski, Elaine Moran, and Aurore Barthelet; and two grandsons Christopher Menard and Jeffrey Menard.

The Graveside Service is at 11 a.m. Aug. 20 in St. Joseph Cemetery, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. Gilman-Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Constance Maurice

BROOKLYN — Constance M. (Tetreault) Maurice, 81, of Brooklyn, died Aug. 6, 2016, at home.

Constance was born in the Moosup section of Plainfield and moved to Brooklyn when she married.  She was a retired cook, having worked many years in health care facilities.  Her passions included baking, crossword puzzles.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bernard Maurice, who died in 1997.  She leaves her companion David A. Breton; a son, Brian Maurice of Centerbrook and his companion, Marianne Klewin; a daughter, Mary Jane Richardson (David) of Brooklyn; two grandchildren: Bradley Maurice (Tanya) of Massachusetts and Katie Maurice and her companion Adam Rockwell, also of Brooklyn; two brothers, George Tetreault of Danielson and Gene Barrier of Sterling; and a sister, Claire Gaudreau of Rogers. She was predeceased by her brothers, Roger Tetreault, Teddy Tetreault and Lucien Tetreault; and sisters, Arlene Godley and Frances Jernstrom.

A Memorial Services is at 4 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Danielson Church of the Nazarene. Donations: Church of the Nazarene, 440 Westcott Road, Danielson, CT 06239.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

..