Rev. Robert DiQuattro

WOODSTOCK — Rev. Robert E. DiQuattro, soulmate and partner of Betsy (Parcinski) DiQuattro, died Nov. 6, 2016,  at UMass Medical Center. 

Bob had a lifelong passion for music.  

This passion started at an early age when he formed the Keystone Gospel Quartet touring the U.S. and CA.  In 1971, he moved to NYC and joined the King’s Keynotes as the lead vocalist. During his 10 years in Manhattan, he started the Manhattan Project (Gospel Rock Group), sang at Carnegie Hall, recorded several albums, and received his bachelor’s degree from College of New Rochelle.  He went on to receive his master’s degree from Yale Divinity School. 

He was ordained into the United Church of Christ and served as pastor of the Federated Church of Christ in Brooklyn for 10 years.  He then served as a Spiritual Care Coordinator for Masonicare Hospice. In his retirement, he kept his ministry of music alive by entertaining seniors.  Most recently, Bob was lead singer of “Green Valley” and took great pleasure in performing to a full house at the Vanilla Bean just three weeks ago. 

He will be remembered for the richness of his voice, the passion of his opinions and the gentleness of his spirit.  

First born son of Emmanuel and Frances DiQuattro on Feb. 12, 1943, in Bristol, Penn.

He leaves his wife Betsy; brothers, Joseph and James; son, Gordon; stepsons, Drew, Clark and Evan Sigfridson; grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Friends including, Tom and Andrea Hughes, The Daly Family and band members, Rich Young and Patricia McDonald. 

He attended Quaker Meeting House, Storrs, served as a member of the Eastford Democratic Town Committee, Eastford Clean Energy Commission and the Eastford Zoning Board of Appeals. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at the main lodge of the 4-H camp in Pomfret. Donations: The Grand Canyon Association (www.grandcanyon.org). 

 

Leah J. Gaboury

THOMPSON —  Leah Jean (Berry) Gaboury, 46, of Porter Plain Rd., died Nov. 9, 2016.  She was the wife of Dean C. Gaboury.  Born in 1970 in Southbridge, Mass., she was the daughter of William Berry of Southbridge and Camilla (Sturgis) Barrette and her husband Raymond of N. Grosvenordale.

Leah was a graduate of Tourtellotte Memorial High School class of 1988.

Leah was the assistant branch manager for Easthampton Savings Bank and worked part time at TJMAXX at Killingly Commons.. 

Mrs. Gaboury enjoyed taking pictures and reading.

In addition to her husband Dean and parents William and Carmella, she leaves her two sons Zachary T. Gaboury (Marcy) of Clymer, Penn., and Cody A. Gaboury of Woodstock; a daughter Shana L. Orrell (Christopher) of Meriden; two grandsons Ayden and Gabriel Gaboury both of Clymer; a brother David Berry (Nicole) of Charlton; and a sister Trisha Ferris (Tom) of Huntsville, Ala.

Visitation was Nov. 14 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. 

 

Marjorie Edith Marion

PUTNAM —  Marjorie Edith (Foote) Marion, 98, of Marycrest Drive, died Nov. 6, 2016, in Day Kimball Hospital after a short illness.  

She was born Feb. 25, 1918, in Chester. 

She and Lawrence Joseph Marion were married on April 30, 1941, at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam by Monsignor John Paul Wodarski. Marjorie was baptized as a Roman Catholic on Jan. 12, 1942.  

Marjorie was a direct descendent of Nathaniel Foote “The Settler” who landed on the west bank of the Connecticut River in 1633 with the “Ten Adventurers” and founded Wethersfield.  She was the daughter of Robert Erastus Foote and Annie Lovina Hutchinson Foote of Hebron.  Her paternal grandmother, Alice Hills Foote died in 1980 as a supercentenarian at the age of 111 years, 267 days, which made her the third oldest living person in the world at that time. Her maternal grandmother, Lovina Holbrook Hutchinson died in 1949 at the age of 101.  

Around 1920, when she was a small child, her parents moved to Footehills Farm in the Gilead section of Hebron.  She attended the one-room schoolhouse at the junction of Rt. 85 and Hebron Ave.  She graduated from UConn with a degree in home economics.  She was an excellent athlete at UConn participating in field hockey, tennis, and figure skating, and was president of the Varsity Club. 

Her first job was as a home economics teacher at Ludlowe High School in Fairfield.  She then moved to Putnam to work as the Windham County 4-H agent, until her first child was born in 1943. She then stayed home to raise her rapidly growing family.  She had to use curtains to make clothes, and made most of the clothes for her children. She canned enormous quantities of vegetables, juices, fruits, jams, and jellies to keep her large family healthy and well fed.  She worked on the 15-acre family farm where they grew vegetables, fruit, hay, raised chickens for meat and eggs, Angus steers for beef, and a Holstein cow for milk. Her children were taught the value of hard work by working on the family farm, for neighborhood farmers, and in summer jobs in the local textile mills. Her parents had taught her the great value of getting an education and she passed that on to her children, sending them all to excellent schools. She got her children actively involved in various sports. When her children got old enough, she returned to the work force as a home economics teacher at Tourtellotte Memorial High School in Thompson.  She also worked at Westview Manor.  Her final job was running the Sunrise Trading Company Health Food store which she owned with her husband, Lawrence, for many years.  She enjoyed helping customers in the old Green Barn that housed the store. 

She loved to play old songs and religious hymns of various types on her Steinway quarter grand piano.  She could read music well and could also play music by ear. She was also an enthusiastic writer of letters to family, friends, and politicians.  She was active in local Republican politics, and helped prevent the takeover of East and West Putnam by the City, and worked on electing the last Republican mayor of Putnam, Sam Roberts. She collected religious articles that she enjoyed giving to her children.  She was a tireless generator of ideas on things to do to improve her small farm property.  Marjorie always said that she was most fortunate to have the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Convent as her wonderful neighbors, and she regularly attended Mass in their beautiful chapel for more than 60 years.  

She leaves five sons, Lawrence (Joyce), Robert and his son Robert II, Francis, Joseph and his wife Patricia, and William Marion; her daughter, Margaret St. Denis (Michael) and their children Lisa, Michael, and Daniel; sister-in-law Eva Cormier; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband on Oct. 31, 2001, her son, John Paul Marion, on Feb. 12, 2009, and her daughter-in-law Jacqueline Marion on Nov. 11, 1998; also her sister, Lovina Foote Goodale; her brother, Robert Foote, and his wife Ruth; and her brother Edward Foote and his wife Marion; her sisters-in-law, Lillian Marion, Doris Marion Provencal and her husband Gilbert; brother-in-law Louis Cormier, and brother-in-law Leo Marion and his wife Leone.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 10 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Marianapolis Preparatory School, 26 Chase Rd, Thompson, CT 06277.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church Street, Putnam.

 

Michael Michaud

DAYVILLE — Michael Michaud, 56 of Dayville, died Nov. 9, 2016, at home from complications of diabetes and Crohn’s Disease. He was born March 22, 1960, son of the late Olga and Enoil Michaud. 

He was loved by many, never saying no to those who needed a helping hand. He loved fishing and golfing and to be with his few close friends. He was a hard worker.

He leaves his sister, Sonia-Lillia Michaud; two brothers, Steven Michaud and Jason Michaud and their families; longtime friends, Rick Radlo and Tim Austin. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Guil Michaud. 

A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 19 in St. Joseph Church, Dayville. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. 

 

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