F. Raymond Dewey III

N. GROSVENORDALE — Frederic “Ray” Dewey III, 75, of Quinebaug Rd, died Dec.  21, 2016, at UMass Medical Center.  He was the husband of Annette (LeBlanc) Dewey.  Born in 1941 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of Elizabeth (Gettner) Saidi of Chapel Hill, N.C., and the late Frederic R. Dewey Jr. parents.

Ray started his career as a technical writer with Sprague Electric of N. Adams, Mass., which later became Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. of Worcester, retiring in 2006. After his retirement, he continued writing in a personal and professional capacity. He was an Auxiliary CT State Trooper for 26 years and assistant Scout Master for Troop 66 in Thompson. He was an avid motorcycle rider, riding in all 50 states and all Canadian Provinces traveling many times with his wife Annette.

Ray was a member of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club of CT Chapter VI for 35 years and later a member of Rhode Island Chapter I. He was also a life member of the Bennington Rescue Squad in Bennington, Vt.

He leaves his wife Annette; mother Elizabeth Saidi: a son David Dewey and his companion Christine Czarny of Westford, Vt.; step son Jay Valley of Fitchburg, Mass.; half-brother Ali “Bob” Saidi of Glastonbury; grandchildren Samuel and Mae Dewey of Westford, Vt.; step granddaughter Erin Valley of California; former daughter in-law Pam Dewey of Westford. He was predeceased by his wife Leta Dewey and his brother Daniel Dewey. 

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 36 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a service in the funeral home at 6. Donations: Bennington Rescue Squad, 120 McKinley St., Bennington, VT 05201. 

 

Anna Prihoda

PUTNAM — Anna Prihoda, 88, of Church St, died Dec. 21, 2016, in Matulaitis Nursing Home.  She was the wife of the late John G. Prihoda Jr.  Born in 1928 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Amelia (Noia) Leo.

Mrs. Prihoda worked as a secretary in the Putnam Town Clerk’s office as well as a secretary for attorney Nicholas Longo.

She was a member of St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.

She leaves her brother Romeo Leo of Putnam. She was predeceased by her stepson John G. Prihoda III; three brothers Florendo, Carmine, and Anthony; and three sisters Ersilia, Elvira, and Mary.

The ass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Dec., 30 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence St., with private burial. Donations: St. Mary Church of the Visitation 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Bernice P. Brown

POMFRET CENTER —  Bernice (Grabiak) Brown, aka “Ma Brown” 77, of 400 Deerfield Rd., died Dec. 13, 2016.  She was the wife of the late Lewis James Brown Sr. and a companion of the late Clarence V. Vitalis. Born in 1939 in Harrisburg, Penn., she was the daughter of the late Walter and Mary (Yaukauskas) Grabiak.

Mrs. Brown attended Vandergrift High School and was a homemaker who was very proud of her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed playing bingo, crocheting, bird watching, painting, watching wrestling and auto racing. She was also a lifetime member of the Woodstock Fair. 

She leaves her daughters, Christine Papuga (Christopher) of Sterling, Lisa Dyer (Christopher) of Pomfret Center, and Angela Frechette of Danielson; her brother, Walter Grabiak (Nancy) of Leesburg, Fla.; her sisters, Ruth Roberto of Vandergrift, Penn., Dorothy Humes of Wauregan, and Josephine League of Danielson; her grandchildren, Ayden Papuga, Shaun and Liam Dyer, Keith and Austin Frechette, and Michael Rosario; her great grandchildren, Owen and Logan Dyer. She was predeceased by her son, Lewis James Brown Jr.; her daughter, Josephine Brown; her brothers, Frank Grabiak and Joseph Grabiak; her sisters, Mary Ann Zigus Zemba and Clarita Grabiak. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 17 in Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret. A second Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 19, 2016, in St. James Catholic Church, Apollo, Penn, with burial in Riverview Cemetery, Apollo. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.

 

Martha G. Grimm

DANIELSON — Martha G. Grimm, 100, of Danielson died naturally Dec. 20, 2016, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was the wife of the late Gilbert Grimm. He died in 1982. 

She was born Sept. 21, 1916, in Wyanett Township, Minn., daughter of the late Andrew and Anna (Anderson) Olson. 

She leaves her five children: Ian Swanson (Jan) of Eagan, Minn., Rex Swanson (Colleen) of Saint Paul, Minn., Gerald Grimm (Doris) of Danielson, David Grimm of Danielson, Ann Grimm of S. Attleboro, Mass., 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren. 

Visitation was Dec. 26 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Donations: Charity of one’s choice. 

 

Bradford H. Kiff Sr.

THOMPSON — Bradford H. Kiff Sr., 62, , of Border Trail, died Dec. 22, 2016, at Masonic Care in Wallingford following a four-year battle with FTD (Frontotemporal Lobe Degeneration).  He was the husband of Sarah (Demers) Kiff.  Born in 1954 in Attleboro, Mass., he was the son of the late Harold Kiff Jr. and Virginia (Brown) Kiff.

He attended local schools in Attleboro and graduated from Attleboro High School. He went to work for his father’s company Islander Industries as a jeweler. Over the years in addition to being a jeweler by trade, he became a production manager, operations manager, then a bus driver for special needs children which is a job that he held close to his heart.

He leaves his wife of 35 years Sarah; adoring children Katie Lee Schifino (Thomas) of Warren, R.I., Tara Marie Martel (George) of Virginia Beach, Va., and Bradford H. Kiff Jr. of Plainfield, N.H.; a sister Dawn McInnis of Attleboro; five grandchildren Shawn, Aydin, and Dustyn Schifino, and Gwendolyn and Genevieve Martel. He was predeceased by a brother Darren Kiff. 

Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 28 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 in St. Eugene Church, Rt. 44, Chepachet. Donations: AFTD, Radnor Station, Bld 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA 19087 or www.theaftd.org.

 

Sharon E. Plouff

LITTLE RIVER, S.C. — Sharon E. “Hon” (Johnson) Plouff, 73, formerly of Thompson, died Dec. 20, 2016, in Hartford Hospital.  She was the wife of the late Milton C. Plouff.  Born in 1942 in Webster, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Mildred (Kane) Johnson.

Mrs. Plouff attended Woodstock Academy and worked as a greenhouse worker for Ledgeside Nursey in Woodstock.  She was a member of the Living Water Baptist Church in South Carolina and worked for the Prison Ministry in Brooklyn.  She volunteered for Special Olympics, and numerous animal shelters in South Carolina.  She enjoyed gardening and loved animals both domestic and wild.  

She leaves her sons, Gary C. Greene (Sherry) of Thompson, and Kevin A. Greene (Diane) of Sherman, Texas, formerly of Putnam; her brothers Bruce Johnson (Susan) of Woodstock; her grandchildren, Joshua Greene (Kelly) of Pomfret, Marci Seney (Nathan) of Thompson, Ashley Hendricksen of Brooklyn, Traci Thigpen (Bobby) of Jacksonville, Fla., Vanessa Martel (Brian) of Putnam, Paul Frechette of Dudley, Michael Parker (Chrisie) of Woodbury, Jessica McClain of Pottsboro, Texas, Heather Greene and her partner Amanda McCormack of Orlando, Fla., Heather Stockton (Kerry) of Ivanhoe, Texas, and Ryan Greene of Manchester; nephew Jeff Johnson of Danielson; niece Lynn James of Brooklyn; stepdaughter Michelle Davis (Rob) of Connecticut; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. She was predeceased by her brother, Ronald Johnson.

A Celebration of Life was Dec. 23 in South Woodstock Baptist Church. A Memorial Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 28 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. An additional service will be held in February in South Carolina.  Donations: NECCOG, P.O. Box 759, Dayville, CT 06241. 

 

Lucille P. Smutnick

ABINGTON — Lucille P. Smutnick, 89, of Abington, died Dec. 19, 2016,  at Westview Health Care in Dayville. She was the wife of John C. Smutnick. He died in 1979. 

She was born Aug. 17, 1927, in Putnam, the fourth of 15 children of Charles and Bella (Beausoleil) Poulin. She was a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. She enjoyed playing cards, including bridge and board games, and hosting annual family reunions and gatherings. She loved watching her children and grandchildren play baseball and softball and never missed a game. She was employed at Putnam Savings Bank for 20 years, retiring as head teller. After retiring she worked part time for QVCC in Danielson. In the mid 1940s Lucille worked for the telephone company in Putnam as a switchboard operator and supervisor and had also worked in the kitchen at Hale Manufacturing. 

She leaves her children, John Smutnick (Laura) of Avon Park, Fla., Steven Smutnick (Sandra) of Avon Park, Donna Lefevre (Ronald) of Pomfret Center; David Smutnick (Mary) of Sebring, Fla.; siblings Jackie, Lorraine, Edward, Shirley, Rose Marie, Corrine, Sandra, Maurice, Michael; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by siblings Leonard, David, Richard, Barbara, and Paul. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 23 at Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret with burial in Abington Cemetery. Donations: QVCC Foundation, 742 Upper Maple St., Danielson, CT 06239. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Barbara Stefanik

WEBSTER — Barbara A. (Madura) Stefanik, 86, of Webster, died Dec. 20, 2016, at her daughter’s home. She was born June 18, 1930, in Webster, the daughter of Paul Madura and Celia (Biadasz) Madura. She was a 1948 graduate of Bartlett High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Mrs. Stefanik worked as a secretary to the president at the Waterhouse Company in her youth but spent the bulk of her life running the popular Andy’s Restaurant with her husband John, formerly located at 59 East Main St. She retired as a medical secretary for Dr. Robert Downes.

Barbara and her husband traveled around the world. She enjoyed shopping, cooking, dining out and reading.  She was a talented cross stitcher, knitter and seamstress. She leaves her husband of 63 years, John T. Stefanik; four sons, Gregory J. Stefanik of Webster, Mark A. Stefanik (Anna-Lee) of Dudley, Jeffrey J. Stefanik (Donna) of Woodstock, Christopher J. Stefanik and his companion Sally Thurston of Southbridge; a daughter Angela M. Stefanik and her fiancé Robert Alves of Putnam; and 10 grandchildren.  She is predeceased by her son, Matthew Stefanik and by her sister, Louise Mason.

The Funeral Mass was Dec. 23 in St. Louis Church, Webster, with burial in St. Joseph’s Garden of Peace. Donations: St. Louis Endowment Fund, 15 Lake St., Webster, MA 01570. Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster.

 

Edward M. Therrien

N. GROSVENORDALE — Edward M. Therrien, 56, of N. Grosvenordale, died Dec. 21, 2016, at home.

Ed was born in Webster, and lived in Connecticut all his life.  He worked at Wyman-Gordon for 38 years.  He was a 4th Degree Knight at the Putnam Knights of Columbus and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, #2087 in N. Grosvenordale.  Ed was very active with Boy Scout Troop #21 for over 20 years.  He earned his wood badge building the bridge at J.N. Webster Boy Scout Camp.  In 1997, he was the George Meaney Award recipient.  Ed enjoyed camping, loved attending the Fryberg Fair and loved Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where he spent many summers as a kid.

He leaves his wife of 11 years, Kylee D. (Warren) Therrien of N. Grosvenordale; his parents, George and Jacqueline (Savage) Therrien of N. Grosvenordale; two sons, Mark Therrien of  N. Grosvenordale, Andrew Therrien (Gina) of N. Kingston, R.I.; one daughter, Stefanie Perrine of N. Grosvenordale; two brothers, Richard Therrien (Melissa) of New Boston, N.H., Philip Therrien (Wanda) of Wauregan; one sister, Celeste Therrien of Sturbridge; two grandchildren, Luke and Jude Therrien of N. Kingston; a godson, Randy Fifield of N. Grosvenordale.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Ed at 2 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Knights of Columbus, on Riverside Drive, N. Grosvenordale.  Donations: Knights of Columbus, 1017 Riverside Drive, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255; or the St. Joseph’s Church Food Bank 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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