Ronald N. Syriac,

Korean war vet

WOODSTOCK — Ronald N. Syriac, 86, of Brickyard Rd, died Jan. 4, 2017, at home.  He was the husband of Annelle (Tracy) Syriac.  

Born in 1930 in Southbridge, he was the son of the late Nelson and Florina (Robidoux) Syriac. Ronald was a graduate of the Woodstock Academy with the class of 1949 and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving as a paratrooper during the Korean war; he received the Connecticut Wartime Service Medal on July 26, 2008, from Representative Mike Alberts.

On Jan. 8, 1983, at the family homestead he was united in marriage to the former Annelle (Tracy) Roush.

Mr. Syriac worked as a farmer on his own property as well as a supervisor at the Mansfield Training School.

He was a member of The American Legion Benson-Flugel Post 111 in Woodstock; a former Boy Scout Troop Leader at the Mansfield Training School; communicant at both the former Sacred Heart Church in Southbridge and the Church of the Good Shepherd in W. Woodstock.

He enjoyed horses, playing horse shoes, chess, canoeing, playing hockey, shooting pool, collecting guns, and was an avid motorcycle rider.

He leaves his wife of 33 years Annelle Syriac; four sons Scott Syriac (Christine) of Bethlehem, Arthur Syriac of Woodstock, Bryan Roush (Jacqui) of Ashford, and John Roush (Susan) of Brooklyn; two daughters Lori Dvorak of Amston and Sarah Syriac of N. Grosvenordale; seven grandchildren Lorna, Nicholas, Mikayla, Jared, Laura, Lydia, and Corey,  and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four brothers Arthur Syriac, George Syriac, Leonel Syriac, and Cyrille Syriac; and a sister Elizabeth Gauthier. 

The Funeral Service is at 1 p.m. Jan. 21 in Congregational Church of Eastford, 8 Church Rd., Eastford. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Alfred E. Tellier,

Korean war vet

PUTNAM —  Alfred E. Tellier, 86, of Church St., died Jan. 4, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Mathilda Yvonne (Couture) Tellier for 50 years.  Born in 1930 in Willimantic, he was the son of the late Conrad and Sophia (Beaulieu) Tellier.

Mr. Tellier was a radioman, trained at Fort Monmouth, N.J., with the U.S. Army serving during the Korean war until his discharge in 1953 where he then entered the Army Reserves until 1958.  He was a supervisor for Belding Corticelli in the Nymo Department for 25 years. He also worked for Anglo Fabric in Webster, and The Hyde School. He was a member of the VFW in Putnam and the American Legion in N. Grosvenordale and enjoyed playing pool, reading and playing cards. Alfred had a sense of humor until the end. 

In addition to his wife Mathilda, he leaves his sons, Alfred Tellier of Clover, S.C., Leonard Tellier of Thompson, and Bruce Tellier of Thompson; his daughters, Debralee Gardner of N. Grosvenordale, and Suzanne Lindley of Thompson; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

The Funeral was Jan. 9 with burial with military honors will take place in St. Mary Cemetery, 230 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260.  Donations: Hospice of NE CT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

William Espinosa Sr.

WWII vet

BROOKLYN — William J. Espinosa Sr., 94, of Brooklyn, died Jan. 4, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Leona (Lemoine) Espinosa. 

He was born Sept. 6, 1922, in Brooklyn, son of Michael and Gulia (Milone) Espinosa. He lived in Brooklyn his entire life. He was a building contractor with his brother.  

William was a veteran of WWII, serving with the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He leaves his wife Leona; children, son William Espinosa Jr. (Kathy) of Putnam, daughter Pam St. John (Steve) of Eastford; six grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 10 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial with military honors in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: Day Kimball Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehab Fund, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Sidney E. Swenson,

Navy veteran

EASTFORD — Sidney E. Swenson “Sid”, 78, of Eastford died Jan. 2, 2017, at home in Eastford. He was the husband of Lois (Gagnon) Swenson. He was born July 26, 1938, in Putnam, son of the late Paul and Agnes (Anderson) Swenson.

Sid was a life member of the Muddy Brook Fire Department. He was a member of Christ Church in Pomfret. He served in the U.S. Navy during police action in Beirut.

Besides his wife Lois he leaves his stepchildren Patricia Walker, Allen Walker Jr. (Carrie), Suzanne Cross, Mary Gallerani (Paul), Melissa Cornell (Chris); seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Martha.

Services will be in the spring. Donations: Muddy Brook Fire Department, P. O. Box 222, East Woodstock, CT 06244. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Mary Y. Plante

PUTNAM — Mary Y. Plante, 88, of Woodstock Ave, died Dec. 30, 2016, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late Ernest J. Plante. 

Born Aug. 15, 1928, in Moosup, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Bertha Lariviere. She had been employed for 29 years at Hale Manufacturing as a winder. Mary was a volunteer at Day Kimball Hospital for many years. She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation.  She enjoyed playing bingo at the VFW, trips to the casino, and eating out with her friends and family. 

She leaves her daughter Linda Bellerive of Putnam; siblings Theresa Tetero of Wauregan, Eugene Lariviere of Putnam; good friend Marie Domler of Putnam; her grandchildren Edward Bellerive, Heidi Champany, Kristina Bellerive, Greg Plante, Jessie Plante, Jeffrey, Christopher and Patrick Plante; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She was predeceased by her two sons, Ernest Plante and Richard Plante, her siblings Rita Penzanko, Alice Deloge, Noella Bennett, Cecilia Clark, Lucille Sirrine, Maggie Lariviere, Rosie Sirrine, Agnes Deloge

 A Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 6 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Ryan M. French

THOMPSON — Ryan Michael French, 16, of Thompson, died Jan. 2, 2017, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. 

Ryan was born June 20, 2000, in Worcester, the son of Jeffrey C. French and Joslyn (Sheldon) French. Ryan was raised in Thompson, where he attended Mary R. Fisher Elementary and Thompson Middle Schools and was a member of the Junior National Honor Society. He was involved in Thompson youth sports, including Little League Baseball, Recreational Basketball, Middle School Cross Country, and Track & Field. 

Ryan was a junior at Killingly High School where he was enrolled in the Agricultural Education Program, was a FFA member, and was an Honors student. He was also a student representative to the Killingly Board of Education. He ran on the Track & Field team, was captain of the cross country team and an ECC All Star. In addition to running, Ryan also had a passion for fishing. His two favorite places to fish were Cape Cod, where from a young age he could land stripers bigger than himself, and locally at Alexanders Lake, where he could be seen in his red fishing kayak pulling in bass and pickerel in his compassionate catch & release fashion. He recently had an enjoyment of golf, and is most likely somewhere on the front 9 getting an enjoyable reacquainted golf tutorial from his Grandpa French. Ryan worked part time for a local bait wholesaler, and previously volunteered at a local pet boarding kennel. 

He was a member of Christ Church in Pomfret where he was baptized and progressed to the Young Adults in Church (YAC) group. One of his most memorable and enjoyable events was a recent church pilgrimage he took with fellow Christ Church youth to San Francisco. There they volunteered at a local soup kitchen, renovated a local park, and Ryan was able to run across the Golden Gate Bridge. He considered Fr. David Carter a good friend and mentor, and cherished his church group and leaders. Ryan was a kind and friendly soul with an infectious grin who possessed a level of maturity far beyond his 16 years. 

In addition to his parents, he leaves his maternal grandparents Edwin Sheldon and Alice (Joslin) Sheldon from Putnam, uncles and aunts Stephen and Elaine Sheldon of Bozrah, Michael and Jeri Sheldon of Saco, Maine; great-uncles and great-aunts, cousins. Ryan was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Charles French and Joyce (Weaver) French. 

A Celebration of Ryan’s Life will be held at a later date. Donations: “Ryan French Memorial Scholarship Fund,” a scholarship fund set up by Ryan’s family to benefit Killingly High School Agricultural Education students moving on to higher education, c/o . Savings Institute, 596 Hartford Pike, Dayville, CT 06241, Attn: Emily Petrik. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Theresa A. Langlois

DANIELSON — Theresa A. Langlois, 79, of Danielson passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Jan. 2, 2017, at Davis Place. She was married July 16, 1955, to Alfred Langlois who died in 2008.

Born June 21, 1937, in Putnam to Maryann (Lavallee) and Frederick Credit. She made her home in Putnam most of her life and was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. 

Mrs. Langlois worked at Haven Health Care in Danielson until retirement. 

She leaves her daughter Debra Maloney (Paul) of Yulee, Fla.; her grandson Daniel Lavallee of Danielson; granddaughter Dawn (Lavallee) Distler (John) of St. Marys, Ga.; and four great-grandchildren, Shawn Layne of Virginia, Deidre Distler, Teya Distler and John Daniel Distler of Georgia; one sister Rose Bushey of Putnam. She was predeceased by three brothers Charles Credit, Emile Credit and Lionel Credit and one sister Cecile Lambert. 

The Funeral was private. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Michael P. Latour

PUTNAM —  Michael P. Latour, 53, of Sabin St., died Dec. 29, 2016, in his home.  Born in 1963 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Robert Latour, Sr. and Lillian (Corey) Latour.

Mr. Latour worked as a press operator for Green Rubber Company of Danielson.  He enjoyed riding motorcycles, golf and watching sports on television.

He leaves his sister, Patricia Gould of Putnam; nieces and nephews. Michael was predeceased by his brothers Robert Latour Jr., Harry Latour and his sister Joann Mayo.

Services for Michael will take place at a later date. Donations: NE CT Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Hospital, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Braylen T. O’Brien

PUTNAM — Braylen Thomas O’Brien, infant son of Justin P. O’Brien and Shayna A. (Gilman) Neeland of Daniel St., died Jan. 7, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital. He leaves his parents, a brother Aiden O’Brien of Taftville; a sister Payton Neeland of Putnam; paternal grandparents Thomas and Janice O’Brien of Central Village; maternal grandparents David and Susan Gilman of Putnam; and maternal great-grandparents Henry and Lorraine LaFountain of Webster.

The Funeral was private. Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

John C. Woehrman

WOODSTOCK — John C. Woehrman, 82, of Woodstock, husband of the late Carole P. (Berntson) Woehrman, died Jan. 5, 2017. He was born in Haverstraw, N.Y., son of the late Conrad and Florence (Williams) Woehrman. John retired from the New York State Police in 1977. He was the tax assessor of Woodstock, a security captain for Pinkerton Security and he finished his career as a special agent for the Department of Defense. 

He leaves three children: Kurt Woehrman of Putnam, Leigh Cashmore (Alan) of Cheshire and Scott Woehrman (Patricia) of Woodstock; two grandchildren: Amanda and Kevin Cashmore of Cheshire; a sister, Barbara Davis of Woodstock; his girlfriend, Marcy Groth of Sturbridge; nieces and nephews. 

Visitation was Jan. 9 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: Charity of one’s choice. 

 

Louis A.C. Tella

PUTNAM — Louis A. C. Tella, 50, of Putnam, died Jan. 5, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital.  He was born in Putnam, son of the late Anthony Tella and lived in Putnam most of his life.  He was a truck driver for Latourneau Trucking.  He leaves his wife of 26 years, Kellee J. (Marschall) Tella of Putnam; a son, Anthony Tella of Putnam; two daughters, Lauren Fierro of Lowell, Mass., and Brittney Tella of Putnam; a brother, Joseph Tella of Southbridge; five sisters, Theresa Chubbs of Delaware, Tina Doyle of Putnam, Anna Connely of Delaware, Jennifer Parmella of Southbridge and Jessica Foss of Maine; seven grandchildren; his mother Betty (Walls) Tella Edward of Southbridge. The Funeral Services set later.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster. 

 

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