Maurice J. Coderre,

Korean war vet

PUTNAM — Maurice J. Coderre, 86, of Putnam, died March 11, 2017, after a long illness. He was the husband of Marion (Prince) Coderre. She died in 2003. 

He was born June 2, 1930, in Thompson, son of Roland and Noella (Chaput) Coderre. He was a veteran of the Korean war, serving with the U.S. Army.

 After the death of his daughter Beth Ann Coderre in 2003, he raised and cared for his grandson Simon Coderre like a son. Maurice had a great love for animals and loved caring for his birds. 

He worked as a plumber at Belding Heminway Mill for many years in Putnam.

 He leaves his grandson Simon Coderre of Putnam; his sister Pierrette Bernier of Webster; two brothers Paul Coderre of Thompson and Raymond Coderre of Jackson, Wy.; and a great-grandson. He was predeceased by his wife and daughter, his sister Jeannine Pratt; his brother Edgar Coderre. 

The Funeral will be at 10 a.m. March 17 from the Smith and Walker Funeral home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial with military honors in the spring in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Day Kimball Hospice or the Day Kimball Homemakers, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.

 

Richard Lemieux Jr.

DAYVILLE — Richard Paul Lemieux Jr., 28 of Dayville, fell asleep in the arms of our Lord on Oct. 22, 2016. 

Richard was born Jan. 21, 1988, in Putnam. He attended Brooklyn Elementary School then later Griswold High.

He worked different jobs through his life, from Carpentry in the Local 24 Carpenters Union and Mechanics, where he owned and operated his business Couga’s LLC in Griswold. He was a great artist and loved drawing. He loved hanging out with friends, riding his skateboard and his BMX bikes. Richard had a passion for cars and anything with a motor. 

He is the son of Colleen Campbell of Willimantic, and Richard Lemieux Sr. (Christine) of Plainfield, a brother Christopher Lemieux of Houston. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. April 8 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Gladys Ekman

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Gladys Ernestine (Withers) Ekman, 93, formerly of Woodstock, died peacefully March 9, 2017, at her assisted living home at Sunrise Senior Living in Rockville.

Gladys was born April 9, 1923, at Georgetown University Hospital, to Ernest Arthur and Elsie (Vaughan) Withers. She and her family lived in Florida, New York, until 1934, when they moved to Woodstock. Gladys graduated from Woodstock Academy in 1940. She was married to Kenneth Theodore Ekman on July 25, 1943. 

Gladys worked at Stillwater Worsted Company from 1940 to 1946. Her son Robert James Ekman was born on Feb. 13, 1947, and Gladys worked part-time house cleaning jobs while raising her son. She began full time work again at Linemaster Switch Corporation in Woodstock in 1968, assembling electrical switches, and she remained there until her retirement in 1985, shortly after her husband Kenneth died April 8, 1985.

Gladys lived independently in Woodstock most of the rest of her life, until in 2013, after a brief illness, she moved to Sunrise Senior Living in Rockville, to be close to her son Robert and his family.

She leaves one sister, Sarah Hooker (Withers); one brother, William Withers, as well as her son Robert, two grandsons, Daniel and Eric and one great-grandson, Elias Kai Ekman. Gladys was predeceased by three sisters, Marjorie Potter, Gwendolyn Potter and Dorothy Szarkowicz, as well as one brother, Ernest Withers.

Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. March 16 followed by a Memorial Service at 11 at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Burial will be held in the spring in Central Cemetery in Woodstock. Donations: Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. 

 

Mildred L. Hebert

KILLINGLY — Mildred L. Hebert, 91, of Killingly, died March 10, 2017, at Westview Nursing Home in Dayville. 

She was born May 14, 1925, in Rogers, daughter of the late Peter and Anna (Wolak) Stahecki. She married Adelard J. Hebert on Sept. 15, 1951. He died Feb. 25, 1999.

Mildred was a communicant of St. Joseph Church, Dayville. She enjoyed the outdoors. Mildred worked at several local companies and retired in 1988 from the Acme Corp in Dayville. She was a member of the Oak Lodge Union #46 of Rogers Corp.

She leaves her son Gregory Hebert; grandchildren Caitlin Hebert, Corey Hebert and Carissa Beshaw (Alex); her great-granddaughter Penelope Beshaw; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by all her siblings: John, Joseph, Frank, Freddie, Peter, Mary, Frances, Stella and Sophie.

Visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. March 16 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church on Hartford Pike, Dayville, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson.

 

Sandra W. Houle

DANIELSON —  Sandra W. (Jacobs) Houle, 69, of Prospect Ave., died March 7, 2017, at Hartford Hospital. She was the wife of Roy L. Houle. 

Born in 1947 in Derry, N.H., she was the daughter of the late John Jacobs and Beatrice (Hill) Sawyer. Sandra was united in marriage to Roy L. Houle on Aug. 1, 1975.

Mrs. Houle worked for many years at various shoe factories in New Hampshire prior to moving to the local area where she was employed at Colony Corporation as a window blind assembler.

Sandra enjoyed spending time with her family and was affectionately known as their Nana and Nano. 

She enjoyed shooting pool, playing pitch in the Danielson VFW league, and crocheting blankets for her family and friends.

She leaves her husband of 42 years Roy L. Houle; a son Michael R. Johnson (Michelle) of Danielson; four daughters Rolanda Charron (Alfred) of Putnam, Tiffany Charron (Steve) of Florida, Michele Vandale (Richard) of Dayville, and Melissa Perkins of Brooklyn; a brother Robert of Vermont; five sisters Elsie, Dorothy, and Kathy all of New Hampshire, and Rosemary and Jeannine both of North Carolina; 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by several brothers and sisters.

A Graveside Service will be at 11 a.m. March 16 in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. 

Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

 

Marjorie M. Shay

E. KILLINGLY —  Marjorie (Thomas) Shay, 82, died March 6, 2017, in UMass Hospital University Campus.  She was the wife of the late Robert C. Shay who died in 2013. Born in 1935 in Markleysburg, Penn., she was the daughter of the late Reverend Earl H. Thomas and Iva Myrtle (Laraway) Thomas.

Mrs. Shay worked as a bottle packer for Knox Glass and Glass Container.  She enjoyed bowling, going to Foxwood Casino, playing the piano and organ, especially church hymns.  

She leaves her children, Douglas E. Shay of Taylor, Texas, Babette Cummings of E. Killingly, Randy C. Shay of E. Killingly, and Robert T. Shay of E. Killingly; her brother, Blaine L. Thomas of Monaca, Penn.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, Elmer P. Thomas; and her sister, Ruth E. Fearer. 

The Funeral Service was March 11 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

..