Joseph R. Basinet,

WWII vet

PUTNAM —  Joseph Roland Basinet, 89, of Mill St., died March 31, 2017, in Westview Nursing Home.  He was the husband of the late Elizabeth M. (Gubala) Basinet whom he married June 13, 1953, in St. Stanislaus Church.  His brother-in-law, Reverend Theodore Gubala, performed the ceremony.  Born June 1, 1927, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Philias and Josephine (Gagnier) Basinet.

Mr. Basinet graduated from Putnam High School in 1945 and Arnold College in 1951.  He received his master’s from Boston University in 1969.  He was a teacher, athletic director and camp director.  He was the recipient of the 1993 Distinguished Service Award from the New England Prep School Athletic Council that read “to an individual who has contributed significantly to New England Independent School athletics through enthusiasm, dedication, leadership and vision.”  Mr. Basinet taught science and was athletic director at the Fessenden School in W. Newton, Mass., for 40 years.  He was also connected with their day camp for 28 years.  He was involved in camping in different capacities at St. Mary’s Camp in N. Woodstock, Adirondack Camp in Glenburnie, N.Y., Robin Hood Camp in Segwick, Maine, River’s Day Camp in Weston, Mass., and Mount St. John School in Deep River.  Mr. Basinet also served on the Board of Finance in the Town of Putnam from 1998-2003.

Mr. Basinet was a Seaman 1st Class in the U.S. Navy during WWII.  He was the recipient of the Asiatic Pacific Medal, American Theatre Award and the Victory Medal.  He was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.

Joseph leaves his children, Michelle Ruscito, Claire Markow, Elaine Peters, Doreen Colburn (David) and Matthew Basinet (Nina); eight grandchildren, Jim Colburn, Jacqueline Peters, Nicole Markow, Jessica Peters, Eric Markow, Katelyn Peters, Jack Roland Basinet, and Anna Rose Basinet; and one great-grandson, Jacobi Rawls.  Joseph was predeceased by three brothers, Phillip Basinet, Antonio Basinet, and Albert Basinet; and his sister, Marie Aldea Basinet.

The Mass of Christian Burial was April 5 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Burial will take place at a later date in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Meriden. 5 Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

John Chambers

PUTNAM — John H. Chambers, 96, of Putnam, died March 27, 2017, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. He was the husband of the late Marion (Miller) Chambers. 

He leaves his son Larry Chambers (Nancy) of Putnam;  grandchildren Kim, John, Carly, Todd, and Kelly; great-grandchildren.

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

 

J. ‘Dicky’ Lamontagne

N. GROSVENORDALE —  Jean “Dicky” R. Lamontagne, 74, of Elliot Hill Rd, died March 28, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Theresa (Houle) Lamontagne.  Born in 1942 in at home in Woodstock, he was the son of the late Armand and Rita (Denno) Lamontagne.

 On July 31, 1965, at Sacred Heart Church in Southbridge, he was united in marriage to the former Theresa Houle.

Mr. Lamontagne worked for more than 52 years as a molder and foreman at Fiberglass Fabrications, Inc., in Smithfield, R.I. He was a member of the Cargill Council Knights of Columbus in Putnam, lifetime member of Thompson Little League, and was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale. He enjoyed fishing, family vacations, and bird watching. He was an avid sports fan for the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and the Boston Bruins. Dicky will be remembered by all for his infectious smile and kind heart. 

He leaves his wife of 51 years Theresa; a son Mark Lamontagne (Karen) of N. Grosvenordale; two brothers Armand Lamontagne of Woodstock and Robert Lamontagne of Woodstock; two sisters Jeanne Williamson of Woodstock and Irene Cote of Danielson; his two granddaughters Lexie “Bones” and Katie “Pipsqueak. ”He was predeceased by four brothers Michael, Ernest, Norman, and David Lamontagne and a sister Arlene Syriac.

The Mass of Christian Burial was April 1 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Thompson Little League Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 501, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. 

 

Mabel Harris

POMFRET CENTER — Mabel (Slye) Harris, 86, of Hampton Rd., died March 30, 2017, at home.  She was the wife of the late Ray V. Harris Jr. They were united in marriage at her parents’ home on July 14, 1951.  Born in 1930 in Southbridge, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Phoebe (Franklin) Slye.

Mrs. Harris was a registered nurse for Dr. Harry Eaton.  She was a member of the Abington Congregational Church where she was on the Board of Deacons. She was a member of the Women’s Guild, and a Den Mother for Boy Scouts of America and was a Girl Scout Leader.  She enjoyed reading, bowling, ceramics, traveling with her family and doing crossword puzzles.  

She leaves her son, Ray Harris (Linda) of Pomfret Center; daughter, Christine Harris of Pomfret Center; brothers, Thomas C. Slye of Pomfret, Frank G. Slye of Pomfret, and James A. Slye (Marian) of S. Windsor; her sister in-law, Anita L. Brock of Putnam; her grandchildren, Tamara L. Harris of Pomfret, Tonya R. St. Marie (Kurt) of Killingly, Trisha M. Franklin (Ryan) of Cromwell, Ray V. Harris IV (Stephanie) of Bristol, Kellie L. Kirsch of Texas, and Karrie E. Bourquin of Texas; her great-grandchildren, Kendra N. St. Marie of Killingly, and Zachary A. Harris of Bristol. 

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. April 22 in Abington Cemetery in Abington. Donations: Ray V. Harris Jr., Memorial Trust Fund, c/o Pomfret Town Hall, 5 Haven Rd., Pomfret Center, CT 06259.  Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

David S. Peterson

PUTNAM — David S. Peterson, 54, of Providence Pike, died on April 2, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Cynthia (Jordan) Peterson.  Born in 1962 in Putnam, he was the son of Anne Kathleen (Shaw) Peterson and the late Stanley E. Peterson Jr.

David was a 1981 graduate of Putnam High School. He worked as an auto mechanic for the Traveler Shell Station in Dayville and was an avid fan of NASCAR.  He was a fervent outdoorsman enjoying fishing, animals and birds.  “He loved all animals and they loved him.”  David was the kind of person that children would flock to, they felt comfortable in his presence. 

In addition to his wife Cynthia and his mother Ann Kathleen, he leaves his daughter, Meaghan Plaza (Rick) of Thompson; his brothers, James Peterson (Jean) of Dayville, and Andrew Peterson (Sue) of Putnam; his brother in-law, Peter Jordan of Putnam; his sister in-laws, Sandra Kallio of Putnam, and Susan Jordan of Claremont, N.H.; nieces and nephews, Alyssa and Ryan Peterson, Brittany Kallio, Raymond Jordan and Ashley Jordan.  He was predeceased by his nephew, Brian Kallio.

Visitation is from 9:30 to 10 a.m. April 6 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A funeral service will take place at 10 in the funeral home followed by burial in Munyan Cemetery. Donations: Pet Pals Northeast, P.O. Box 64, Plainfield, CT 06374. 

 

Jean Johnson

Jean Louise (Nelson) Johnson died March 30, 2017.

She was born Dec. 29, 1929 in East Hampton, daughter of William and Lillian (Moard) Nelson.

Her perseverance was legendary. At the age of 75 she survived a house fire thanks to God and Putnam firefighters.  Even her subsequent leg amputation did not stop her indomitable spirit; a mere three days after the surgery, she was hopping down the hallway with her walker eager to get out of rehab.  Her sense of humor she maintained throughout life’s ups and downs.  Once, she said: “Sometimes I feel like I have one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave.”  When it was kindly pointed out to her that she had only one foot, she roared with laughter.  In spite of her losses, she embraced these “handicaps” with her great sense of humor.  She often joked saying: “I guess God is taking me to heaven little by little.”  Her nickname was “Jeanie, Jeanie the Dancing Machiney.”

She enjoyed her cups of coffee and a smoke with her smoking buddies.  Christmas and Halloween were her favorite holidays.  She delighted in dressing up to spook the trick or treaters.

Jeanie was a rebel and hell on wheels (literally).  She loved to live life on her own terms and she was a determined woman.  As an avid football fan, this past Super Bowl she made a sign reading “Go Falcons!” and attached it to the back of her wheelchair parading up and down the hallways.  Mom was a quirky, spirited woman.  Red was her color, which is fitting because she was so full of life and fun.  

She leaves four children from her former and predeceased husband, Donald Johnson: her son, Carl Johnson of Mesa, Ariz.; and daughters, Corinne Mullen of Vernon, Laura Noble of Boynton Beach, Fla.; and Karen Barylski of Putnam; grandchildren: Dustin Mullen, Zachary and Eric Johnson, and Mitchel and Nathan Barylski; sister, Joan Bellanceau of Putnam.  She was predeceased by six brothers; Ronnie, Francis, Robert, Donald, John, and Frederick Nelson. 

She will be cremated and her remains will be buried with her mother, Lilian Nelson, at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  www.stjude.org. Gilman - Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

George Walter

DANIELSON — George Walter died March 20,2017.

He was born Nov. 13, 1939.

He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years Dorothy. He leaves three daughters, Cynthia Deslongchamps (Scott), Debbie Jarvis and Paula Bush; four grandchildren, Michael Frederick (Amanda), April, Daniel and Becky Martin and five great-grandchildren; friends Lot and Joel Frederick and Anna Martineau. 

 

Walter E. Humes,

WWII vet

DANIELSON — Walter E. Humes, 89, died March 27, 2017, at Davis Place in Danielson. 

He was born in Hartford, son of the late Harold Humes and Luella M. (Rockwood) Humes and lived here most of his life.  He was a WWII U.S. Army veteran and enjoyed cars and wood carving.  Baptized in 1957, he was a member of the Danielson Congregation of the Jehovah Witnesses. 

He leaves his wife June M. (Lum) Humes; a son, Alan E. Humes (Kathy) of Dayville; a daughter Charlotte Humes of Rhode island; three grandchildren.  He was predeceased by a daughter, Sandra Humes, and by two sisters, Grace and Dorothy.

Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Arlene Talbot

PUTNAM — Arlene R. (Piltzecker) Talbot, 85, died March 28, 2017. 

She was the wife of the late Alfred Talbot Sr. 

She was born in Worcester, daughter of the late John and Gladys (Barbour) Piltzecker and lived in Putnam most of her life.  She enjoyed going to the casino. 

She leaves two sons, Alfred Talbot Jr. and Alan Talbot, both of Putnam; four daughters, Susan Johnson of N. Grosvenordale, Joanne Ricci of Apache Junction, Ariz.,  Deborah L. Miller of Coventry and Linda Moseley of Putnam; 10 grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren.

Services were private. Donations: Day Kimball Hospice.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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