Henry G. Gregory,

Marine vet

PUTNAM — Henry G. Gregory, 60, of Breault St., died April 22, 2017, unexpectedly while working.  He was the husband of Heidi (Gorey) Gregory.  Born in 1956 in Danbury, he was the son of the late Paul and Harriet (Schaniel) Gregory.

Mr. Gregory was a graduate of Youngsville High School class of 1974 in Youngsville, Penn.; after graduation Henry enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corp and served with them until being honorably discharged in 1979. He worked more than 36 years as a tractor trailer driver for IBA, Inc. of Millbury, Mass. 

He was a member of the NRA.   Henry was an avid NASCAR fan and always enjoyed learning something new.  Henry enjoyed taking his 66 Chevelle to car shows, especially the Tri-State Cruisers on Saturday nights.  He was extremely proud of his 1948 Indian Chief motorcycle that he rebuilt from the ground up.  Henry took several first-place trophies with it in Springfield, Mass. 

He leaves his wife, Heidi (Gorey) Gregory;  a brother Lance Gregory and his fiancé Lisa of Putnam; a sister Mary Lou Stanton of Virginia; sisters- in-laws Ruth Gregory of Danbury, Peggy Purdon of Putnam, Judith White of Moosup, and Jo-Anne Joslin (Alan) of Putnam; a special nephew Tim Gregory, close friends P.J. Daigle and Robert Levesque. He was predeceased by a brother Paul Gregory Jr. 

Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. May 13 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a service in the funeral home at 4. Donations: Washington Animal Rescue League, 71 Oglethorpe St., NW, Washington, DC 20011; or the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. 

 

Paul L. Grocki,

Vietnam war vet

PUTNAM — Paul L. Grocki, 69, of Ballou St. formerly of Moosup, died April 29, 2017, at home.  He was the husband of Joan (Moran) Grocki.  Born in 1947 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Stanley and Ellen (Coderre) Grocki.

Mr. Grocki was a veteran of the Vietnam war serving with the U.S. Army. He worked for many years for Staples NAD in Putnam as a picker.

Paul enjoyed playing baseball in his younger years, going to Foxwoods Resort and Casino, watching pro wrestling, attending the “Doo Wops” concerts. He was a guitar player for the group the Minute Men, and an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, UConn men’s basketball, and the New England Patriots. 

He leaves his wife; a son Jeffrey Grocki (Kerri) of Killingly; a daughter Stephanie Hynes (Brennan) of Brooklyn; a stepson Richard S. Gogan and his partner Monica of Danielson; a stepdaughter Pamela Jenkins (Kyle) of Yulee, Fla.; two siblings Thomas Grocki of Central Village and Catherine Lane (Edward) of Moosup; six grandchildren Ella, Braeden, Emma, Wesley, Stefanie, and Tasha; a great-granddaughter Zoe. He was predeceased by a grandson, Kellen. 

The Graveside Service is at 11 a.m. May 6 in St. John Cemetery, Norwich Rd., Plainfield with military honors. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. Donations: Hospice of Hartford Healthcare, 999 Asylum Ave., Suite 504, Hartford, CT 06103. 

 

Priscilla C. Cady

WOODSTOCK — Priscilla C. Cady, 83, of Woodstock died April 23, 2017, at Davis Place, Danielson. She was the wife of Charles H. Cady. They were married in October of 1954. Born Dec. 6, 1933, in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Franklin and Bertha (Dodge) Converse. 

She was a member of the East Woodstock Congregational Church, where she served on many committees. She was a 1952 graduate of Elizabeth Ollis School of Cosmetology in Worcester. She worked for Louis Bregouis Beauty Salon in Southbridge and Barnard Putnam and Sumner Hair Salon in Worcester. She inherited a strong work ethic from her parents and worked as librarian at the May Library in E. Woodstock, the Woodstock School and North Woodstock libraries until her retirement in 2013 due to illness. Priscilla was known for her love of gardening, her extreme dedication in helping her patrons with their needs, books, reading and when her eyes no longer allowed her to read, listening to audio books.

She leaves her husband of 62 years Charles; son Charles Cady (Aulikki) of Woodstock, granddaughter Annina Keegan (John) of Chicago; grandson Alex of Woodstock; brothers Frank Converse (Patsy) of Woodstock and John Converse (Judy) of Woodstock. 

Burial will be at a later date in East Woodstock Cemetery. Donations: North Woodstock Library, 1286 CT-169, Woodstock, CT 06281. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Theresa Labonte

N. GROSVENORDALE — Theresa (Trudeau) Labonte, 99, died April 24, 2017, at Matulaitis Nursing Home, Putnam. 

She was a proud lifelong resident of N. Grosvenordale. She was born in 1917 to Antonio Houle and Victoria (Larochelle) Houle and was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale.  She had a special fondness for the Blessed Virgin Mary; her 4-foot handmade rosaries of pearls and 1-inch roses adorned the Blessed Virgin on the altar at St. Joseph Church for more than 30 years. She attended St. Joseph Grammar School and, as it often happened in those days, immediately went off the work in the North Grosvenordale Mills, proudly attaining the title of “floor lady”.  She later worked at Bates Shoe in Webster until her retirement in 1979.  

Theresa married Rosario “Red” Trudeau at St. Joseph Church in 1937.  The train of her satin wedding dress was cut to make a baptismal gown for her children, and was then used 15 more times by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Circa 1940, Rosario started R. W. Trudeau & Heating. Son Charles Sr. continued the business as C. R. Trudeau Plumbing & Heating.  Charles, Jr. continues the now-third generation business today.  Rosario died in 1969. Theresa was later married to Roger Labonte from 1976 until his death in 1997.

Memere leaves her grandson, main caregiver and the light of her life, Charles R. Trudeau Jr.; seven additional grandchildren: Denise Harkins, Michael Trudeau and Kathy Bowen, all of Thompson area, Dale Para of Oxford, Mass., Lynn Para Dartmouth, Mass., Linda Marion of Hubbardston, Mass., and Sandra Guay of Webster; 11 great-grandchildren: Candis Labby, Cayla Trudeau, Taylor Rose Trudeau, Victoria Mungham-Trudeau, Trevor Vogel, Stephanie Vogel, Nicholas Trudeau, Cody Trudeau, Margaret Bowen, Andrew Guay and Danni Marion great-great-grandchildren: Damian Bakerlis, Deken Labby and Dmetri Labby. She also leaves her daughter, Loretta Para (Edward) of Webster. Her son, Charles R. Trudeau, died in 1996, at age 53.

The Mass of Christian Burial was May 2 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial later in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Road, Putnam, CT 06260.  Also, please take some time to visit a friend or family member at a nursing home …like Memere once said, “Visiting makes a difference in a person”. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

N. ‘Metz’ Santerre

QUINEBAUG — Norbert “Metz” Santerre, 82, of Quinebaug Rd., died April 25, 2017, in UMass Memorial Hospital.  Born in 1934 in Thompson, he was the son of the late Eugene and Alberta (Grenier) Santerre.

Mr. Santerre worked for the Town of Thompson for many years in the highway department in the roles as foreman, equipment and landfill operator.  Metz also enjoyed working at both the Nichols Golf Course and the Thompson Raceway and Golf Course.

Metz was an avid fan of car racing. Playing softball in his younger years, he also enjoyed watching the Red Sox and the Patriots.  Other hobbies included fishing, camping, car shows, meeting the guys at the coffee shop.  

He leaves his son, Mark Santerre (Maria) of N. Grosvenordale; two brothers Leon Santerre and Maurice Santerre both of N. Grosvenordale; a sister Irene Harvanek of Webster; two granddaughters Amanda Santerre of Worcester, and Lauren Santerre of N. Grosvenordale; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers Rene Santerre, Richard Santerre, and Gerry Santerre and two sisters Cecile Santerre and Theresa Auger. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was May 1 in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Webster. Donations: Fresenius Kidney Care Freedom Center of Worcester, 1 Innovation Dr., Suite 100, Worcester, MA 01605. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

 

Mae S. Vandall

Mae S. Vandall died April 27, 2017, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam after a 12-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Born Mae Louise Stone on Aug. 19, 1925, she was the only daughter of Charles and Amy (Harrington) Stone.

She graduated in 1943 from Killingly High School, and worked at Acme Cotton where she rolled bandages for the war effort and also at Putnam News. It was here that she met Raynold A. Vandall. They were married on Aug. 23, 1945, in St. Anne’s Church in Ballouville. They had two daughters, Linda Lee and Kathleen Joy. She worked for a time on second shift at Willimantic Thread and later at Fisher’s Big Wheel near her home in E. Brooklyn. 

After 46 years of marriage, Ray died after battling many forms of cancer. In addition, she was predeceased by her two brothers Roy and Claude Stone. In addition to her two daughters, she leaves Linda’s husband, Michael F. Clements of Putnam, and their children, Kenneth of Germany, Jeffrey of Dayville, Brenda Joubert of Dayville; Kathy’s son, Nathan Pelletier and her daughter April Hartling (Gerry) of Marlboro, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Melanie Clements of Germany, Cherilyn Clements of Killingly, Trent Joubert-Clements of Brooklyn, Trista Joubert Provost of Brooklyn, Amalia Hartling of Marlboro and Sebastian Pelletier; three great-great-granddaughters: Cherilyn’s daughters, Ava and Rylee; and Trista’s daughter, Dakota Mae. 

Mae wished to be cremated. Burial will be private. Donations: Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Bruce A. Brooker

DANIELSON — Bruce A. Brooker, 50, died April 14, 2017, at home having lost his battle with cancer with metastatic melanoma. Bruce was born in Putnam, and lived most of his life in the town of Killingly, having attended  Killingly public schools. He leaves his fiancé, Lydia King Lagerberg of Danielson; his mother Genevieve (Alexander) Brooker of Danielson; his brothers, Bill Brooker of Danielson and Brian Brooker of Vermont; his sons, Jeremy and Seth Brooker of Danielson; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.  Bruce is predeceased by his father Norbert Brooker, his brother Craig Brooker and several aunts and an uncle.

Bruce’s passions included photography, hiking and music —most especially music of the Grateful Dead.  A self proclaimed “Dead Head” and “hippie” he practiced love and kindness and that is what he wished for everyone. Bruce was a beacon of light wherever he went. He didn’t give up on friends and family and helped many a friend through tough times. His consideration and respect of others along with his underlying love of his family and friends was second to none. 

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. May 7 at Hurricane Farm, 65 on Kasacek Road, Scotland. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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