Nancy R. Rauh

POMFRET CENTER — Nancy Rourke Rauh died May 8, 2017, after a battle with cancer. Nancy was born June 1, 1947, in Manchester, to Joseph A. and Greta (Torrence) Rourke. She graduated from Manchester High School and Saint Louis University with a degree in business. Prior to settling in Pomfret Center, she lived in Boston and St. Petersburg, Fla.

Nancy had a long career in retail and sales, recently retiring from Arett Sales where she sold lawn and garden supplies across southern New England. Her love of gardening extended beyond her work and she was an avid gardener. She improved the world in ways that went well beyond her beautiful gardens through her volunteer work, from helping Santa answer correspondence to helping build kitchens in a small village in Guatemala. 

Nancy loved to entertain, and was apt to invite strangers to dinner or a party. She also enjoyed travel, and recently took up kayaking and deep-sea fishing. She loved the beach, being out on the open water, and cooking. She loved talking with friends and family, arranging flowers, and walking on the Putnam River trail.

She leaves her husband of 39 years John; son Nicholas; daughter Anne; son-in-law Kellen Backer; granddaughter Greta; brother Joseph Rourke. Nancy was predeceased by her parents, son James, and brother James Rourke.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. May 12 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A Mass of Christian Burial will beat noon May 13 in Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial in Pomfret South Cemetery.

Donations: Hale Family YMCA, 9 Technology Park Dr., Putnam, CT 06260; or Partners in Development, Guatemala Program, 174 High St. #106, Ipswich, MA 01938. 

 

Edward W. Raymond

PUTNAM —  Edward William Raymond, 92, formerly of Sierra Vista, Ariz., died Feb. 15, 2017. He was the husband of the late Flora (Bushy) Raymond. They raised their family in Trumbull before retiring to Arizona.  Born in 1924 in Bridgeport, he was the son of the late Henry and Theresa (McCarthy) Raymond.

Edward was a graduate of UConn and worked as a civil engineer (later chief engineer) for DeFonce Construction Co. for 29 years, and as an estimator for Morganti Construction.  He was a communicant of St. Catherine of Sienna Roman Catholic Church in Trumbull, and St. Andrew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Sierra Vista.  He was an avid reader and bridge player.  He enjoyed singing and belonged to several choral groups in Arizona.

He leaves his children: D. Stephen Raymond (Beverly Block), Marie Raymond, Madelyn Raymond, Linda Garcia (Mike Bogdanski), and Lee Raymond (Kathy Yarmey); his grandchildren: Daniel Garcia (Shannon Peacock Garcia), Sara Garcia (Dan Gomes), and Michael Leslie.  He was predeceased by his sister Marie Raymond Roberts.

Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford, following a Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. May 15 at St. Catherine of Sienna. Donations: Sierra Vista Community Chorus Society, PO Box 2791, Sierra Visa AZ 85636. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Brenda M. Beshaw

WORCESTER — Brenda Mary Beshaw, 71, of Eastford, peacefully joined the Lord on April 10, 2017, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Born on June 26, 1945, she was the daughter of Richard and Hortense Courtois (Langlois), in Burlington, Vt. 

During her life, she worked for Linemaster Switch Co., Loos & Co. Inc., and Crabtree & Evelyn. Brenda enjoyed baking, crocheting, gardening, reading, listening to music, and trips to the casino. Brenda had a wonderful sense of humor. She was a proud member of the Eastford Elementary PTA, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and a Girl Scout Brownie leader. 

Brenda leaves her husband of 52 years, James Beshaw; children Lisa, Arthur, James, Derek, Brian, and Jennifer; three siblings Richard, Marcia and Timothy; 24 grandchildren.

 

Morgan E. Ross

DANIELSON — Morgan E. Ross, 13, of Danielson, died unexpectedly on May 2, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was born Jan. 1, 2004, daughter of Jessica (Ross) Norris and Chad Hyde. 

Morgan was full of life and could light up the room. She enjoyed singing, playing basketball and softball. She loved everything and everyone. She loved spending time with her family and her friends. 

She leaves her mother Jessica Norris; her father Chad Hyde;  her stepfather Brian Norris; grandparents Ralph and Kimberly Ross; her grandmother Susan Hyde; aunts Haley, Amy Ross;  uncle Ryan Labonte; her brother Adien Hyde; sisters Abigail Hyde and Peyton Norris; her stepsister Kayleigh Norris. 

Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Kathleen H. Bigras

N. WINDHAM — Kathleen H. Bigras, 84, of North Windham, formerly of Coventry, beloved wife of Percy E. Bigras, died March 20, 2017.

She was born on Jan. 31, 1933, in Putnam, daughter of Charles and Maude (Bodo) Pfouff.  

She leaves her daughters, Deborah and her husband, Donald MacNeil, Janice Scott, and Christina Bigras; her sister Beverly Baudin, her grandchildren Bobby Walter and Jodi Blanchette; four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Shirley Ryan Harris.  She was predeceased by her son-in-law Thomas Scott.  

A Mass of Christian Burial was held March 28 at St. Mary’s Church, Coventry.

 

Jean R. Greene

N. GROSVENORDALE — Jean R. Greene, 80, of N. Grosvenordale, died May 3, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. She was born Sept. 21, 1936, in Putnam, daughter of the late Leo and Florida (Raymond) Lemoine. 

She was married March 12, 1977,  in Webster, to Leslie Greene. He died Jan. 22, 1985. 

She loved her family. She enjoyed her Friday nights playing cards with family and friends. She also enjoyed trips to the casino to play bingo. She was an avid New England sports fan and a fan of UConn women’s basketball. Jean was a dairy manager for the A&P and Stop & Shop grocery stores. 

She leaves her children Robert Alves and his fiance Angela, Gary Alves (Anne), and Susan Larrow (Steven); her seven grandchildren Jessica Gerum, Kelly Alves, Danielle Wester, Laura Tota, Christopher Alves, Michael Adams, and Connor Adams; her five great-grandchildren Maya Gerum, Livia Gerum, Max Gerum, Isabella Wester, and Hudson Smith; her sisters Leona Espinosa of Brooklyn and Dorothy Trama (Peter) of Putnam. Besides her husband Leslie, she was predeceased by her siblings Arthur Lemoine, Leo Lemoine, Alice Pestana, Diane Orlowski, and Anais Salvas.

A Mass of Christian Burial was May 8 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in Grove Street Cemetery, Putnam. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Grace Marie Chatelle

KILLINGLY — Grace Marie Chatelle, 81, a lifelong resident of Killingly, died May 1, 2017, at home in Danielson. 

She was born on Feb. 16, 1936, in E. Killingly, daughter of the late Ralph and Vivian (Conrad) Shippee. She married Leo R. Chatelle Sr. on July 31, 1953. He died in 1998.

Grace worked for Hales Manufacturing for 20 years and then at Putnam Precision Molding for 10 years and then retiring.  She enjoyed walking and would walk about 5 miles every day. Grace loved animals and enjoyed feeding birds.

She leaves her four sons, Leo R. Chatelle Jr. (Debbie) of Dayville; Alan Chatelle (Cheryl) of Danielson; Donald W. Chatelle (Judy) of Danielson and Kyle Chatelle Sr. (Carol) of Moosup; a brother Ralph Shippee; grandchildren, Melissa Sposato; Stephanie Walters; Eric Chatelle; Ryan Chatelle; Kyle Chatelle Jr.; Tara Chatelle; Sadie Chatelle and Jonathan Chatelle; 11 great-grandchildren. Besides her husband Leo she was predeceased by a sister Gloria Belisle; a brother Fredrick Shippee and a grandson Nicholas Chatelle. 

Donations: Special Olympic C/O Leo Chatelle 32 Charlton Ave. Dayville, CT 06241.

A Graveside Service was May 10 at Westfield Cemetery, Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Daniel Smithwick Jr. 

BROOKLYN — Daniel G. Smithwick Jr., 95, died May 4, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of the late Gladys L. (Berggren) Smithwick and the late Shirley E. (Ahlberg) Smithwick.  Born in 1922 in Middletown, he was the son of the late Daniel G. Smithwick Sr. and Mabel E. (Anderson) Smithwick.

Mr. Smithwick graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Middletown and received a degree from the University of Hartford.  During WWII, he worked for the U.S. military installing the new invention, RADAR, at facilities in Canada and the USA. After WWII, he and his brother, Jack Smithwick, built houses in Middletown.  He then went on to teach electronics at the Ward School of Electronics on Niles Street in Hartford.  The Ward School became part of the University of Hartford where he was an associate professor until his retirement in 1978. During his early years in the electronics field, he worked for Joe’s Television and Appliance Store in Meriden where he repaired televisions and even made house calls.  After he retired, he and his second wife Shirley moved to Vermont.  They also had a second home on Cape Cod.  

In the late 1940s, Daniel had one of the first television sets in Middletown.  He invited friends and family to his home where he set up bleachers in his backyard for them to see the new invention by watching the broadcast of a prize fight.  

Daniel moved back to Connecticut in September of 2014.  He went to Pierce Baptist Memorial Nursing Home in Brooklyn in 2015, where he remained until going to Day Kimball Hospital on April 28, 2017.

He leaves his son, Daniel G. Smithwick III (Susan Eldridge Smithwick) of Eastford; his daughter, Pamela A. Benson (Charles) of Niantic; son in law Bernard Schnurbush of Middletown; five grandchildren Ryan Smithwick (Jennifer) of Lebanon, Kevin Smithwick and his fiancé Julie Sokoloski of Chaplin, Daniel Schnurbush (Barbara) of E. Wakefield, N.H., Brian Schnurbush of Portland, and Brenda Schnurbush of Middletown; and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother John “Jack” Smithwick and his wife Helen; and his daughter Diane L. Schnurbush. 

Per his wishes, there will be no services. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Timothy Cram,

Air Force vet

LEICESTER, Mass. — Timothy Frank Cram, 49, of Leicester died unexpectedly April 7, 2017, at his home.  Timothy was born in Worcester, the son of the late Charles Dennis Cram and Virginia Eileen (Richardson). He lived most his life in Spencer, Mass., and Leicester.

He graduated from David Prouty High School in Spencer. He served in the Air Force from 1985 to 1989 as a financial management specialist achieving the rank of Staff Sgt. He graduated from Assumption College with a bachelor’s in business. Tim was a long-term accounting comptroller and was currently employed by the U.S. Air Force.  

He leaves his mother Virginia Eileen (Richardson) Cram of North Carolina; sister: Eileen and Troy Kane of Massachusetts; brothers: Bernard and Patrice Cram of the Woodstock area, Christopher Cram of Massachusetts, Steven and Kim Cram of Maryland, Charles and Kathleen Cram of North Carolina, David and Sue Cram of Massachusetts, Jeffrey and Erin Cram of New Hampshire. Funeral Services were private with military honors at North Carolina Veterans Cemetery. Donations: United Service Organizations. www.uso.org. Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel.

 

Colin Dalrymple,

Korean war vet

DUDLEY — Colin O. Dalrymple, 85, died unexpectedly April 27, 2017, in Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge. He was born and raised in Southbridge, the son of the late Edgar “Lee” Dalrymple and Olive (Hands) Dalrymple. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving in the Korean war.

In his younger years, he worked as a carpenter and part-time auxiliary firefighter in the Webster/Dudley area. He later worked at Norton’s in Worcester for 28 years, retiring in 1994.  He would often reminisce with his children and grandchildren of his time in the Navy, grateful for his comrades and the opportunity to see the world.  He loved camping and the beaches in Rhode Island, spending many summers there and always would say as we’d get closer, “Can you smell the ocean yet?” Sitting around the campfire at night he would recite with great enthusiasm old cowboy songs and stories. In his later years, his passion was grocery shopping and going out to eat.  

He leaves his wife of 61 years Nancy A. (Meagher) Dalrymple; three children, Carol A. Kosth of Charlton, Jean A. Sergel of Putnam, and Glenn E. Dalrymple (Lisa) of Millbury, Mass.; five grandchildren: Brian Sergel, Amanda Casey (Paul), Matthew Dalrymple; Zachary Dalrymple (Ashley), and Colin Kosth; four great-grandchildren. Donations: Paralyzed Veterans, New Hampshire. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

William Fikter

WEBSTER — William E. Fikter, 51, of Webster, died April 27, 2017, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester.

He was born in Mendota, Ill., son of the late Sharon (Works) Renaud, and lived in Woonsocket before moving to Webster in the late ‘80s.  He was a barber and a school bus driver.  His passions were art, origami and punk rock. He leaves a son, Michael Moniz of Springfield, Mass.; a daughter, Autumn Rose Fikter of Webster; four brothers, Christopher Fikter of Putnam, Vincent Pendleton of Webster, Daniel Fikter of Bardstown, Ky., and Joshua Fikter of Louisville, Ky; his father, Dennis Fikter of Hope, Ky. A Celebration of Life was May 7.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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