Richard Allen  Cole

DANIELSON — Richard Allen Cole of Danielson, died July 6, 2017, after a battle with cancer over the past year. He is the son of the late Helen Pfleger and husband of Carol Cole.

He was born July 25, 1950 in Brooklyn, N.Y., the second of 10 children. Richie attended Jersey City State college. He was director of warehousing for Finast Distribution Center, C&S Wholesale Grocers and Stop & Shop Company. He also worked hard to own his own warehouse as well as spending time in local politics.  He was a lifelong Yankees fan who enjoyed playing as well as watching games at the stadium. He spent many hours at the beach, as well as traveling and sight-seeing.  He will be remembered for his sense of humor, strong work ethic, the kindness he offered family and friends, along with his enduring character. 

He leaves Carol, his wife of 26 years; siblings; Linda, Ralph, Billy, Judy, David, and Patty; his children; Janine (Cole) Liddell, Bruce Ratti, Lynne Cole, Darcy Ratti, Stephanie (Cole) Charette, Brian Cole, Mike Cole, and Harley Fahey; grandchildren Alexis, Donovan, Hailey, Nathan, Autumn, Collin, Amera, William, Shiloh, Jaxon, and Jameson. He was predeceased by his mother and siblings Robert, Harold, and Roy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. July 23 at the Putnam Elks Lodge 64 Edmond St, Putnam.  Donations:  Lustgarten Foundation, Lustgarten.org, 415 Crossways Park Drive Suite, Woodbury, NY or FridaysRescueFoundation.org. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Anita J. Lambert

PUTNAM — Anita J. (Perreault) Lambert, 89, of Gilman St., died July 4, 2017, at Matulaitis Nursing Home.  She was the wife of the late Albert Lambert.  Born in 1928 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Edmond and Arlene Rose (Fortin) Perreault.

Mrs. Lambert was a warehouse worker for American Optical and was also a stitcher for Putnam Woolen and a machine operator for St. Jean Combing.

Anita enjoyed reading, watching television, and doing word search puzzles; and was a communicant at St. Mary Church.

She leaves her stepson, Louis G. Lambert (Ruth) of Glendale, R.I.; two grandchildren, Bruce Courtemanche and Lisa Thriverge; and three great-grandchildren, Evan Thiverge, Kimberly Courtemanche, and James Wood. She was predeceased by her stepdaughter Shirley Pace and three sisters.

The Mass of Christian Burial was July 8 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Eleanor C. Foster

QUINEBAUG — Eleanor C. (Gentili) Foster, 89, formerly of Poulin Dr., died July 4, 2017, at Hartford Hospital.  She was the wife of the late Arville D. Foster.  Born in 1928 in Cambridge, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Edith (Menkello) Gentili.

Eleanor worked for many years as an inspector for American Optical. In her younger years she was employed at a publishing company in Dallas where she use to reside.

Eleanor enjoyed traveling with her sister and brother-in-law Elaine and Bob, crocheting, and her pet Schnauzer Sheena. Displaying her handiwork at local craft fairs and sharing her crafts with her friends as gifts brought her much joy. She was a member and past president of the Putnam Senior Citizens.

She leaves three sisters Rose Angelo of Webster, Maizie Gelineau of Wallingford, and Elaine Boulanger of Northborough, Mass.;  nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother Arthur Gentili Jr.

A Prayer Service was held July 10 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Tribute Program, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or the Humane Society, 2100 L St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037. 

 

Mary Ann Freelove

WOODSTOCK — Mary Ann Freelove, 90, of Woodstock, died July 5, 2017, in Webster. She was born on Feb. 13, 1927, in Woodstock, daughter of the late Antoni and Joanna (Karnas) Gwizdala. She was the wife of Vernon R. Freelove. They were married July 24, 1948 in Putnam.

Mary loved flowers and enjoyed gardening. She retired from Colt’s Plastic as an inspector.

Mary leaves her husband Vernon R. Freelove of Woodstock; her sister Josephine Urich of Spencer, Mass.; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Victoria Reich, Nellie Kata, Antoni Gwizdala and Michael Gwizdala.

A Graveside Service will be at 11 a.m. July 14 in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Dudley. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Rachel Lemay

BROOKLYN — Rachel Lemay, 94, of Brooklyn, died July 3, 2017, at home. She was born Dec. 22, 1922, in Northumberland, N.H., daughter of the late Floyd and Pearl (Carter) Manosh.  Her husband Adelard “Chief” Lemay predeceased her. Rachel previously lived in Enosburg Falls, Vt., and Dudley.

Rachel went to Haverhill High School and later worked at Chester Arthur’s Birthplace Museum in Fairfield, Vt., and at Douglastown Textile Mill in Douglas.  She loved to travel with Barbara Manosh, and Ski and Mary Kalafarski. As a daycare provider she loved and took special care of Shelley and Jay Paradee of Vermont, and Kayla and Eddy Carvalho, and Sarah and Michael Patrylak of Brooklyn. 

She leaves behind her son, Robert Lemay of Putnam; sister Avis Anderson (Robert) of Vermont; grandchildren William Lemay and Kimberly Lemay; several great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Linda Lemay, brother Robert Manosh and special friend Joan Payne. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Luke Gendreau Jr.

SPRING HILL, Fla. — Luke O. Gendreau Jr., 82, of Spring Hill, formerly of Danielson, died unexpectedly July 2, 2017, at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the husband of Laura K. Gendreau for 63 years. They were married July 3, 1954. Born Nov. 21, 1934, in Danielson, son of the late Luke Sr. and Mabel (Clements) Gendreau.

Luke was a 1952 graduate of Killingly High School. 

He had a lifelong career in sales, starting with Rupert Knickerbocker, S.C. Johnson and Sons, and culminated his career with 30 years at Delta Rubber Company.  

A long-standing and dedicated member of the Danielson Elks BPOE 1706, Past Exalted Ruler 1965/1966, and Past District Deputy CT East 1978/1979. He owned the Sportsman Tavern, a local Danielson establishment in the late 1950s. Luke was certainly the life of the party, a legendary storyteller, an avid golfer and enjoyed his trips to the casinos.

Besides his wife Laura he leaves his children: Bette Slater (Robert) of Brooklyn, Donna Horrigan (Craig) of Suffield, Deborah Gendreau-Flynn (Rolly) of Winthrop, Mass.; and Luke S. Gendreau and his significant other Jaime Friske of Leominster, Mass.; sisters Barbara Moe (Richard) of Spring Hill, and Maureen Brodeur (Mike) of Brooklyn; six granddaughters: Suzanne and Amanda Slater, Shannon Gendreau, Caleigh Horrigan, Devyn Baronowski, and Molly Flynn.

A Funeral Mass was July 10 at St. James Church, Danielson.  Donations: Elks National Foundation, Inc., Donor ID number: 1000439420, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Dawn Bardis Kenahan 

PUTNAM —  Dawn Bardis Kenahan, a long- time resident of Putnam, died July 4, 2017. Born in 1929 in Walpole, N.H., she was the eldest daughter of James Michael and Catherine (Hall) Bardis. 

She grew up in Keene. Following graduation from Keene High School, she studied cosmetology in Boston and worked in that field for several years in Keene. In 1956, she moved to Woodstock, with her young family to become part owner of the Healy Insurance Agency in N. Woodstock.

In Woodstock, she acquired her passion for antiques. Dawn most enjoyed restoring her colonial home on Dugg Hill Road and its surrounding gardens. She was a lifetime member of the Nashoba Valley Guild of the Historical Society of Early American Decorating (HSEAD). She later moved to Putnam where she taught lessons in early American decorating from her home for many years. She acquired her Real Estate license and worked for many years for Poulin Realty in Putnam. 

She leaves two daughters, Kathleen Herbert (Stephen) of N. Grosvenordale and Christine Currier (Doug) of Sherman, Maine; three grandchildren Nichole Cross (Robert) of Oxford, Mass., Zave Miller and his partner Dee Rozo of Dayville, and Audrey Anderson of Hartford; two sisters Lilla Alice Gadapee of Franklin, Va., and Rebecca Newman of Keene; and a brother Windsor Bardis of Buena Vista, Va. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

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