Floyd ‘Nick’ Loomis,

WWII vet

PUTNAM — Floyd Loomis, 91, formerly of Five Mile River Rd, died Sept. 1, 2017, in Westview Health Care Center.  He was the husband of the late Anna  (Peckham) Loomis for 55 years. She predeceased him Aug. 13, 2001.  Born in 1926 in Putnam, he was the son of the late John and Louise (Davison) Loomis.

Floyd graduated from Putnam High School and enlisted and served in the Navy’s V5 Aviation Cadet Program during WWII. Upon return to Putnam after the war, he attended and graduated from the Putnam Technical School.

Mr. Loomis worked as an electrical distribution supervisor for Connecticut Light and Power for 33 years retiring in 1981.

Floyd was one of the committee members that formed the East Putnam Fire Co. He also was a member of the Putnam Lodge of Elks, Quinnatisset Golf Club, and was on the Putnam Board of Zoning of Appeals. 

He leaves three sons William Loomis of Rowe, Mass., Robert Loomis (Kathleen), Richard Loomis (Marianne), and a daughter Susan Morrison, all of Putnam; a dear companion Anita Brock; 15 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters Shirley Grennan and Charlotte Ayers.

The Funeral was private. Donations: Interfaith Human Services, 53 Grove St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Laura Monahan,

WWII vet

WOODSTOCK — Laura Viktoria (Rutanen) Monahan, 99, of Woodstock died Aug. 29, 2017, in Webster Manor. 

She was born July 6, 1918, in Wing, N.D., daughter of the late Nestor and Eva (PohjaLainen) Rutanen, pioneering immigrants from Finland. The family moved to Woodstock in the 1920s where Laura lived until receiving care at Christopher Heights and Webster Manor.

Laura is a WWII veteran having served in the Women’s Army Corps where she piloted planes on U.S. soil and instructed cadets using LINK Training System in England. She had her own plane until 1970s and loved to fly. Laura loved all things of nature and all creatures God created. She was incredibly active, loved golf, skiing, bowling, running.

She leaves her son John Monahan of Putnam; granddaughter Amy Monahan and her children Eva and John of Woodstock; nieces Carol Sansoucy of Woodstock, and Susan Jarvis of Dudley; nephews Roy and David Rutanen, both of Southbridge.

The Funeral was Sept. 5 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial with military honors at Barlow Cemetery in Woodstock. Donations: Military charities or the American Red Cross for Harvey relief in her honor as she would want her death to help others in need.

 

Wayne Searcy

VICTORIA, Texas — Gerald Wayne Searcy of Victoria died Aug. 31, 2017. 

He was born Feb. 17, 1957, in Port Lavaca, Texas, to the late Bill Haynes and Mary Briseno Searcy. 

He was a retired truck driver and loved being a grandpa.

He leaves his son, Marcus Searcy (Shannon) of Bloomington, Texas; daughter, Amanda Frank (Darron) of Billings, Mont.; fiancé, April Lemmon of Victoria; sister, Diane Gonzalez of Conroe, Texas; grandchildren, Morgan Wright, Kendall Frank, Malori Wright, Tatum Frank, Chassidy Searcy, Geneva Searcy, Marcus Searcy Jr., Tre Searcy and Mary Beth Searcy. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Susan Elizabeth Searcy; brothers, Michael and Allen Searcy.

The Funeral was Sept. 5 at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home, Port Lavaca, in the Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Haynes Searcy officiating. 

Burial followed in Port Lavaca Cemetery. Pallbearers are Chris Galvan, Jonathon Cook, Brian Ferguson, Hector Gonzales Jr., David Ortega, Colton Sudderth, Rudy Briseno and Rudy Briseno Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers are Tre Searcy and Marcus Searcy Jr.

 

T. Phaneuf-Alves

BROOKLYN — Theresa L. Phaneuf-Alves, 89, of Brooklyn, died Aug. 27, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam.   She was born on Dec. 4, 1927, in Hampton, daughter of the late Omer and Odelia (Blain) Cote. She was wife to George Phaneuf Jr. and Robert C. Alves.

Theresa enjoyed bowling at Friendly Bowl in Brooklyn where she bowled in the Sunday couples league, Nutmeg’s league, the business woman’s league and also just for fun.  She worked for the William Prym Company but her true passion for work was with children, her own family and friends. She loved to babysit and did it for numerous years. She was would help anyone in need, she was also a very generous and kind hearted person.

She leaves her children Richard Phaneuf (Linda) of Dayville, Claire Payne (Robert) of Danielson, Roland Phaneuf and his significant other Janice Burley of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; her sister Mildred Delude of Willimantic; grandchildren Pamela Jussaume, Brenna Gill and James Allen; her great-grandchildren Taysha Napolitan, Courtney Allen, Paige Jussaume, Cole Jussaume and Skyler Allen; her great-great-grandson Cody Spring; her stepsons Robert Alves Jr. (Angela) and family; Gary Alves (Anne) and family. She was predeceased by her first husband George “Blackie” Phaneuf Jr. and her second husband Robert C. Alves, also her sisters Alice Cote, Jane Hubert and Florence Pawlikowski.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 5 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Donations: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9168.

 

Ronald J. Zmetra,

Vietnam war vet

DUDLEY — Ronald J Zmetra, 70, of Dudley died Aug. 31, 2017, at home.

Ronald was born Feb. 14, 1947, in Worcester, son of the late Joseph and Stasia (Grzyb) Zmetra. 

Ron served proudly in the Vietnam war and was a decorated veteran. He was a graduate of Nichols College in Dudley. Ron served on the Advisory Board for the Town of Dudley and was the past-president of the Webster Lions Club. He was an avid golfer. He loved music, and was the organist for The Jaywalkers. 

Ron was the owner of Zmetra Memorials Inc. He was also the owner/founder of Tents for Rent.

He leaves his wife of 44 years Patricia (Nalewajk) Zmetra, his son Joseph Zmetra (Tami); two daughters; Lauren Fitzgerald (Donald) and Francesca Ramirez (Gregory); six grandchildren; Sydney, Logan, Landon, Brody, Bruno, and Louisa.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 5 at St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley. Bartel

Funeral Home and Chapel, Dudley. Donations: Webster-Dudley Veterans Council, Veterans Home, 4 Veterans Way, Webster, MA 01570-0222.

 

Roger Brien

DANIELSON — Roger D. Brien, 63 of Danielson died Aug. 31, 2017, in William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. He was the husband of Laurie Evans. 

Roger was born May 25, 1954, in Worcester.

He leaves his wife; two daughters, Sherri Atkinson of Portsmouth, R.I., and Cathy Turnquist of Moosup; two brothers and four sisters. 

Services are private. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Erika L. Salvas

PUTNAM — Erika Lyn Salvas, 23, of Five Mile River Road, died Sept. 1, 2017, after a brief illness. 

Born in 1994 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Warren B. and Lisa E. Salvas of Putnam Heights.

Erika was a graduate of Putnam High School, Class of 2013. 

She was employed by The Crossings Restaurant. Erika was a dedicated employee where she could be found assisting staff and welcoming guests. Erika took much pride in her position at The Crossings. She was a member of the Hale YMCA, The Arc Quinebaug Valley and competed in Special Olympics bowling, swimming and track and field. She enjoyed shopping, trips to the beach with her family, horseback riding, snowshoeing, listening to music, watching movies and videos. Most of all she loved to care for her cat Bailey.

In addition to her parents, she leaves her brother Spencer T. Salvas of Putnam; a stepbrother, Stephen A. Salvas of Marshfield, Mass.; maternal grandmother Frances “Molly” Mayo of Pomfret; her paternal grandmother Lorraine Salvas of Dayville; aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin at 10 a.m. at the funeral home Sept. 8 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 in St. Mary’s Church, Putnam, with burial at Putnam Heights Cemetery. Donations: UMass Memorial Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, c/o the Office of Advancement, 333 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545. 

 

Van Chauvin

WEBSTER — Van Chauvin, 61, died Aug. 27, 2017, at home, after a long battle with heart disease. 

Van was born in Webster, son of the late Eugene W Chauvin and Beverly (Davis). He was a jack of all trades.

He leaves two daughters: Amy Dufresne (Paul)  of Dudley and Peggy Sansevero of E. Hartford; one son: David Chauvin of Webster; his mother Beverly (Davis) Chauvin of N. Grosvenordale; three sisters: Donna Bernier of Quinebaug, Rosalie Young of Sterling, and Darlene Danielson of Thompson; one brother: Eugene R Chauvin of Dudley; three grandchildren; Victoria, Elizabeth, and Dylan. He was predeceased by his brother Paul Chauvin. 

The Funeral was Sept. 3 at Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley. Donations: Brigham and Women’s Hospital at https://giving.brighamandwomens.org/donate. 

 

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