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Robert G. Holland
U.S. Navy vet
WOODSTOCK — Robert Gardiner Holland of Woodstock, born Feb. 27, 1940, to Alice and Roy Houghtaling, died Dec. 24, 2017, at the age of 77.
He attended Colby College, before ultimately graduating from UConn. After serving in the Navy, Bob went on to follow his passion for writing by pursuing a career in journalism, first with the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, and later with the New Haven Register. After earning his masters in literature at Trinity College, Bob followed his passion for language and education as a professor of journalism first at UConn, and later at Nichols College, and ECSU.
For the last 25+ years, Bob leveraged his skills as a storyteller to write more than 50 novels, including a series of mystery, sports, and adventure books for boys. In 1996 he founded Frost Hollow Publishers, LLC, to distribute many of these titles, as well as works by other local authors. Bob was passionate about his many hobbies including reading, hunting, fishing, politics, dogs, and, of course, UConn athletics.
A devoted member of his local community, Bob offered 30+ years of public service first on the Woodstock Board of Education, followed by 27 years as a member of The Woodstock Academy Board of Trustees. He was on the Roseland Park Board of Trustees, and was a member of the Woodstock Theft Detecting Society.
He leaves his wife, Leslie, of 47 years; his daughter Morgan Rees (Trevor) of Williamsburg, Va.; his son Gardiner Holland (Jen) of Weston, Mass.; four grandchildren (Corbin and Berkley Rees, Lydia and Clara Holland); his brother Bill Holland (Nancy) of Albion, Maine; nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service was Dec. 28 in Bates Auditorium at The Woodstock Academy. Donations: The Woodstock Academy Foundation, 57 Academy Rd, Woodstock, CT. 06281.
Marvin G. Whiteley,
National Guard
WOODSTOCK — Marvin G. Whiteley, 69, formerly of Eastford, died Dec. 27, 2017, after a long illness. He was the husband of Linda (St. Onge) Whiteley.
He was born Nov. 15, 1948, in Putnam, son of the late George and Helen (Dixon) Whiteley.
Marvin was a graduate of Woodstock Academy and Harvard H. Ellis Technical School Electric Division. He worked for Larochelle Electric in Southbridge, for 31 years. He retired early due to having polycystic kidney disease. Marvin was known for his love of Chevrolets. He served with the National Guard in Putnam.
He leaves his siblings, Grace Brolin (Bill) of Sullivan, N.H., Ruth Brodmerkle of Barre, Mass., John Whiteley of Danielson. He was predeceased by his brother Frank Whiteley.
Visitation is from 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 6 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, followed by a Memorial Service at noon. Donations: Bungay Fire Brigade, 1256 Rt. 171, W. Woodstock, CT 06281; NECCOG Animal Services, 125 Putnam Pike, Dayville, CT 06241; or PAWS Animal Shelter, 240 Woodstock Ave., W, Woodstock, CT 06281.
William P. Rice Jr.,
U.S. Army vet
PUTNAM — William “Bill” P. Rice Jr., 78, of River Rd., died Dec. 26, 2017, at Davis Place in Danielson.
Born in 1939 in Putnam, he was the son of the late William P. Rice Sr. and Doris (Pepin) Rice. He was the husband of Janice Parent Rice for 15 years. He was predeceased by his first wife, Rose (Alvord) Rice who died in 1999.
Bill served in the U.S. Army and was later employed by Wajer Express as a truck driver. He was a member of the Putnam Lions Club and Teamsters Local 170. He enjoyed reading and going to local casinos. He was described as a good spirited and positive guy.
He leaves his sons, William F. Rice (Polly) of Simsbury, Robert J. Rice Sr. (Elisa) of Hamden, Brian J. Rice (Amanda) of Woodstock; his stepson, James Parent (Sabrina) of Middletown; his stepdaughter, Nicole Burgess (Bernie) of Killingly; his brother, Joseph Rice of Putnam; his sister, Lea Therrien of Putnam; 10 grandchildren.
The Mass of Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 30 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation with burial in St Mary Cemetery in Putnam. Donations: Hospice of Northeastern Connecticut, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT. 06260. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Henry G. Lefebvre
N. GROSVENORDALE/LADY LAKE, Fla. — Henry G. Lefebvre, 76, of Reardon Rd., died Dec. 28, 2017, in William W. Backus Hospital. He was the husband of Claudette (Blain) Lefebvre. Born in 1941 in W. Warwick, R.I., he was the son of the late Louis and Rose (Lamoureux) Lefebvre.
Mr. Lefebvre worked as a textile worker for Stevens Linen in Dudley. He enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley music as well as collecting his memorabilia. He enjoyed listening also to country music, playing a good game of chess, playing golf, and attending local high school football games. He was an avid walker; an active person who enjoyed being outdoors.
In addition to his wife Claudette, he leaves his son, Michael R. Lefebvre (Deborah) of Southbridge; his daughter, Catherine J. Berthiaume (Robert) of N. Grosvenordale; his brothers, Paul Lefebvre (Joanne) of Woodstock, and George Lefebvre (Diane) of Venice, Fla.; grandchildren, Thomas Berthiaume (Morgan), Jillian Berthiaume, Ashleigh Lefebvre, and Alain Lefebvre; and his great-granddaughter, Eleanor Berthiaume. He was predeceased by his brothers, Robert J. Lefebvre, and Joseph Lefebvre.
Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Dennis Pedersen
N. GROSVENORDALE — Dennis M. Pedersen, 66, of N. Grosvenordale, formerly of Woodstock, died unexpectedly on Dec. 29, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. Husband of Linda (Seamon) Pedersen, they would have celebrated their 33rd anniversary on Dec. 29.
He was born Aug. 16, 1951, in Putnam, son of the late Vilhelm and Sarah (Healey) Pedersen.
He worked for Paul Miller at Fairvue Farms in Woodstock as a crops manager. He also worked for Donald Tarryk doing milking parlor installations. He lived in upstate New York for eight years owning and operating a farm. Dennis loved his vegetable garden and challenged his sons with their own gardens.
He was a member of the Senexet Grange #40 in Woodstock.
He enjoyed playing Candy Crush and farm heroes and was very competitive.
Besides his wife Linda he leaves his sons, Michael Pedersen and his fiancée Amy Bouzrak of Putnam, Kristopher Pedersen (Kristin) of Killingly, William Smith and his significant other Jessica Ingham of Central Village; grandchildren Andrew, Jacob, Sami, Safia, Colby, Braden, Dylan, Emily, Savannah.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 5 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. A Memorial Service will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 6 at the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 220 Woodstock Road, E. Woodstock.
Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045; Diabetes Association, American Diabetes Association - Connecticut Affiliation, 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 105, Middletown, CT 06457; or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.
John A. Preston Sr.
ROGERS — John A. Preston Sr., 70, of Boys Avenue, died Dec. 28, 2017, in Hartford Hospital. Born in 1947 in Attawaugan, he was the son of the late Kenneth and Ethel (Mason) Preston.
Mr. Preston worked as a baker for Superior Baker. After working all day, he loved spending his time with his “buddies” at Chase Garage in Wilsonville. He enjoyed working on old cars, listening to Elvis music as well as watching his movies.
John had a disabling accident at a young age.
However, that never stopped him from living his life to its fullest potential.
Despite his disability, he never let anything stop him, or get in his way.
He leaves his son, John A. Preston Jr. of Rogers; his daughters, Erica Preston of Woodstock, and Catrina Preston of Indiana; his brother, Elmer Preston of Thompson; and his seven grandchildren, Ethan Preston, Natalie Preston, Calvin Brown, Kenny Brown, Tyler Gabbard, Emma Gabbard, and Eli Gabbard; and his best friend, Jerry Moulton. He was predeceased by his brothers, Morris, Richard, Raymond, Alfred, and Harry Preston.
Visitation is from 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 4 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will follow at the Albert J. Breault VFW Post #1523, Providence St., Putnam.
Adolfina Ruiz
PUTNAM — Adolfina ‘Mónica’ Ruiz, ‘Mónica or Doña Ruiz, as she preferred to be called, died Dec. 25, 2017. She was born Sept. 2, 1946, the youngest of eight children to Baldomero and Mónica Ruiz Alonzo in Asunción, Paraguay.
Her father was a Colonel in the military and her mother a housewife and manager of the family farm.
The young Adolfina attended elementary school in rural Asunción and moved to Argentina as a young teenager where she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden.
She then moved to Rome, Italy where she professed her first vows and continued her studies.
In the mid-‘60s, she immigrated to the U.S. with several other Sisters in response to a call to serve at Marianapolis Prep School in Thompson.
It was while working at Marianapolis that she attended Annhust College in Woodstock where she obtained her bachelor’s in Spanish and theology.
Two years later, Mónica began her long career as teacher and administrator in elementary schools in New Haven and Middletown.
She took a sabbatical year to return to Rome, Italy, to pursue an advanced degree in theology from the Teresenium Institute.
With her summa cum laude degree in hand, she returned to the U.S., was sworn in as a U.S. citizen and returned to the classroom at Holyoke Catholic as a Theology and Spanish teacher.
In the mid-‘90s Mónica dedicated herself to special needs students in Saco, Maine, and upon returning to Connecticut a couple years later, accepted a teacher position at Putnam High School and then later at the school that she described as “the love of her teaching career” The Woodstock Academy. She retired from Woodstock in June of this year.
Doña Ruiz was a caring person who gave her all to everything she did.
She was unusually attentive to the needs of others and always willing to do her utmost to help meet those needs.
She will long be remembered for her kindness, her quick sense of humor, her gentleness, her simple yet solid faith in her God and for her appreciation of others and her amazingly winning smile.
She leaves her sister Angela; her brothers Marino and Rubén of Paraguay; nieces and nephews; her adopted sister and friend of 40 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 29 and burial was in St. Mary of the Visitation Cemetery on Providence Street.
Donations: Retirement Fund of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and/or to the Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman-Valade Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Philip Gabler Jr.,
Vietnam war vet
BRIMFIELD/WEBSTER, Mass. — Webster- Philip J. Gabler Jr., 73, died Dec. 22, 2017, at home.
He was born in Medford, Mass., son of the late Philip J. Gabler Sr. and Olive (Mooney) Gabler living in Brimfield for the past six years. Prior to that he lived in Webster. Philip served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam. He was a retired maintenance working at the Bay Path Vocational School in Charlton.
He leaves his wife of 49 years, Linda L. (Ciabaszewski) Gabler of Brimfield; a son Philip J. Gabler; a daughter Melissa Harwood (Scott) of Webster; three grandchildren Summer, Bethaney and Corryn; one great-grandson, Bennett; a sister, Beverly Bonneau of Connecticut.
Donations: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
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