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Arthur Lemieux,
Air Force vet
PUTNAM — Arthur Lemieux, 87, of Moosup, died Jan. 13, 2018, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center after an accident at home in November.
He was born in Dudley, son of the late Philias and Suzanne (St. Cyr) Lemieux.
He was a carrier at the Putnam Post Office and served as president of the local NALC Chapter.
He served in the U.S. Air Force.
He leaves his wife, Lillian; son Philip, daughter-in-law Cheryl; stepchildren Dean Verranault, Cheryl (Stanley Jr.) Klick, Tim Verranault, and Michelle Gutierrez; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers John Lemieux, and David (Jane) Lemieux; sisters Jacqueline (Donald) Wallen, and Rose (Paul) Bernier. He was predeceased by his first wife Ann (McKenna); brothers Joseph Lemieux, Robert Lemieux; sisters Theodora Perrone, Helen Dawicki, Theresa Turenne, Beatrice Seraphin, and Rita Czernicki. A memorial service will be scheduled in the near future.
William O’Keefe Jr.,
WWII vet
PUTNAM — William J. O’Keefe Jr., 96, of Liberty Highway, formerly of Riverside Dr., N. Grosvenordale, died Jan. 17, 2018, at home. He was the husband of the late Jeannette L. (Langevin) O’Keefe.
Born in 1921 in Westerly, R.I., he was the son of the late William J. and Bernice (Boothman) O’Keefe Sr.
William was an honorably discharged Army veteran of WWII, serving with Company E 273rd Infantry Division.
Mr. O’Keefe worked for many years as a meterman for the former Northeast Utilities and Connecticut Light & Power.
He was a life member of the American Legion Post 67 in N. Grosvenordale. William was an avid reader, enjoyed playing cards with his friends and going out to dinner with his late wife.
He leaves two daughters, Nancy Laflamme (Paul) of Putnam and Debbie O’Keefe and her companion Tom Britton of Rogers; two grandsons, Christopher Laflamme (Colleen) of Killingly and Aaron Laflamme (Laura) of Concord, N.H.; great-grandchildren, Rylie, Tegan, and Ashlyn Laflamme. He was predeceased by his siblings, Gertrude Leite, Bernice Rivers, and John O’Keefe.
The Mass of Christian Burial is at 10 a.m. Jan. 27 in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, with burial in W. Thompson Cemetery. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Irving Post,
Korean war vet
PUTNAM — Irving Post, 88, of Park St., died Jan. 20, 2018, at home. He was the husband of Dorothy (Thomas) Post. Born in 1929 in New York City, he was the son of the late Philip and Ester (Goldfeld) Post. Irving was a graduate of Plainfield High School and Putnam Technical School.
Irving was a veteran of the Korean war serving with the U.S. Army where he received the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars and the United Nations Service Medal with two overseas bars. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 26, 1953.
Mr. Post worked for many years at General Dynamics Electric Boat as a machinist and quality control inspector. After which he became a security officer at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, retiring at the age of 83.
Mr. Post was a member of the American Legion Post 21 in Danielson and the VFW Post 4908 in E. Killingly. He was an avid New York Giants football and San Francisco Giants baseball fan.
He leaves his wife of 52 years Dorothy Post; children, Lynn Krajewski (David) of Danielson, Steven Post of West Palm Beach, Fla., Robert Post (Darlene) of Lakeland, Fla., Laurie Hall (Tom) of Sterling and Lee Post and his fiancé Cindy of Putnam; a sister, Clair Hartling of Mystic; 10 grandchildren; great- and great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter Linda Post.
A Celebration of Irving’s Life will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a Service of Remembrance in the funeral home at 5 p.m. ending with military honors. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260; or the Providence VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave., Providence, RI 02908.
Harry John Atsales,
Korean war vet
BROOKLYN — Harry J. Atsales, 89, of South Main Street died Jan. 12, 2018, at Day Kimball Hospital. Born on June 2, 1928, in Putnam, he was the son of the late John and Antonia (Angelopoulos) Atsales.
Harry was a graduate of Killingly High School after which he joined the United States Army and served in the Korean war. He worked for American Screw Company, Willimantic; Kaman Aerospace, Norwich; and Rogers Corporation, Woodstock. He then became the owner and operator of his own landscaping and cleaning service.
Harry was a “Jack of all trades.” He had the uncanny ability to fix everything and enjoyed woodworking. An avid watcher of “60 Minutes” and other news programs, Harry could often be seen meeting with friends for coffee where they would discuss politics and current events. He enjoyed rooting for his favorite sports teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, fishing, playing cards, and sewing.
“The Chief,” as he was lovingly called, will be remembered for his intelligence, charm, sharp wit, and generosity.
He leaves his daughter, Stacey Ruoppo (Mark) Mark of Thompson; his sister, Marcia Dionis (John) of Danielson; two grandchildren, Althea Marie Ruoppo and John Harry Ruoppo; nieces and nephews; and his close friend Robert Briere. Harry is predeceased by his son John Harry Atsales, four brothers, Theodore, James, William, and Andrew; and four sisters Virginia, Georgia, Katherine, and Sophia.
Services were private. Gilman Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.
Carol R. Hilliker
PUTNAM — Carol Rosemary (Nichols) Hilliker, 78, of Sabin St., died Jan. 17, 2018, at Day Kimball Hospital. Born in 1940 in Killingly, she was the daughter of the late Sidney and Lorella (Derosiers) Nichols.
Mrs. Hilliker worked for many years at the John Dempsey Center as a healthcare worker. Carol also served as the Republican Registrar of Voters for the Town of Putnam. She was den mother for the Cub Scouts St. Mary Pack 25 in Putnam in the 1980s, and also worked for the Putnam school district in the cafeteria at the time.
Carol loved sitting on her front stoop where she enjoyed having a good conversation or argument, especially about politics. A good yard sale was never missed, while she loved opening up her basement for a yard sale of her own. Being a kid at heart herself, she loved to share candy with her grandchildren and have a good laugh.
She leaves a son, Robert Bazinet (Catherine) of Pomfret Center; two grandchildren, Asa and Iris Bazinet both of Pomfret Center; her siblings, Sidney Nichols of North Carolina, John Nichols of Providence, Rosie Moore of South Carolina, Mary Duhaime of Putnam, and Theresa Duquette of N. Grosvenordale. She was predeceased by two sisters, Dorothy Place and Lorella Holt.
Cremation services by Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. A celebration of Carol’s life is being planned at a later date. Please feel free to contact her family at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Gerard E. Cotnoir
PUTNAM — Gerard E. Cotnoir, 63, of Pomfret St., died Jan. 16, 2018, due to complications from A.L.S. He was the husband of Barbara (Smith) Cotnoir. Born in 1954 in Putnam, he was the son of Gerard Cotnoir of Putnam and the late Leona (LaVigne) Cotnoir. Mr. Cotnoir earned his bachelor’s in English from UConn. He went on to work as an I.T. Manager for MAPFRE Insurance Company. He was the chairman of the District Authority, chairman of the Putnam Water Commission, and was the Democratic Registrar of Voters. He enjoyed running, biking and photography.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Joshua Roos (Jennifer) of Oxford, Mass.; his grandchildren, Zachary and Haley; his sister, Michelle and her husband Gary and their son Gerry of Concord, N.H.; his brother Marc Cotnoir (Laura) and their daughter Nicole of Woodstock; his brother, Ernest Cotnoir (Madeline) and their children Emma and Carly from Putnam.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 23 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: ALS Foundation, CT Chapter, 4 Oxford Rd., Milford, CT 06461 or online to www.alsact.org/ Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Inge ‘Bette’ Fillmore
DANIELSON — Inge Elizabeth “Bette” Fillmore, 79, died Jan. 16, 2018, at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, following a brief illness.
Bette was born June 11, 1938, in Frankfurt, Germany. She immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 14 where she then lived in Randolph, Maine, for much of her young adult life. She went on to attend Gorham State Teachers College and received a degree in education.
During her time in Gorham, Bette met her husband Jerre. They were married for 50 years. Upon relocating to Danielson in 1967, Bette became an English teacher at Killingly Intermediate School. Her career then took her to Plainfield Central School where she spent her last 20-plus years of teaching. She was a teacher, advisor, and friend to the National Honor Society from 1988-2004. She also loved helping and organizing the Killingly summer school program. She was an accomplished educator with a love for grammar. She had a love for cooking, sewing, and watching her grandchildren play sports. For the last six years of her life, she loved spending time traveling with her best friend Ed, catering, the Caddy Shack, playing Hand and Foot and having a cold beer after 9 holes of golf with Judy.
She leaves her brothers, Peter Burke (Sandra) of Bangor, Maine, and Robert V Burke (Nathalie) of Quebec, Canada; Her two sons, Jerre Fillmore (Robin Fillmore) of Danielson and Mark Fillmore (Laura) of Danielson; four grandchildren Kasey Tocchio (Matt), Kyle Fillmore, Hannah Fillmore and Connor Fillmore of Danielson; special friend Edward Wiezbicki of Plainfield and his family. Bette is predeceased by parents Katharina and Vincent Burke of Randolph, Maine, and her husband Jerre Fillmore.
A Celebration of Life was Jan. 20 at the United Methodist Church, Danielson. Donations: Plainfield Central School National Junior Honor Society, 75 Canterbury Rd, Plainfield, CT 06374; or K.I.S (memo-KIS Students in need), Attn: Ms. Esch, 1599 Upper Maple St, Dayville, CT 06241. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St, Putnam.
M. ‘Greta’ Guertin
WOODSTOCK — Margaretha “Greta” Guertin, 96, of Woodstock died Jan. 16, 2018, at Matulaitis Nursing Home. The wife of Camille A. Guertin, they were married Oct. 18, 1946, in Pomfret. He died in 2008.
Born March 9, 1921, in Woodstock, she was the daughter of Charles and Clara (Vieweg) Bennett. She was a 1938 graduate of the Woodstock Academy. She made her home many years in Putnam moving to Woodstock in 1983.
She worked for more than 22 years at Lumbertown as a bookkeeper. She had worked also as a bookkeeper at Putnam Woolen Mill and worked as a credit manager at Sears (mail order) in Putnam.
An avid bowler, she bowled at Willimantic and Brooklyn, enjoyed knitting and playing the organ. She was a former member of the Woodstock Seniors and served as treasurer and a member the executive board.
She leaves her daughter, Joan Mayo of Woodstock; grandchildren: JoAnn Aldrich of Woodstock; Paul Mayo of Putnam; Cynthia Mayo of Putnam; great-grandchildren: Donald, Erica, William; Kyle and Nathan; eight great-great-grandchildren; her brother Herman Bennett of Barberton, Ohio.
Visitation is from 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 28 at Smith Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with the Funeral Service at 2. Burial will be in Barlow Cemetery in the spring. Donations: Bungay Fire Brigade, 1256 Rt. 171, W. Woodstock.
Carol A. Henderson
MOOSUP — Carol (Daskowski) Henderson, 78, of Goshen Rd., died Jan. 9, 2018. She was the wife of the late Robert Herbert and the late Edward F. Henderson. Born in 1939 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Blanche (Valliere) Daskowski.
Mrs. Henderson was a homemaker who enjoyed doing crafts, visiting the ocean, playing cards, dominoes and shopping.
She leaves her sons, John Young of Richmond, Maine, and David Young of Moosup; her daughters, Cynthia Reschke of Webster, and Sandra A. Young of Detroit, Maine; 12 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and her former husband, Wilfred Young.
Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m. May 12 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale with a Funeral Service in the funeral home at 10. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.
A. Savickaite Vaitkus
GURNEE, Ill. — Anna Savickaite Vaitkus (aka Ona Savickaite Vaitkiene), 93, died Jan. 14, 2018, in Gurnee. Anna was born in 1924 in Lithuania, daughter of Kostas and Ona Savickas. Sister to Liucija (d), Izabele (d), Sister Paula (Sisters of Immaculate Conception, CT), Cesius, and Kostas (d). Anna was a WWII refugee who fled with her family to a displaced persons camp in the American sector in Hanau, Germany. There, she met and married Walter Vladas Vaitkus, an American soldier of Lithuanian descent, and emigrated to America. After arriving in the U.S., Anna and Walter settled in Worcester where Walter had a dental practice. They raised three children, Onile, Linas and Paul. Anna and Walter spent their retirement years in Juno Beach, Fla., until Walter’s death in 2009.
She leaves a daughter, Onile Sestokas (Anthony Kestutis); sons Linas (Zivile Julie ) and Paulius (Beverly); granddaughters Lina Scroggins (Steven), Laura Humphries (Andrew), Rima Rindler (Tim), grandsons Vytas, Linas, Kristijonas, great-granddaughters Klara, Rita, Ila, Ellle. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 10 at Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Rd., Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the Matulaitis Nursing Home Chapel at 10:30 AM. Burial will be beside her husband in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Putnam.Donations: Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, CT. 06260-2503. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
D. ‘Dottie’ Vanasse
PUTNAM — Dorothy Dottie (Heath) Vanasse, 64, passed away into the arms of the Lord Jan. 13, 2018. She has reunited with her daughter Grace Elizabeth (Vanasse) Sliva in Heaven.
Dottie had a tremendous spirit and faith in God. She fought a battle with cancer and never gave up. She walked the Relay For Life event for 15 years as a breast cancer survivor. She was a gentle and angelic soul who had sincere compassion and love for family and friends and also for those she didn’t even know. She was born Sept. 15, 1953, in Putnam, the youngest child of eight to Albert and Elizabeth Heath. Dottie was employed at Fiberoptics in Pomfret for many years until her early retirement due to ill health. She leaves behind the love of her life Dennis ( Jim ) Vanasse Sr. her husband of 47 years; two sons, Dennis J. Vanasse Jr. (Catrina) of Putnam, Michael Vanasse (Tina) of Newport News, Va.; two sisters, Barbara Messier of Putnam and Ethel May Heath of Brooklyn; two brothers, Al Heath and Phillip Heath, both of Putnam; 10 grandchildren: Kayla, Cassandra, Jaya, Ashleigh, Hannah, Alec, Zack, Alex, Nathan, and Xavier. She was predeceased by siblings Martha Ritchie, Beverly Benoit, and Robert Heath. A Memorial Service will be from noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 27 at the East Putnam Fire Department on Rt. 44. Donations: American Cancer Society, either by phone or mail. Phone: 1-800-227-2345 Mail: American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22478 Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
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