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Rene Camille Provost,
Vietnam war vet
LEESBURG, Fla. — Rene C. Provost, 79, of Leesburg, died April 26, 2018, after a brief illness. He had lived in Florida for the past 15 years, but spent most of his life in Connecticut.
Rene was born in Canterbury to Joseph and Theresa (Mailloux) Provost. He graduated from Killingly High School in 1956. Rene was a retired officer with a distinguished history of service in the Connecticut Army National Guard. He enlisted in the Guard in 1955 at the age of 17 and became an officer in 1960. In 1962 he worked in the Corps of Engineers with the 250th Engineer Company in Danielson, and became the company commander of the 249th Engineer Company in Putnam three years later. He volunteered to serve in Vietnam in the Army’s 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division from 1967-1968 and returned to the CT National Guard after the war. He was the Post Commander at the National Guard training camp in Niantic from 1969-1979. In 1981, he became commander of the 192nd Engineer Battalion, and later assumed command of the Troop Command Unit in New London. He retired with the rank of Colonel.
Rene loved golfing and fishing, and spending time with family and friends. He was also an avid UConn women’s basketball fan and was a basketball referee in Connecticut for many years.
He leaves his wife, Rosalind; daughter and son-in-law Donna and Josh Krell; daughter Pamela Provost; grandson Aaron Krell; brother-in-law Arthur “Bucky” Rickey (Gerri); sisters and brothers Paulette (Marvin) Sawyer, Paul (Rosalie) Provost, Jackie Walker, Joseph Provost, and Jeanne (David) Carpenter. He was predeceased by his parents; sister Pauline Peloquin; brother Richard Provost.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. May 18 Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson, with a funeral at 11. A graveside service with military honors will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Danielson. Donations: Disabled American Veterans 555 Willard Ave., Newington, CT 06111; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Ruth H. Blanchette
BROOKLYN — Ruth H. Blanchette, 89, of Brooklyn, died May 8, 2018, at home.
She was born Jan. 29, 1929, in Brooklyn, daughter of Michael and Vera (Copeland) Harrington. She married Gerard Blanchette on Nov. 23, 1946, in Brooklyn. He died April 1, 2008.
She was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson. She worked as an assembler for 39 years at Arrow-Hart. Ruth enjoyed gardening, traveling throughout the U.S. with her husband Gerard and she was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and a NASCAR fan.
She leaves her brother Michael Harrington of Brooklyn; her sister Alice Hartman of Whitinsville, Mass.; her nephews Bradley Harrington (Amy) of Brooklyn, and Mark Harrington (Dawn) of Brooklyn; her sister-in-law Linda Blanchette of Brooklyn; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Paul Harrington, Royal Harrington and Howard Harrington and her sisters Agnes Staskiutch and Frances Clark.
The Mass of Christian burial was May 11 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial at South Brooklyn Cemetery in Brooklyn. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Patricia M. Lawrence
DAYVILLE — Patricia M. Lawrence, 78, of Dayville, died May 7, 2018, at home. She was born Aug. 2, 1939, in Saranac Lake, N.Y., daughter of Arthur and Delia (Rule) Miller. She married Henry Therrien and they were together for 40 years.
Patricia worked for the local mills all of her life until retirement. She loved gardening, cooking, shopping on QVC and gambling.
Besides her husband Henry she leaves her daughter Lori Lawrence; granddaughter Chelsea Lawrence and Melissa Lawrence (Josh); great-grandchildren Bryson, Spencer Nicholas and Kaylee; siblings Rose Golden, Howard Miller, Henry Miller and Jack Miller. Patricia was predeceased by her son Delbert Lawrence and her brother Keith Miller.
A Celebration of Life will be at 2 p.m. June 2 at her home, 259 Hartford Pike, Dayville. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Lemieux Service
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 was 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; stepsons Dean and Tim Verranault, stepdaughters Cheryl (Stanley Jr.) Klick and Michelle Gutierrez; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers John and David (Jane); sisters Jacqueline (Donald) Wallen and Rose (Paul) Bernier. He was predeceased by his first wife Ann (McKenna;, brothers Joseph and Robert; sisters Theodora Perrone, Helen Dawicki, Theresa Turenne, Beatrice Seraphin, and Rita Czernicki.
A memorial service was Feb. 3. Burial with military honors will be at 10 a.m. May 21 at St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam.
Jessica L. Shaffer
PUTNAM — Jessica L. Shaffer, 33, formerly of Nichols St., died peacefully Sunday morning, May 6, 2018. Born in 1984 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Christopher Shaffer of Putnam and Nancy (Sponcey) Shaffer of Bozrah.
Mrs. Shaffer worked as an inspector at Loos Company in Pomfret. She enjoyed motorcycle riding, collecting suns, moons, and stars, and tie dying.
Jessica leaves her parents; two daughters, Lily McKay and Brook McKay; and a son, Chevy McKay all of Massachusetts; two sisters, Jenilee Galarza of Killingly and Julia Feser of Arizona; paternal grandfather, Robert A. Shaffer of Woodstock; and maternal grandfather Omar Sponcey of Thompson. A Celebration of her life is being planned for the near future. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.