- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Geoffrey Reynoso,
Army veteran
PUTNAM — Geoffrey Reynoso, 37, of Putnam, died Aug. 15, 2019, at Bay State Medical Center. He was born Sept. 20, 1981, in New York, N.Y., son of Felix and Miriam (Mojica) Reynoso. He made his home in Putnam.
He was a graduate of Putnam High School Class of 2000 and was a member of the track team. He was known for his sense of humor and was very sociable.
Geoffrey enlisted into the U.S. Army in 2001. He was in the 3rd Battalion, 21 Infantry Regiment. “Gimlets” He was first assigned to Alpha Company 3rd platoon. Then later deployed with Headquarters Company as the Command Sergeant Major’s vehicle commander. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 31, 2005. Geoffrey was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal.
He leaves his parents Felix and Miriam; his sons Logan Hidenfelter and Caleb Reynoso; his brother Calvin Reynoso (Nicole) and their son Kingston and their daughter Ava; his sister Hannah M. Reynoso; his paternal grandmother Ysabel Reynoso; his uncles Rafael and Roger; his aunt Vivian; cousins.
A Graveside Service with Military Honors was Aug. 23 in The Connecticut Veterans Cemetery, Middletown. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Louise Randall
music teacher
PUTNAM — M. Louise (Roth) Randall of Putnam died Aug. 19, 2019, at home.
She was born Dec. 4, 1923, in Dracut, Mass., to the late Mildred (Smith) Roth and Leo Carl Roth.
Louise graduated from Lowell (Massachusetts) State Teachers College with a degree in music and served as music supervisor for public schools in Lebanon, Hebron, Columbia and Sprague, and then supervisor of Music in Montville.
In her spare time, Louise played violin in the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performed with the Willimantic Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Louise performed as a vocal soloist in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Louise married David Gordon Randall on July 30, 1949. They were inseparable for 45 years and, ever since his passing in 1994, Louise missed him deeply.
Louise and David were active members of the Congregational Church of Putnam. Together, they led the Junior Pilgrim Fellowship (PF) group. Louise served as Jr. Choir Director for 20 years. She was a member of the Sr. Choir for 58 years — retiring in 2011, at the age of 88. Over the years, she was very active in the church having served as president of the church’s Woman’s Fellowship as well as five years as the Recording Secretary for the Eastern District of the Woman’s Fellowship.
Louise was a quiet woman with a wonderful, soft sense of fun and humor. She was passionate about giving her time and energy to others and opened her heart to her children and grandchildren.
Louise was predeceased by her husband, David G. Randall; her brother, Karl Roth; and her great-grandchild, Seth. Louise leaves her children Robert Randall (Kathy) of Hudson, Mass., Phyllis Randall Lyczkowski (Richard) of Millbrook, N.Y., Stephen Randall (Marsha) of Speedway, Ind., Mark Randall (Susan) of Castle Hayne, N.C.,; and Miriam Randall Morrison (Scott) of E. Killingly; her sisters-in-law, Louise (Teddy) Randall of Lebanon and Charlotte Randall of Titusville, Penn.; grandchildren Jennifer, Michael, Christopher, Emily, Kate, Rebecca, David and Jace; great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Inés, Ellen, Sean, Kieran and Kaelyn; nieces and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating Louise’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Congregational Church of Putnam, Putnam. Donations: Congregational Church of Putnam, P.O. Box 463, Putnam, CT 06260.
Nancy Joy Atkinson
POMFRET — Nancy Joy Atkinson (née Bieniarz), 63, of Mashamoquet Road in Pomfret, died Aug. 20, 2019, at home. She was born Sept. 15, 1955, in Providence, daughter of Frank and Genevieve (Jean) Bieniarz of Danielson.
Nancy spent many years living in E. Lyme, where her and Dan loved visiting the beach as often as they could (even in the winter) to go sea glass hunting. What she loved the most was spending time with her family and spoiling her dog Chloe. Her passion for loving people has shown her entire life. While her kids grew up, she held a Day Care at her home so she could spend as much time as possible with them. Nancy was known as the “Camp Mom” at June Norcross Webster while her and her family spent the summers working for the Boy Scouts of America. For the past five years Nancy worked at Grill 37 in Pomfret in various roles, most recently as a manager.
She leaves her husband Daniel Atkinson of Pomfret; son Robert Promsat (Wilawan) of Redmond, Wash.; daughter Jessica Aldrich and her fiancé Derek Gingras of Danielson; son John Aldrich (Jenna) of Scotland; two grandchildren, Lila and Euan; her step-daughter Summer Atkinson; her brother John Bieniarz (Becca) of Utah; niece and nephew Amy and Matt in Florida.
A Celebration-of Life was Aug. 23 at Grill 37 in Pomfret. Donations: June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation through the “Friends of Webster” by contacting Hoss Haskell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Gagnon & Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Victoria Grandelski
DAYVILLE — Victoria (Babci) Grandelski, 99, of Maple St., Dayville was called to her heavenly home Aug. 19, 2019. She was the wife of the late Joseph Grandelski.
She was born Aug. 15, 1920, in Goodyear, daughter of Helen and Andrew Kieltyka.
She retired from the Killingly School System as a cook. She was an amazing seamstress and had mastered a variety of crafts.
She leaves her family Ed and Nancy Grandelski, Paul and Debra Grandelski, Frank and Mary Grandelski and Maryann and Ed Rizzo; grandchildren: Jeremy Grandelski, Katrina Grandelski, Joseph Grandelski, Kathy Scroggins, Michael Grandelski, Christopher Rizzo, and Alyssa Turgeon; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded by her siblings Joseph Kieltyka, Stella Beaudoin and Grace Niznick.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 24. Donations: St. James School, 120 Water St., Danielson CT 06239; or The Willimantic Lions Club, PO Box 512, Willimantic CT 06226. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Theresa S. Oloff
N. GROSVENORDALE — Theresa S. Oloff, 88, of Fabyan Rd., died Aug. 19, 2019, at Lanessa Extended Care, Webster. She was the wife of the late Henry F. Oloff.
Born in 1930 in N. Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Josphat and Alberta (Houle) Therrien.
Mrs. Oloff worked as a winder for Matson Mills. She also worked for Steven’s Linen and Oakwood Nursing Home in activities. She was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary, and the Columbiettes. She enjoyed gardening, knitting, walking and loved “people watching.”
She leaves her son, Henry F. Oloff (Wendy) of South Carolina; her daughters, Diane M. LaPorte of N. Grosvenordale, Elizabeth “Betty” Gertsch (Mike) of Griswold, and AnnMarie Chisholm of N. Grosvenordale; her brothers, Paul Therrien of Arizona, and Norman Therrien of N. Grosvenordale; and her sister, Rita Poirier of Sturbridge; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brothers, Gerry Therrien, Roger Therrien, George Therrien, and Raymond Therrien.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 14 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Southington, CT 06489. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Thomas P. McNulty
PUTNAM — Thomas “Tom” P. McNulty, 58, died Aug. 16, 2019, at home after an illness.
He was born April 11, 1961, in Meriden, son of the late Gerald and Maryann (Molgoliski) McNulty.
Tom was a nature lover and loved walking in the woods at the Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret Center with Connor and their golden retriever, Bear. Tom enjoyed reading and collecting books, listening to music and watching the Red Sox. He loved family celebrations at Thanksgiving and Christmas (especially the leftovers) and sang the praises of Converse All Stars as the only shoe he wanted to wear.
He leaves his wife Robin; his son Connor (and fiancée Olivia) currently of Idaho; his sister Marlene (McNulty) Robarts of Haverhill, Mass.; his small family in Woodstock.
Donations: Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret, P. O. Box 11, Pomfret Center, CT 06259. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
James P. Vandale
STERLING — James P. Vandale, 71, of Sterling, died unexpectedly Aug. 26, 2019, at home. He was the husband of Renae (Lefebvre) Vandale.
Born on Feb. 28, 1948, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Roland and Kazmiera (Grzysiewicz) Vandale. He has lived in Sterling for the past 38 years.
James was a tool and die maker at the J M Tool Co., Brooklyn and was most recently a security guard at the New England Laborers’ Training Academy in Pomfret for 10 years until illness forced his retirement.
Besides his wife he leaves his children, Travis J. Vandale of Danielson, and Dawn Williams of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; his siblings Roland “Danny” Vandale Jr. (Joan), Mark Vandale (Deborah), Nancy Young (Dan); his grandchildren, Gabrielle, Casey, Nikki, and Calvin.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 28 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Burial will be private. Donations: South Killingly Fire Department, P.O. Box 31, Danielson, CT 06239.
Jacqueline V. Hansen
DANIELSON — Jacqueline Virginia Hall Hansen, 93, died Aug. 13, 2019, at home.
Born in 1926 to Alice Retallack and Robert Hall, she grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. Granddaughter of the famous New York City photographers George P. Hall & Son (1870-1914), she carried on the family tradition of being an artist and a business person throughout her life. As a young woman, she loved sailing with her father who belonged to the Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club where she met the love of her life in 1946—Bill Hansen. Jacki was a Renaissance woman. She was an accomplished watercolor and oil painter as well as a potter, jewelry maker, printmaker and sculptor. For over three decades she was active in the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas, where she also regularly exhibited her art work and also at the San Antonio Art League Museum. Like her mother Alice and her aunt Ruth, Jacki loved gardening and dramatically landscaped the homes she lived in. She was also a strong proponent for women’s rights and was a member of the Connecticut chapter of NOW in the 1970s. Most of all, she was a very spiritual person.
She leaves three children: son Peter C. Hansen (Dianne), son Jon W. Hansen (Jody), and daughter Susan L. LaGrow; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brother Brian Hall (Ursula). She was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, William R. Hansen; her mother Alice R. Hall; her father Robert S. Hall, and son-in-law Clayton LaGrow.
Burial was Aug. 19 at the CT Veterans Cemetery, Middletown, next to her husband who died Feb. 27, 2019. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
..