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Jacob P. Germain
PUTNAM — Jacob P. Germain, 44, of Sabin St., formerly of Woodstock, died May 2, 2020, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the partner of James A. Gould Jr. Born in 1975 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Gregory and Linda (Bourbeau) Germain.
Mr. Germain worked as a laborer for various local construction companies and manufacturing plants. He enjoyed listening to music especially Grateful Dead and Bob Marley and cooking for his friends and family.
He leaves his partner, James A. Gould Jr. of Putnam; a sister, Jessica Germain of Woodstock; and a niece, Vanessa Marie Lamothe. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Marilyn V. Kowalski
JEWETT CITY — Marilyn (Rodgers) Kowalski, 86, of Pleasant View St., died May 4, 2020, at home. Born in 1934 in Danielson, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Burdick) Rodgers.
Mrs. Kowalski worked as a waitress for Stott’s Brother’s Restaurant and volunteered as a bell ringer for Salvation Army. She enjoyed doll collecting and polka dancing. She was a devout member of both the Catholic Faith and the Orthodox Religion.
She leaves her sons, Edward Cote (Leona) of Brooklyn, Albert Cote (Renee) of Kansas City, Mo., and Lucien Cote of Jewett City; her daughter, Jeanette Rouillard and her significant other Richard Elliott of Canterbury; her sister, Jeannie Burdick of Norwich, 13 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her daughters, Sandra Cote and Mary Ann Snelling. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.
Christopher Sheppard
SOUTHBRIDGE — Christopher Sheppard, 61, of Southbridge, died May 1, 2020, after a brief illness. He was born to the late Leonard E. and Alice L. (Giczkowski) Sheppard.
Chris loved his job as a print shop specialist at Raytheon where he worked for almost 20 years. Even in his declining health he enjoyed ringing the bell for the Salvation Army and volunteering at the St. John Paul II food pantry. Fishing was a favorite pastime and Chris and his father spent many a day trolling for dinner at the family’s vacation home in Maine. He never forgot a birthday and was always ready to give a helping hand to any sibling who needed it. Chris had a great sense of humor although sometimes his repetitive routines, due to a traumatic brain injury, drove his family a bit crazy. Chris had a firm belief that God would watch over him and looked forward to Mass each week at St. John Paul II parish.
He leaves one brother, Leonard E. Sheppard Jr (Wendy) of Wilmington, Mass.; five sisters, Dawn Pettinelli (Paul) of Charlton, Susan Sheppard of Utah, Belinda Donohue (Phil) of Charlton, Carol Mitchell-Boudreau (Bob) of New Hampshire, and Laura Sheppard (Kevin Bathalon) of Amherst, N.H.; nieces and nephews, Chace, Caitlin, Emily, Carlyn, Phillip and Sydney. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Donations: St. John Paul II food pantry in Southbridge.
Beverly Williams
WOODSTOCK — Beverly (Davis) Williams, 79, of Brickyard Rd., died May 3, 2020, at Orchard Grove Specialty Care in Uncasville.
Born in 1940 in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Arlene (Mullen) Davis Sr.
She was predeceased by her husband, Russell Allen Williams. He died Nov. 27, 2017. They were married Sept. 27, 1958.
Beverly worked for Windham Container, Crabtree & Evelyn, and Brook’s Pharmacy Distribution.
She enjoyed collecting trivets, gardening, and feeding the birds and wildlife that wandered through her property.
She leaves her son, Jeffrey Williams of Maine; her grandson, Travis Williams and girlfriend Emily Bruno; four granddaughters, Lauryn Langlois (Ryan), Ashley Williams, Jasmin Williams, Kasandra Caron and boyfriend Peter Koch; seven great-grandchildren, Quinn Langlois, Mason Langlois, Gracelyn Langlois, Landen Langlois, Karley Caron, Bently LaBonte, and Emma Koch. She was predeceased by her son, Russell A. Williams; and two brothers, Paul Davis Jr. and Robert Davis.
A burial will be scheduled later in Barlow Cemetery.
Donations: Beacon Hospice; or the Alzheimer’s Association. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Pauline L. Fontaine
PUTNAM — Pauline (Ziemski) Fontaine, 79, of Woodside St., died May 6, 2020, at Day Kimball Hospital. Born in 1940 in Dudley, she was the daughter of the late John and Kathryn (Quigg) Ziemski Sr.
Mrs. Fontaine worked as a teacher’s aide for 22 years at Thompson Day Care. She also worked as a prep-cook for Marianapolis Preparatory School. She was the co-founder of Mountaineer Family & Friends, country band. She sold Tupperware and donated her time to NECT Relay For Life and other charities. She was the recipient of the N.E. Country Music Club Hall of Fame Award and previously served as its alternate trustee to their board. She was the youngest of eight children and was always known to be late for everything. She was known for the red lipstick she would leave on men’s foreheads as a sign of her love.
She leaves her daughters, Marion Appleton and her wife Christyna of Selkirk, N.Y., and Linda Fitzgerald of Putnam; her sister, Mary Champagne of Putnam; her fiancé, Lucien Larue of Putnam; her chosen and “older” adopted sister, Lorraine Breton; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husbands, Dana McKissick, George Caron, and Robert Fontaine; her son, the late Dana “Woody” McKissick; her siblings, Margaret“Margie” Shaffer, Dorothy “Dot” Tremblay, Jane Ziemski, John Ziemski Jr., Thomas Ziemski Sr., and Edward Ziemski. A public memorial service will be scheduled at a later time. Donations: Relay For Life N.E.C.T. Team Angels in Heaven, c/o the American Cancer Society, 111 Founders Plaza, 2nd Floor Suite 200, E. Hartford, CT 06108. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.
William J. Gazzola
KILLINGLY — William “Bill” J. Gazzola died May 3, 2020, at home after a battle with glioblastoma. Born in 1944 in New York City, Bill was the oldest child of the late William H. and Margaret (Scarpati) Gazzola.
Bill grew up in the Bronx, N.Y., where he attended St. Mary’s Elementary and Cardinal Hayes High School during which time he met his wife-to-be, Diana. After high school, Bill worked at AT&T and attended NYU. He and Diana were married in 1965. Before moving to Connecticut, Bill, aka “Mr. G,” taught industrial arts for five years at Theodore Roosevelt High School.
In 1972, Bill and Diana settled in Killingly with their two sons. Bill worked briefly restoring and refinishing furniture before taking a teaching position at Killingly High School in 1977. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at Goddard College and his master’s degree at Rhode Island College. Bill taught at Killingly High School for 28 years. He retired in 2005 and enjoyed his time spent on Cape Cod. Bill loved to shellfish with his grandchildren and took delight in preparing his famous grilled garlic oysters for them. Bill also enjoyed writing short fiction. For 36, he was a member of the Writer’s Hotel, a close-knit writing group that met in Vermont every spring and fall.
He leaves his wife Diana (DeFeo); his son Chris (Kelly) and their children Chloe and Mae who lost their “Doodily”; younger son Adam and his son Alexander, and Alex’s mother Effi (ex-wife); Bill and Diana’s bonus daughter Agnes Bernard of Windham; sister Carolyn Werge (Bob) who was his lifelong friend from the AT&T days in New York; brothers David of New Hampshire; Paul of New York; sister Margaret Eltablawi (Hesham) of Killingly; sister-in-law Violeta DeFeo of NY (late husband Ralph DeFeo); Diana’s brother. He was predeceased by his youngest brother James.
Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.
Jenny C. Duquette
N. GROSVENORDALE — Jenny C. (Perrotta) Duquette, 87, of Main St., died May 9, 2020, at Davis Place. She was the wife of the late Jean Duquette. Born in 1933 in Barrington, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Lucia (Aquilla) Perrotta. Jenny attended St. Joseph School in N. Grosvenordale until the 11th grade. She received her GED in 1978 and graduated from Leo’s Beauty Institute.
Mrs. Duquette worked for Belding Heminway, Nancy’s House of Beauty, Sanitary Dash, Arrow/AO for 25 years, and Control Concept as an inspector until the age of 81.
Mrs. Duquette was a women’s top bowler champion in 1980 winning a prize of $1000. Jenny was also an avid traveler and self-taught piano and keyboard player, and seamstress.
She leaves her children, Ronald Durand (Donna) of N. Grosvenordale, Raymond Durand (Susan) of Thompson, David Durand (Lisa) of N. Grosvenordale, and Paula Ramos (David) of Putnam; her sisters Violet Perrotta Duff of Webster and Florence Perrotta Martel of Charlton; grandchildren, Megan Berube, Sara Sophia Ramos, Amanda Durand, Laura Durand, Raymond Durand Jr., Anthony Durand, and Dominick Ramos; great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter Pauline Durand and her siblings, John “Giovanni” Perrotta, Louis “Luigi” Perrotta, Lillian “Ursola” Perrotta, Lena Perrotta, Helen “Ellen” Perrotta, Anthony Perrotta, Rose Perrotta, Evelyn Perrotta, and Louise Perrotta.
Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067.Valade Funeral Home & Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
B. ‘Bobbie’ Morin
DANIELSON — Barbara (Bobbie) A. Morin, 79, of Danielson, wife of Dr. Edmond Morin, died May 8, 2020 at home.
Bobbie was born Feb. 12, 1941, in Putnam, daughter of the late Omer and Lena Racette. She was a graduate of Putnam High School (1959) and the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (1962) in Worcester. Bobbie worked as an RN in pediatrics and as a staff nurse in the medical/surgical ward, most recently at Day Kimball Hospital. She was proud to be a nurse and continued to maintain her nursing license long after she retired to raise her family. Later, she worked with her husband at his chiropractic practice.
She battled lupus for many years. She taught Catechism classes and served as a communicant at St. Joseph and St. Ignatius Church. She loved animals, was an avid gardener, and enjoyed bird watching. She enjoyed completing crossword puzzles and playing Scrabble with her husband, and intense games of Parcheesi with her children and grandchildren. Most importantly, she lived for and truly cherished spending time with her family.
She leaves her husband of 56 years, Edmond ; three children, Donna Leon(Jorge) of Danielson, Karen Bradley (Scott) of Stafford Springs, and Craig Morin (Nancy) of Chesterfield, Va.; six grandchildren, Danielle Hutchinson (Ryan) and Emily Sweet, Kyle and Cory Bradley, and Cameron Swanson and Andrew Morin; two great-grandchildren, Harrison and Nevaeh Hutchinson; her sister and best friend, Yvonne Vigeant (Raymond Jr.) of Danielson.
A graveside service was May 13 at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam. Donations: SDWR (to help towards the purchase of a diabetes alert dog for her great-grandson, Harrison) www.tinyurl.com/harrisonsdog or make a check out to SDWR and include ‘Harrison Hutchinson’ in the memo and mail the check c/o Danielle Hutchinson, 29 Louis Ln., Plainfield, CT 06374. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.
John A. Norton
N. GROSVENORDALE — John A. Norton, 72, died May 9, 2020, at Blaire House of Worcester. He was the husband of Bonnie (Crompton) Norton. Born in 1948 in Framingham, Mass., he was the son of the late Edward and Edna (Murphy) Norton.
Mr. Norton worked as a machine operator for Bruin Plastics. John enjoyed playing pool.
He leaves his wife; four sons Spencer, John, Tim, and Matthew Norton; stepchildren Cameron Gonsalves Sawyer and Jordan Gonsalves; and a brother Robert Norton. He was predeceased by a brother Michael Norton. Valade Funeral Home & Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Barbara M. DeVries
E. WOODSTOCK — Barbara M. DeVries, 95, of E. Woodstock, died May 5, 2020.
She was born in Providence, the daughter of George and Gladys Brown. She worked in the cafeteria at the Woodstock Elementary School and later in patient transport at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge.
She leaves her daughter Brenda Chaplis of Boylston, Mass.; her son Brian DeVries of E. Woodstock; her brother Donald Brown of Woodstock; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was predeceased by her husband Burton DeVries, her brother George Brown and her sister Marjorie DeVries. Donations: Woodstock Emergency Medical Services, P.O. Box 22, South Woodstock, CT, 06267; or Muddy Brook Fire Department, P.O. Box 222, East Woodstock, CT, 06244. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
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