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JEWETT CITY — Thomas F. Leffler, owner of the Leffler Funeral Home in Jewett City, announced the sale of his funeral home to local funeral director Robert Fournier of Putnam.
According to Leffler, “Working alongside my father since my youth, I have worked at the funeral home for most of my adult life. While I plan to continue to be affiliated with the funeral home, I look forward to pursuing a career in a field outside of funeral service.”
Bob Fournier, a third-generation funeral director, has been serving Connecticut families since 2005, carrying on the tradition of care begun by The Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes in 1919. In 2013 he built the Park Tribute Center, Windham County’s first and only crematory. In July, Fournier acquired the Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home in Plainfield.
“I am honored to continue Tom and his father’s dedication to serving families in their time of need,” said Fournier.
With the transition, the funeral home name will change to the Griswold Funeral Home and all prepaid funeral contracts will be honored as planned under the new name.
Fournier added, “Several of our team members have a local connection to Griswold and are excited to be reconnected to the area. James Morin, Tim Plante, Bill Juzwic, Ed Bachand and Bob Bernier are some of the familiar faces you will see on our services. Furthermore, because we own and operate our own crematory, when Griswold Funeral Home clients choose cremation, their loved ones will never leave the care of our staff.”
The Jewett City Funeral Home was started as a branch of Church & Allen Funeral Home and sold to Thomas D. Leffler in 1976 and operated as the Leffler Jewett City Funeral Home. In 2011, Tom’s son, Thomas F. Leffler purchased the funeral home from his father and operated as the Leffler Funeral Home.
The Gilman Funeral Home, founded in 1919 by Alexander Gilman, and the Valade Funeral Home, founded in 1924 by Alphonse Valade, merged in 1980 under the direction of Lawrence J. Bellerose. In December 2005, Robert “Bob” Fournier purchased both funeral homes and then built The Park Tribute Center, Windham County’s only crematory, in 2013. In July of 2022, Bob purchased Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home.
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Acquired
Leffler Funeral Home in Jewett City was acquired by local funeral director Robert Fournier, left, is shown with Thomas Leffler. Courtesy photo.