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Sr Diane Gillis, DHS
WINDHAM — Sr. Diane Gillis, 81, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died May 2, 2024, at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.
Born Jan. 27, 1943, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27, 1943, Diane Cecilia was the oldest of 13 children of Richard P. and Bernice (Kitzman) Gillis. She entered religious life in 1961 and made her religious profession on June 1, 1962. She was then known as Sr. Anne Cecilia.
After receiving her bachelor’s in education from diocesan teachers college in Woodstock, Sr. Diane ministered in schools in Vermont, Bridgeport, Conn., Moosup, Conn. and Chicopee, Mass., as teacher, librarian and school secretary. From 1975 until 1990 Diane was involved in parish ministry in Vermont and Florida, particularly in the Spanish apostolate in Chicopee, Holyoke, Mass., and Hartford. From 1990 to 1998 she worked as an insurance reviewer at Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield, Mass., after which she joined the community at the Provincial House in Putnam and served as the receptionist there. She joined the community at St Joseph Living Center in 2019.
She leaves the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and the Associates; her sisters Joan and Mary; her brothers Richard, Michael, William, Steven, Joseph, Christopher, Thomas, James and Robert, all in Florida; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Sandra.
The Mass of Christian Burial was May 7 at Corpus Christi Parish/St. Joseph Church, Willimantic, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam. Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260. The Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Peter G. Lucchesi
WOODSTOCK VALLEY —Peter G. Lucchesi, 91, of Route 198, died April 28, 2024, at home.
He was the husband of Linda Lucchesi.
Born in 1932 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Duilio and Dina Lucchesi.
Dr. Lucchesi graduated from Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson, College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and received a master’s from Boston College, held a doctorate in English literature from the University of Wisconsin and specialized in American fiction and poetry.
He was a Professor Emeritus of English at Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
On March 12, 2004, in Santa Fe, N.M., he was united in marriage to the former Linda Fleming.
Peter enjoyed writing, gardening, and cooking for his family and friends.
He leaves his wife of 20 years, Linda Lucchesi; his children, Rita Gates of Austin, Texas, Maria Brown of Port Aransas, Texas, Andrew Lucchesi of Austin, and Anna Lucchesi–Spina of Murphy, Texas; his twin sister, Alma Douglas of Cromwell; cousins, nieces and nephews and his grandchildren, Bodhi Lucchesi, Benjamin Brown, and Nicholas Brown. He was predeceased by a sister, Norma Cassettari.
He was a brilliant and talented man who had a great sense of humor. To our family and the many students he inspired as a Professor, he will be greatly missed. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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