Sr. Jeannette Richard, Daughters of Holy Spirit
WINDHAM — Sr. Jeannette Richard, 97, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died Dec. 31, 2023 at St. Joseph Living Center, Windham.
Born Jeannette Rose Richard in Reading, Penn., on Aug. 18, 1926, she was the daughter of Napoleon and Rose (Noël) Richard. The family moved to Connecticut when she was a young girl. She entered religious life in 1946 at Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam and made her religious profession there in 1949. She was then known as Sr. Rose Felix.
Sr. Jeannette held a bachelor’s in accounting from Annhurst College in South Woodstock and a master’s in business education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Her first assignments were as a teacher in Hartford, Swanton, Vt., and Putnam until being appointed the Provincial Treasurer for the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Putnam in 1971. From 1980-83 she served as the office manager at a legal clinic for rural poor and migrants in Federalsburg, Md. Returning to Connecticut, she became the secretary at Roncalli Institute in Cromwell then in 1985 the administrative assistant at Center City Churches, Hartford until her retirement in 1999. Throughout her career, Sr. Jeannette participated on numerous boards and committees throughout New England. She joined the community at the Provincial House in Putnam in 2011 and then the community at St Joseph Living Center in 2018.
She leaves the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and the Associates; her sister-in-law Ann-Marie Richard of North Dakota; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Edgar Richard and her sister Gloria Whittles.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 5 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. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Alan A. Sheldon, U.S. Air Force veteran
PUTNAM — Alan A. Sheldon, 75, of Putnam died Jan. 3, 2024, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was born March 28, 1948, in Putnam, the son of the late Alfred Sheldon (who died in 2008) and Helen (Gibson) Sheldon.
Alan served his country in U.S. Air Force and was a member of both the American Legion Post 13 and the VFW Post 1523 of Putnam. He was a long-haul trucker with over 4 million miles with no violations. He loved to tinker in his workshop and loved going ice fishing. He also enjoyed his mornings at Marika’s with the Guys.
Besides his mother, Helen, he leaves his children, Jason Sheldon of Putnam, Jeffrey Sheldon of Putnam, Angela Sheldon, of Putnam; three grandchildren Alexis Sheldon of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Gianna Sheldon of Putnam and Abigail Browne of Putnam.
Visitation is from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 13 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: Paws Cat Shelter, 240 Rt. 171, Woodstock, 06281.
Walter James Bessette
DANIELSON — Walter James Bessette, 72, of Danielson died Dec. 31, 2023, after a brief illness
He was the son of Herbert Albert Bessette Jr. and Helen (Corcoran) Bessette of Woodstock.
He worked at Linemaster Switch before driving tractor trailer for Superior Bakery.
Walter enjoyed playing chess, camping, cycling, woodworking and collecting toy cars.
He leaves daughters Helen Bessette and Mellissa Bessette; granddaughter Zoey; former wife Bonnie Banning; sister Cindy O’Brien; brother Thomas (Robert Dunn); nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his maternal grandmother Emma (Meyer Corcoran) Groux and paternal grandparents Herbert Albert Bessette Sr. and Mary (Vincent) Bessette.
There will be a private graveside service Jan. 12, 2024, followed by a Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. at the home of family (278 Providence St., Putnam) for anybody who wishes to pay their respects. Donations: St. Philip the Apostle Church, 64 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, CT 06278. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, Putnam.
.
