Constance ‘Alva’ King

PUTNAM — Constance “Alva” King, 95, of Putnam, died June 13, 2016, at the Westview Health Center in Dayville. She was the wife of Russell B. King. They were married in 1942 in Putnam. He died in 2008. 

She was born May 21, 1921, in Newport, R.I., daughter of Henry and Matilda Constance (Hird) Burgess. 

She was a 1938 graduate of Putnam High School and received a secretarial degree from Bryant College. After graduation she worked in the Putnam office of the Telephone Company in the 1940s. Alva made her home in Putnam most of her life, she enjoyed her summers at Alexander Lake in Dayville for more than 60 years. Alva was a member of the Putnam High School Alumni Association for many years. 

Alva was a member of the St. Phillips Episcopal Church in Putnam and the Living Faith United Methodist Church, serving as a trustee and on several committees and boards. She was one of the oldest members of the Day Kimball Hospital Woman’s Board and had volunteered for several years as an escort and in the coffee shop. Alva was a member of the Kum–Two Its of the Methodist Church and the Cotillion Club in the ‘60s and ‘70s. 

She leaves her daughter Janice King Marsan (Gerard) of Easton, Mass., her son Gregory King (Deborah) of Putnam; grandchildren Elizabeth King and Douglas King, both of Putnam, her brother Russell Burgess of Eastham, Mass.; and her sister Beverly McNally (Frank) of Brooklyn; fives nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister-in-law Gertrude Burgess.

A Celebration of Alva’s Life was June 16 in the Living Faith Methodist Church, Putnam, with burial in Grove Street Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: Daily Bread, PO Box 281, Putnam, CT 06262. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Lee F. Jameson

PUTNAM —  Lee F. Jameson, 67, of Quinebaug Avenue, died June 13, 2016, at home after a prolonged illness.  He was the husband of Eileen (Cash) Jameson.  Born in 1949 in Boston, he was the son of the late Frank and Jennie (Hahn) Jameson.

Mr. Jameson worked as a service manager for Gomes Total Chrysler for many years.  He was a member of Putnam Fish & Game Club, and was an avid fisherman.   He was also a member of the National Rifle Association. 

He leaves his daughter Lee Jameson of Pomfret; and his sister Gay Stiskin (Richard) of Orlando, Fla. Funeral arrangements are private and have been entrusted to Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory.  

 

Margaret Racine,

Air Force vet

MIMS, Fla. — Margaret Marie Racine, 76, died March 23, 2016, at Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, Fla. 

Margaret was born in Essex, Missouri. She moved frequently with her husband’s work and lived in Putnam from 1964 to 1973, Okeechobee, Fla., from 1973 to 1985 before moving to Mims in 1996. 

Margaret was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She enjoyed fishing, bowling and camping in her free time.

Margaret was the wife of Robert A. Racine for 56 years; mother to Michael Racine (Rebecca) of Okeechobee, John Racine (Tonja) of Haymarket, Va., David Racine (Hazel) of Miami, and Bryan Michaud (Tammy) of Mims; sister to Doyle Fry of Missouri and Elzie Fry of Illinois. She also leaves nine grandkids and seven great-grandkids.

The Graveside Service was June 21 in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: Hospice of St. Francis, Titusville, FL. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory.

 

Constance Coderre

WEBSTER —  Constance M. Coderre, 83, of Oakwood Drive formerly of N. Grosvenordale, died June 13, 2016, at UMass University Hospital .  She was the wife of the late Robert N. Coderre.  Born in 1932 in Burlington, Vt., she was the daughter of the late Emile and Stella (Fairbrothers) Lambert. 

On Sept. 6, 1951, at St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale she was united in marriage to Robert N. Coderre who died on May 2, 2014.

Mrs. Coderre worked as a conveyor operator at Steven Linens. She enjoyed working outside in her garden, reading the Bible, crossword puzzles, and most importantly being a caregiver to her husband Robert. 

She leaves her son Richard Coderre (Sheila) of Danielson; two daughters Suzanne Shultz of Oxford, Mass., and Brenda Beland (John) of Webster; six grandchildren Jonathan, Hillary, Sheena, Joshua, Bruce, and Spencer; seven great-grandchildren Jonah, Brielle, Dominique, Jade, Aden, Kane, and Audry. She was predeceased by a son Thomas Coderre, her son-in-law Edward Shultz, and her three brothers, Richard, Earl, and Kenneth Lambert.

The Funeral Service was June 18 at Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, with burial in West Thompson Cemetery. 

 

Helen Georgia Dey 

PUTNAM — Helen H. Dey, 95, formerly of Niantic, died June 11, 2016, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam.  Helen was born Aug. 16, 1920, in Chicago, the daughter of George and Edith (Greenwood) Hersom.  After graduating from high school, she worked as a hospital laboratory technician where she met her future husband, Frederick L. Dey, MD.  They married in 1941 and enjoyed 53 years of marriage until his death in 1994.    

The Dey family came to Connecticut in 1948 when Fred served in the U.S. Navy.  Their love of the Connecticut coastline caused them to relocate in Niantic. During Helen’s 62 years in Niantic, she became involved in many community organizations. A long-standing member of the Niantic Community Church, she sang in the choir and was active in the church’s Group for United Progress.  Helen was active in the Girl Scouts as a leader and a board member.  She was immensely proud of being recognized by the Girl Scouts for 50 years of service with a Life Membership.  Her home was the “go-to” location for Scouts picking up the hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout cookies every spring. She was a docent at the Thomas Lee House and supported the Smith Harris House.  The Salvation Army, Niantic Public Library, Children’s services of SE Conn., East Lyme Historical Society the Women’s Auxiliary of Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, all benefitted tremendously from her hard work and dedication.

 In her ‘spare time’, Helen enjoyed knitting (slipper socks for all!), playing cards, her book club, a neighborhood supper club, and the Hawthorne Club.  The family lived along the Niantic River and the family boat,” No Sons”, used for many family outings, was well known on  the river. 

Helen also enjoyed the part-time homes she and Fred owned: a log cabin in Chester, Vt., and a home in Vero Beach, Fla. 

Helen volunteered as an usher at Dodgertown for spring training baseball games in Vero Beach. 

The friendships they cultivated in Vermont and Florida were an important part of their lives. Helen was particularly conscientious about keeping in touch with friends, old and new.  

She never forgot a birthday and was known for her banana bread she delivered to anyone who was ill or lonely.  Throughout their marriage, their love of travel took Helen and Fred on many trips throughout the U.S., visiting family and friends, as well as trips to several countries around the world.  Upon Fred’s retirement, they embarked on a six- month medical missionary trip to Sierra Leone.  Fred used his surgical skills to treat the village residents, while Helen was instrumental in organizing a medical library and instructing the local women about nursing techniques.  

She leaves four daughters, Carol (John) Hartman, Newcastle, Maine, JoAnne Taraskiewicz, Willington, Betty (David) O’Connor, Webster, and Constance Rose, Monterey, Calif., 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother Nahum Hersom. 

A Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. June 23 at the Niantic Community Church, Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic. Burial is private in Ohio. Burial will be private in Ohio. 

Donations: Niantic Community Church, 170 Pennsylvania Ave., Niantic, CT 06357; or East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Road, Niantic, CT 06357. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Shirley R. Holmes

DANIELSON — Shirley R. Holmes, 80, died June 12, 2016, at Davis Place. She was born Aug. 6, 1935, in Holyoke, Mass., daughter of the late Leodore and Anna (LeClair) Blain. Shirley was a molder for Danco Corp, retiring in 1997. She was a communicant of St. James Church. She leaves a daughter Shirley M. Holmes of Danielson; sisters Jean Morris and Cecile Blain of Plainfield; grandchildren James Clements Jr., Sandra Clements, Jennifer Baker (Kerri); five great-grandchildren and two stepgreat grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers and a sister. The Funeral was June 16 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, Danielson. 

 

Hester Chase Morin

DANIELSON — Hester Cora Chase Morin, 99, of Danielson, formerly of Putnam, died June 16, 2016, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. She was born Sept. 4, 1916, in Worcester, daughter of Sherman C. and Blanche (Newell) Cummings. She was the wife of Benjamin W. Chase, who died December 1945, and Elsid Morin who died September 1989. Hester made her home in Putnam most of her life, was a member of the Putnam Baptist Church. She worked as a sales clerk for Grants and Bugbee.

She leaves her children, Christina Mollica of Dorchester, Mass., Benjamin Chase (Bunny) of Putnam, William Chase (Hedi) of Bristol, N.H., Mark Chase (Joyce) of Madison, N.C.; stepdaughter Lucille Burton of Vancouver, Wash.; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren. She was predeceased by her stepdaughter Dorothy Tercjak; siblings, Winona, Archie and Howard and three grandchildren Colleen, Clayton and Craig. The Funeral was June 21 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in Putnam Heights Cemetery. Donations: Putnam Baptist Church, 170 Church St., Putnam; or Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. 

 

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