Richard Deslauriers,

Korean war vet

N. GROSVENORDALE — Richard Deslauriers, 84, of St. Petersburg, Fla., formerly of N. Grosvenordale, died Jan. 3, 2017. 

He was born July 5, 1932, in Newark, N.J.,, son of the late Raymond and Florestine (Manville) Deslauriers.

Richard was a veteran of the Korean war, serving with the U.S. Army. He was a supervisor in the textile industry for many years. He was a lifetime member of the VFW & Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and was an avid gardener.

He leaves his wife of 64 years, Dolores (Houle); three brothers Lucien, Edgar, Donald; 10 children Richard, John, Roger, Michael, Daniel, Babette, Roland, Arthur, Jacqueline, Jo-Anna; 21 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. He is predeceased by his brother Clarence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale followed by burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery. A gathering will follow at St. Joseph’s Church Hall. Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Archille Z. Bernier,

WWII vet

PUTNAM —  Archille “Archie” Bernier, 96, of 10 Thurber Road, died Jan. 18, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of the late Rolande (Turenne) Bernier for 48 years and the late Lilia Vera de Bernier for 22 years.

Born in 1921 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Joseph and Eva (Beaudreault) Bernier. 

Mr. Bernier was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during WWII and then with the National Guard. He worked for the State of Connecticut in the Department of Transportation for 25 years and after retiring he worked for the Putnam Post Office doing janitorial work for 17 years.  

Archie was an avid golfer, playing golf in Florida where he lived for 18 years and California.  He enjoyed “investing” in Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casino’s, and in his earlier years he enjoyed collecting coins.  He was a member of the Putnam Elks prior to moving to Florida.

He leaves his son, Ron Bernier (Luz) of Putnam; his daughter, Irene Harns of Putnam; his daughter in-law, Karol Bernier of Garden Grove, Calif.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.  He is predeceased by his son, Paul Bernier.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 21 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial with military honors in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Mary Church, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Cyrus Lewis

BALTIC/KILLINGLY — Cyrus Lewis, 21, died Jan. 16, 2017, Yale-New Haven Hospital. He made his home in Killingly most of his life, moving to Baltic in June. 

He graduated from Killingly High School in 2013. 

He leaves his mother Jennifer (Lewis) Abrante; stepfather Mark McClintock; brother Caleb Lewis; and two stepsisters Kimberly Pepin and Brook Cyr; niece Annabelle Kennawi; godson Anthony Longo Jr.

He was employed at Walmart in Brooklyn since its opening. He always cared about his friends and when they had a bad day he would lift their spirits. 

Visitation was Jan. 21 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Cyrus gave the gift of life by being an organ donor. 

 

James 'Jim' Horner

ROGERS — James “Jim” Albert Horner, 59, of Rogers, died Jan. 15, 2017. 

Jim was born Aug. 15, 1957,  in Waterville, Vt., to the late Howard and Lucille (Provoncha) Horner. He attended Lamoille Union High School and graduated in 1975. This is where he developed a passion for machine shop and precision tool making. He went on to work for Ensinger of Putnam for the last 22 years as a toolmaker. Jim was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing, Patriots football, Yankees baseball, spending time with his family and friends and just being in the great outdoors.

He leaves his wife Dawn Horner of Rogers; sons James and Jacob Horner; daughter Linda Horner; brother Alan Horner; two sisters Joleen Horner and Lori Parks; in-laws Paulette and Paul Verette, Brenda Mazzarella, Susan and Danny Simpson and Todd Kincaid; niece Ashley Mazzarella and nephew Joshua Riendeau. Jim is predeceased by his son Shane Horner; siblings Connie Richard, Nancy Horner, Francis Ann Horner, and Edwin Horner; nieces Alberta Dashnaw and Sheila Dashnaw, brother in laws Paul (Skipper) Kincaid, and Jeffrey Kincaid Sr, and his long time best friend Kevin “Bird Dog” Bunn. 

As Jim would say “I love you, and to always remember never forget”.

Visitation was Jan. 20 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St.,  Danielson with burial in the spring at the Westfield Cemetery. Donations: American Heart Association. 

 

Ona Strimaitis

PUTNAM —  Ona Strimaitis, 103, of Liberty Highway formerly of Swampscott, Mass., died Jan. 22, 2017, at Matulaitis Nursing Home.  She was the wife of Juozas Strimaitis.  Born in 1913 in Lithuania, she was the daughter of the late Vladas and Petronele (Bucyte) Bagdanavicius.

Mrs. Strimaitis was an associate member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Putnam for almost 30 years where she worked as a receptionist.

Ona Strimaitis, together with her husband and brother were named “Righteous Among the Nations,” an honor bestowed to non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination.

She leaves her daughter Jura L. Strimaitis (Judge David Kerman) of Swampscott; a son Jonas Strimaitis of Simsbury; two grandchildren David S. Strimaitis (Dani) and Caroline Strimaitis and two great-grandchildren Dillan and Chase Strimaitis, all of Lexington, Mass. She was predeceased by three brothers Rev. Vytautas J. Bagdanavicius, MIC, Stasys Bagdanavicius, and Dr. Branas J. Bagdas and a sister Elena Juska.

A Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 25 in the Chapel at Matulaitis Nursing Home, followed by burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Donations: Immaculate Conception Convent, 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

 

Dean R. Adamuska

WEBSTER — Dean R. Adamuska, 58, of Webster, died Jan. 22.

He was born in Webster, son of the late Frank and Lois Jean (Shippee) Adamuska and lived in N. Grosvenordale before moving to Webster in 2011.  

He enjoyed fishing, motorcycles, auto racing and cooking.

He leaves his wife of 34 years, Pamela M. (Butts) Adamuska; a son, Devin R. Adamuska of Woodstock; a daughter, Ryan M. Adamuska of Littleton, N.H.; a brother, David Adamuska of Lisbon, N.H.; two sisters, Deborah Butts of Webster and Donna Mahoney of Putnam; four grandchildren, Destiny, Celeste, Ally and Malakai.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 26 in Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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