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Marion ‘Bud’ Hanson,
WWII vet
WOODSTOCK — Marion O. “Bud” Hanson, 90, of County Road, died Dec. 30, 2017, at home. Born in 1927 in Independence, Mo., he was the son of the late Jack and Margaret (Boand) Hanson. He was the husband of the late Doris L. (Green) Hanson whom he married after his enlisted time in the U.S. Navy. They were married for 65 years at the time of her death in 2016.
Eager to serve his country, Bud lied about his age and enlisted early in the U.S. Navy serving as a Yeoman Third Class during WWII. After an initial career working on the railroad in the mid-west, ‘M.O.’ moved to New Jersey becoming a pioneer in the computer programming industry, serving as a systems analyst for General Cable Corporation in New Jersey and Connecticut, and later as a systems consultant internationally for Howmedica and Micrognosis.
They moved to Connecticut in 1974. His favorite pastimes were family camping trips, sing-a-longs with his large extended family, fishing with dear friends, and in his later years, trips to the casino.
He leaves his sons, David Hanson (Theresa) of Yakima, Wash., and Don Hanson (Nancy) of Southbury; his daughters, Carol A. Kasperowitz (Greg) of Long Valley, N.J., Diane Hanson of Pomfret Center, Mary Murray (Jeff) of Brookfield, and Janice Lindsay (Will) of Woodstock; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 6 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery in the spring. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Jacob Oliver Bowen
Jacob Oliver Bowen, born May 3, 1995, died Jan. 3, 2018, in a motor vehicle accident.
He was a hardworking, honest, kind-hearted, humorous young man who always wore a contagious smile. He touched the lives of all who met and knew him. He was a self-employed logger of Red Fern Logging, joined by his Redbone Coonhound, Annie. An over the top work ethic was rare to most but natural to Jacob.
He leaves his parents Richard and Amy Bowen; little brother Caleb; grandmothers Claire Williams ”Ama” and Deb Williams.
A celebration of Jacob’s life will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA, in the Meeting House. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Maureen McMerriman
BROOKLYN — Maureen McMerriman, wife of 58 years to Eugene McMerriman and daughter of the late John and Frances (Stelmach) McCormac, died Dec. 30, 2017, at home.
Born in Webster, Maureen grew up in Putnam and raised her family in Norwich before moving to Brooklyn to operate a business with her husband.
Maureen was a gracious individual who always put others before herself. She was quiet, sincere, and never had a bad thing to say about anyone. She was the heart and center of her family. Her integrity, love, and intelligence were known to all who knew her. Her selflessness and kindness will forever be an inspiration to her family.
In her youth, she loved to swim and ice skate and enjoyed sharing her passions with her children. She was a talented seamstress and well-known for her hand-made braided wool rugs. Maureen loved to bake and was famous for her Christmas cookies. When her sons were in their teens, they gave her the nickname, “Colombo”, as she always had many questions for them about their whereabouts. She loved a good bargain and could never pass up a yard sale. Her hobbies included gardening, reading, and following the UConn women’s basketball team.
She leaves her five children and their spouses: Pamela (David) Goldstein, James (Kathy), Timothy (Nancy) and Michael McMerriman and Maureen (William) Roche; grandchildren: Hannah, Kay, Brendan, Sean, Matthew, Michael, Ryan, David, Caitlin, Garrett and great-grandson, Bentley; siblings Kathleen Espinosa, John McCormac, Patricia Lohneiss and Jane Lopresti. . She was predeceased by her infant daughter Mary Frances, infant granddaughter Sarah, daughter-in-law Penny and brother Paul.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Jan. 5 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations: St. James “Save Our School” Scholarship Fund. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Patricia Fenner
PUTNAM — Patricia “Pat” Fenner, 76, of Putnam, died suddenly Jan. 1, 2018 at home.
She lived in Woodstock most of her life, moving back to Putnam, six years ago. Pat was a longtime member and very involved with the Living Faith United Methodist Church and was always ready to volunteer her time to help anyone who needed it. She loved to knit and always made sure you never left her house without a full belly, hug and an I love you.
She leaves her children Michael Fenner, Debra Bruce and Daniel Hirst, Mark Fenner and Christen Georgio, Earnest “Earnie” Fenner Jr., and Rebecca Fenner and William Abrams; sisters Kathy Ames (Lenny), Pamela Perry (Edwin) and Muriel Stewartson; grandchildren, Amanda Fenner, Holly Bruce and her boyfriend Raymond Champagne, Mark Tetreault, Heather Tetreault, Kayla Sousa (Jonathan), Madison Abrams and Wolfgang Abrams, Jennifer Benoir; her great-grandchildren, Autumn Cummings, Emma Cummings, Alivia Sousa, and Avory Champagne; dogs Benjamin Cody and Summer Lee. She was predeceased by her husband Earnest “Earnie” Fenner, her parents, Doris and Herbert Keach and her son Eric Fenner.
The Funeral was Jan. 6 at the Living Faith United Methodist Church, Putnam, with burial in the spring in Center Cemetery, Woodstock. Donations: Music Fund of the Living Faith United Methodist Church, 51 Grove St., Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Roberta B. LaPointe
PUTNAM — Roberta (Barlow) LaPointe, born in Westerly, R.I., June 8, 1935, died Dec. 29, 2017.
She was the daughter of Amie (Maxson) and Robert Barlow.
A 1954 graduate of Putnam High School, Roberta worked as a secretary for the law office of Barber & Wheaton, Putnam.
She was the secretary to Connecticut Supreme Court Associate Justice William Perry Barber from 1957 until his retirement in 1977.
She also was the bookkeeper in Gerry’s Western Auto Store, Putnam, as well as office manager at Hull Forest Products in Pomfret.
Most recently employed at ADS in Thompson, CT.
Roberta also was a former Justice of the Peace in Putnam.
She enjoyed traveling, gardening, bicycling.
Roberta leaves her former husband and friend Gerald LaPointe; a son Stephen LaPointe (Donna) of Pomfret Center; a son John LaPointe of Putnam; grandson Dustin Curtis of Pomfret and two great-grandsons; her brother James Barlow of Brandon, Fla.; sisters Ruth Barlow and Madelyn Piette of Freeport, Fla.; Veronica Maxson of Diamond Springs, Colo., Nancy Robert of Tamarac, Fla., Helene Kerns of Pawpaw, WV, and Beatrice Nugent of Richmond, Va.; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by son Michael LaPointe in 1994 and sister Judith Beckwith in 2016.
A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 13 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Gertrude Feldman
N. GROSVENORDALE — Gertrude C. (Olszta) Feldman, 98, died Jan. 3, 2018, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam.
Gertrude was born in Dudley, the daughter of the late Frank and the late Clementine (Hejwosz) Olszta.
Gertrude enjoyed tending to her yard and flower garden at her home on Kapitulik Rd. in N. Grosvenordale.
She worked at the Federal Reserve in Boston and for her husband Abraham at his business Pine St. Manufacturing in Boston, New Bedford, Mass., and Worcester.
She lived many years in Winthrop, Mass., and N. Grosvenordale before moving to Matulaitis in 2006.
She enjoyed daily Mass at the Nursing Home.
She leaves nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Abraham Feldman in 1979; brothers Stanley and Edward Olszta and sisters Theresa Olszta, and Irene LaPan.
The Funeral Mass was Jan. 6 at Holy Trinity Church, Webster.
Donations: Holy Trinity Church, 68 Lake St., Webster, MA 01570.
Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley.
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