Eric Wayne Estes
DAYVILLE — Eric Wayne Estes, 79, of Dayville, died Aug. 28, 2025 at Hartford Hospital after a period of declining health.
He was born on Jan. 8, 1946, in Perth Andover, New Brunswick, Canada. His parents, Beatrice (Hanson) Estes and Kermit Clifton Estes predeceased him.
He graduated from Terryville High School in Terryville, and CCSU in New Britain with a degree in political science. It was at CCSU in the summer of 1970 that he met his best friend and forever love, Irene (Bashour) Estes. They married and lived in Berlin, N.H., where Eric taught social studies briefly. He became a guidance counselor after completing his masters at the University of Maine, Gorham, Maine. They moved with their four children to Killingly in 1986 where Eric was a well thought of guidance counselor at Plainfield Central School until his retirement in 2006. Between 1993 and 2006, Eric and Irene added six more children to their family through adoption.
Eric loved God and his family first, the Boston Red Sox, the Tennessee Titans, and sometimes the New England Patriots. Eric believed children should have outside activities and there were many: youth hockey, soccer, baseball, and martial arts. He was a sports dad! If there was idle time, picking up rocks was an alternative. Eric loved gardening and always took pride in his flowers and plants.
He leaves his wife Irene; 10 children: Tamira Estes, James Estes (Rachel), Peter Estes (Susana), Jenny Lussier (Justin), Gui Estes, Mary James (Tom), Yu Xia Estes, Kai Pfaffle (Steve), John Estes (Katie), and Guo Qian Estes; 16 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, a brother-in-law, an uncle, and four nieces and their families. Eric also leaves his devoted German Shepherds Simba and Nala, and a vocal Siamese cat named Arabella, who will surely miss his lap.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at Gilman and Valade Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 12 Franklin St., Danielson. Please meet directly at the church.  Burial will be private. 
Donations: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital “Tribute Program” 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.

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