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Nancy B. Blakely,
business owner
WOODSTOCK --- Nancy B. Blakely, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., formerly of Woodstock, died March 22, 2011. Nancy was the daughter of William and Lea Blakely of Wheelwright, Mass. She was married to Albert L. Simonds in Southbridge Nov. 14, 1951. In 1952, she and husband Al established Linemaster Switch Corporation in Woodstock. Nancy owned, and was president of Linemaster until her retirement in 2002.
Nancy was well known in the Northeast corner for her involvement with, and generous contributions to, numerous charitable organizations. Nancy was most proud of the scholarship fund she established at QVCC in memory of her late husband, Al Simonds. She was a member of St. Columba Anglican Church in Dudley. She was active in Rotary International and the NECT Chamber of Commerce.
In her leisure, Nancy enjoyed traveling and visited many exciting, beautiful places. She also had a great love for the ocean, either swimming in it, or being on it, in one of her yachts; the IXTAPA and the NANSIRIS. If she couldn’t be at the ocean she was never far from water. Nancy was an excellent swimmer and enjoyed swimming year round at her home in Woodstock. Nancy also loved the beauty of flowers, which was obvious to anyone who visited Linemaster from early spring through late fall. As a “hands-on” owner of Linemaster, Nancy loved celebrating special events; she made sure there were cakes for her employees’ birthdays, held elaborate summer parties for her employees and decorated Linemaster and her home, both inside and out, for the Christmas season.
She leaves her daughter, Nancy Iris Simonds of Las Vegas; son Jose Martinez of Del Rio, Texas; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; her sister Bertha B. Dresser. She was predeceased by her husband Al; sisters, Mae and Irene Blakely; brothers; William, John, and Lincoln Blakely.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. April 23 at Holy Trinity Church in Southbridge. Donations: St. Columba Anglican Church, 604 Route 197, Woodstock, CT 06281; or the American Cancer Society , 825 Brook Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Belanger and Bullard Funeral Home, Southbridge.
Lucius E. Arnold,
WWII vet
PUTNAM — Lucius E. Arnold, 87, died March 27, 2011, at home. Lucius was born on Dec. 26, 1923, in Putnam, the son of Frank A. and Harriet (Fitts) Arnold. He married Ann Patenaude in 1962.
Mr. Arnold began his banking career with the Cargill Trust Company in 1941, rising to secretary, treasurer and a director. In 1964 the Cargill Trust Company was merged into Hartford National Bank & Trust Company where he served that bank as assistant vice president. In 1969 Mr. Arnold joined the Putnam Savings Bank and served in the capacity of secretary, treasurer, trustee, executive vice president, president and chairman of the board, retiring in 1988. During his career Lucius served as treasurer for many civic and charitable organizations during their annual fund drives. He was treasurer of the Woodstock Agricultural Society and cashiered the Woodstock Fair for many years.
Mr. Arnold was a veteran of WWII, serving with the Eighth Air Force in England and the Air Transport Command in Africa.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Katherine Croteau, her husband Seth and his three grandsons, Brenden, Justin and Ethan Croteau, all of Jewett City; a brother, Lester Arnold of Commerce City, Colo.; sister Louise Lauffer of Lake San Marcos, Calif. He was predeceased by three brothers, Marshman, Warner and Philip. Donations: Hospice of Northeastern CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Normand R. Langlois,
WWII vet
W. THOMPSON — Normand R. Langlois, 87, of Church Street., died March 29, 2011, at home after a short illness. He was born in N. Grosvenordale, the son of Willie and Anaïs (Martin) Langlois, both immigrants from Quebec.
A veteran of WWII, he saw action with the 945th Field Artillery Battalion in Patton’s Third Army in France and Germany.
He served as a line runner, whose dangerous job it was to string communications cable to artillery look-out posts. After the war he worked principally as a truck driver, at various times hauling oil, concrete products, and steel.
He was active in the Boys Scouts in the 1960s and 1970s, from whom he received the Bronze Pelican Award for service.
He was also a founding member of VFW Post 10088 in Quinebaug.
Normand continued to enjoy the open road after he retired, exploring the byways of the Northeast with his wife. Also an avid fly fisherman, he could be seen as recently as last summer wading in the Quinebaug River above the W. Thompson Dam.
In addition to his wife of 61 years, Loretta (Vadnais) Langlois, he leaves three sons: Richard (Deborah Savage) of Columbia; Marc (Craig Mathis) of Ann Arbor, Mich.; and Michael (Elena Berry) of Winchester, Mass.; five grandchildren: Zachary, 21; Anaïs (Annie), 17; Noah, 15; and twins Christopher and Abigail, 11; a brother, Joseph of N. Grosvenordale.
He was predeceased by two other brothers, Maurice and Roger, and two sisters, Annette Brousseau and Charlotte Gwizdala.
The Mass of Christian Burial was April 1 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale.
Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Jeanette Fortin,
church member
BROOKLYN — Jeanette R. Fortin (Cusson), 90, of Darby Road, died March 30, 2011, at Regency Heights Nursing Home in Danielson.
Born May 20, 1920, in Ballouville, she was the daughter of the late Honore and Alexina (Poirier) Cusson.
Jeanette attended the local schools, following her marriage she was a homemaker and a housewife and mother. She lived most of her life in the Killingly area prior to moving to Brooklyn in 1967. She was a communicant of Our Lady of LaSalette Church.
She leaves her son: Maurice Fortin of Brooklyn, two granddaughters: Monique Hopkins and Nicole Gillespie, great-grandsons: Brandon Fortin and Shane Nelson, great-granddaughters: Hayley Gillespie, Makenna Roireau and Mya Roireau. She was predeceased by her daughter, Juliette Fortin and three sons: Raymond Fortin Jr., Richard Fortin and Francis Fortin.
A Graveside Service was April 6 in St Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492; and Arthritis Foundation 35 Cold Spring Road, STE 411, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.