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Lois Andersen
PUTNAM — Lois Andersen, 85, of Putnam, died May 16, 2011, after a brief illness.
She was born on May 23, 1925, in Englewood, N.J., daughter of the late Wilhelm Haupt and Eleanor (Anderson) Haupt.
She received her R.N. degree in Englewood.
Her career as a Registered Nurse allowed her to touch many lives in the area, having worked at Day Kimball Hospital, Stula Pavilion and Westview and also as a Public Health Nurse in Eastford.
She loved gardening and reading, was an advocate for all living things and was on a never-ending mission to learn all she could and to share her learning with everyone.
Family and friends will continue to have faith in her vast knowledge of using natural resources in healing and promoting health.
She was a long-time member of the Living Faith United Methodist Church in Putnam.
Lois was the widow of Carl J. Andersen; the mother of Anne, Mark (predeceased), Sally, Niel, Peter, Judith, Laura, Carla, Ingrid, Ellen and Eric; and the grandmother and great-grandmother of many.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. June 4 at the Living Faith United Methodist Church on Grove Street in Putnam.
Steve Bousquet,
community leader
PUTNAM — Steve Bousquet, 64, died May 17, 2011, at Mass General Hospital in Boston following a short battle with multiple myeloma.
Steve was born June 23, 1946, in Putnam, the son of the late Gerard and Myrtle Bousquet. He graduated from Putnam High School in 1964 where he was a four-sport athlete. He graduated from UConn with a degree in political science and economics in 1970.
Following graduation, Steve taught for a short period at St. James School in Danielson. He served in the CT National Guard. In 1975, Steve established Bousquet’s Appliance and TV store with locations initially in Putnam, and later in Danielson. Steve successfully operated this business for over 35 years and had a significant impact on local communities. He was a member of the Snake Meadow Fishing and Hunting Club, Valley Springs Sportsman’s Club, the Putnam Elks, the Downtown Danielson Business Association, and the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce. He served as an alderman for the Town of Putnam, and was a current member of the Putnam Recreation Commission.
Steve was generous and kind, always willing to help someone in need. He was a philanthropist, well known for his support of local causes, some of which included St. Mary’s Church, Troop D in Danielson, the Congregational Church of Putnam, the local woman’s shelter, St. James, QVCC, and Day Kimball Hospital Golf Tournaments, the Senior Center in Danielson. He also raised money for the earthquake victims in Haiti.
He received many awards including, in 2010, the “Paul Harris Distinguished Citizen of the Year” award from the Danielson Rotary Club. He was also recognized as the “Northeast CT Humanitarian of the Year” by the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, “2010 Citizen of the Year” by the Putnam Grange, among many other community service awards including the Lions Club from both Putnam and Danielson. He made our community a better place.
Throughout his life, Steve enjoyed many outdoor activities, including fishing, hunting, gardening, and time spent on Quaddick Lake. He loved nature, especially the spring when he would spend countless hours planting flowers. One of Steve’s favorite pastimes was co-hosting the “Remember When” segment on WINY Radio on Friday mornings. He also loved his annual fishing trips to New York for salmon as well as occasional trips to Saratoga, N.Y., and the Kentucky Derby. Throughout the years, Steve enjoyed many vacations with his family, whom he loved dearly.
Steve leaves his wife of 40 years, Kay; two children, Jennifer Weeks (Matthew) of Burlington, and Jeffrey Bousquet and his fiancé Kalin Borner, of Putnam; sister Geraldine Tetreault of Fort Myers, Fla.; brothers, Michael Bousquet (Judy) of New Bedford, N.H., David Bousquet (Tina) of Brooklyn; sisters-in-law Sue Gardner (William) of Columbia, Ruth Lee (Wallace) of Newtown.
The Funeral Service was May 24 in the Congregational Church of Putnam with burial in the Grove Street Cemetery. Donations: Putnam High School Scholarship Fund, c/o Putnam Bank, 40 Main St., Putnam, CT 06260; or to the Congregational Church of Putnam, P.O. Box 463, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Lawrence Barrett,
landscaper
THOMPSON — Lawrence Barrett, 55, of County Home Road, died May 16, 2011, in Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Joann (Bellemere) Barrette.
Born in 1955 in Providence, he was the son of the late Arthur and Mildred (Bell) Barrett. He worked as a self employed landscaper.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his stepsons, Joseph Miller of Dearing, Ga., and Andre Miller of Griswold.
There were no services. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.
Vincentina ‘Nancy’
Wilbur
BROOKLYN — Vincentina “Nancy” Wilbur, 96, of Canterbury Road, died May 20, 2011, in Pierce Memorial Baptist Home. She was the wife of the late Home Weston Wilbur who died Dec. 12, 2001. Born in 1914 in N. Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Ella (Botto) Defilippo.
Mrs. Wilbur was a homemaker and enjoyed collecting dolls.
She leaves 11 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren; niece, Alice E. Daigle (John) of Haines City, Fla; nephew, Robert Defilippo (Carol) Ridge Manor, Fla.; other nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her two sons, Roland and Donald Adams.
Visitation is at 9 a.m. May 25 in Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in West Thompson Cemetery.
Mary Nora
Blanchette
PUTNAM — Mary Nora Blanchette, 92, of Woodstock Avenue, formerly of Bloomfield, died May 16, 2011, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of Wilbert H. Blanchette, who died in 1997.
She was born Jan. 1, 1919. She had made her home in Bloomfield for over 35 years, moving to Putnam in 1997. She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. She was a member of the Putnam Grange and the Putnam Senior Citizens. She was also an avid NY Yankee fan.
She leaves her children: Ellen St. Jean, (Bruce) of Woodstock, Paul Blanchette (JoAnne) of Horseheads, N.Y.; granddaughters Megan and Andrea. She was predeceased by a grandson Michael, and all of her eight siblings.
The Mass of Christian Burial was May 21 at St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation, with burial at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.
Donations: Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Road, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Rita Etchells,
church member
WOODSTOCK — Rita Etchells, 90, of Woodstock, died May 17, 2011, while under hospice care.
She was the wife of 58 years of Paul Etchells.
She was born Nov. 26, 1920, in West Warwick, R.I., daughter of Arthur and Jenny (McMannis) Swedberg.
Rita made her home in Woodstock for over 55 years, was a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church and was a born-again Christian.
She was a longtime member of the Garden Club and enjoyed bird watching.
She was an outstanding baker, especially during the Christmas season; she delivered many of her baked goods to the elderly shut-ins.
Rita, with her husband Paul traveled extensively, traveling throughout Europe, especially England and the U.S. She was fascinated by Native American jewelry.
She graduated from high school and worked for an insurance company in Providence, where she was a manager and worked for several years, until her marriage to Paul.
Rita had volunteered for many organizations over the years, Meals on Wheels and Blood Pressure Screenings.
She was an avid golfer and played in many couples tournaments with her husband at Quinnatisset Country Club.
She leaves, in addition to her husband Paul, her children, Chuck Etchells of Putnam, Karen Lilly of Woodstock, Gary Etchells of Putnam; siblings, Carlton Swedberg of Rhode Island, Claire Nolan of Florida; grandchildren – Erica and Caleb. Her brother Arthur Swedberg Jr. was killed in WWII.
A Mass of Christian Burial was May 21 in Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial in Elmvale Cemetery, Woodstock.
Donations: Masonic Care Home Health Hospice, 339 Flanders Road, Ste. 215, East Lyme, CT 06333. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Donna Tetreault,
mother of 2
DANIELSON — Donna M. Tetreault, 50, of Water Street, died May 20, 2011, in Regency Heights of Danielson after a brief battle with cancer.
Born in 1960 Webster, she was the daughter of Joseph Tetreault and his wife, Fran (Truppa) Tetreault; and Dorothy (Smick) Tetreault Kenyon and her husband, John Kenyon, all of Putnam.
She worked as an assembler for Bentley Shoe, as well as the Dempsey Center.
She was a true Red Sox and NASCAR fan.
Her favorite Red Sox player was David Ortiz and her favorite Nascar drivers are R. Gordon and J. Gordon.
She also loved to play bingo and looked forward to her mother/daughter trips to Foxwoods every month.
In addition to her parents, Donna leaves her son, Joseph Tetreault (Diana) of Farmington; daughter, Tara Aiken of Grosvenordale; three grandchildren, Caden, Jared and Oliver; brother, Steven Tetreault (Pat) of Dayville; two sisters, Diane Lefebvre (Mark Sr.) of Danielson, and Barbara Kenyon (Shaun) of Putnam; step-brother Shaun Kenyon of Putnam; step-sisters, Jean Mayo of Paoli, Ind., Kelly French of Winslow, Maine, Debbie Kenyon of Salem, Tracey Wissing of Las Vegas; special niece, Jessica Lefebvre with whom she made her home..
The Funeral was May 24 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Nancy Dufault,
mother of 5
PUTNAM — Nancy Dufault, 84 of Putnam, died unexpectedly, May 21, 2011, at UMass Medical Center in Worcester.
She was born June 18, 1926.
She was the wife of the late Paul Dufault.
She leaves her children: Virginia Barbee of Dayville, Joan LeClair and Nancy Chambers, both of Putnam, James Dufault of Bingham, Maine, Thomas Dufault of Putnam; sons-in-law: Peter LeClair and Larry Chambers, both of Putnam; grandchildren, great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 25 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery.
Donations: Day Kimball HomeMakers, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.