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Calla L. Gould,
mother of 4
WOODSTOCK — Calla Linnea (Otto) Gould, 84, of Sunset Hill, Woodstock, died unexpectedly Oct. 6, 2011, at Day Kimball Hospital. She was wife to the late John Nathan Gould, who died Feb. 14, 2010.
Calla enjoyed fashion design, dressmaking and modeling, and collecting antique rugs, African art, couches, and ducks. She was practical and down-to-earth, a good cook, and loved animals and gardening; always poised, gracious and generous, she could readily offer an intelligent view, an artist’s eye, and a pointed remark.
Born March 26, 1927, in Salt Point, N.Y., to George Myers Otto and Irma Charlotte (John) Otto, she grew up on Ragged Mountain in Danbury, N.H. She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, where she did fashion design and modeling, and taught there for a time after graduation. Calla then set out to New York City to find fame and fortune, but she was pursued and married by a determined young man from Brown.
They lived in Flushing, N.Y., and Plainfield, before finding their family home, an old inn on Woodstock Hill, where they began the raising of four sons. With husband and mother helping she ran it as an inn for a time. During this period she was a founding member of the Quinebaug Valley Health and Welfare Council, and helped create a listing of human services in the area.
Her husband’s work first as an arbitrator then as trade unionist took the family to Pittsburgh, where she continued social work and costume design; thence to Africa, where she lived in Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. In Ghana she undertook an exhaustive study of traditional ceremonial costume and regalia in the village of Akwamufie, where she was made an honorary Queen Mother for her work; in Kenya she worked with tailor’s unions to set up a tailoring school.
After 25 years in Africa they retired home to Sunset Hill.
She leaves three sons, David, of the Virgin Islands and Woodstock, George, of Putnam, and John of Shelburne Falls, Mass.; a brother George in Chicago and a sister Genevieve in Maine; two nieces, four nephews, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Her oldest son Nathan died in 2000.
Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Asa Davis Jr.,
church member
EASTFORD — Asa M. Davis Jr., 79, of Old Colony Road, went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 15, 2011, while a patient for over three weeks at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
He was born Feb. 3, 1932, in Warwick, R.I., to Asa M. and Jennie (Numberg) Davis. When he was a few years old they moved from Rhode Island back to W. Woodstock where many of his father’s relatives lived.
On July 5, 1952, he married Dorothy Irene Spooner. Last July they observed their 59th wedding anniversary. Two of his favorite hobbies were doing jigsaw puzzles and woodworking. He built or refinished much of the furniture in their home. Asa was a long time member of the Eastford Baptist Church, and the Eastford Fire Department and a former member of the Bungay Fire Brigade in West Woodstock. He drove tractor trailer for many years, worked as a carpenter for a building contractor and retired July 31, 1994, from Whitcraft of Eastford, where he worked as a machinist for 29 years.
He leaves his wife Dorothy; his children, Betsy Jean Salo (Karl) of Woodstock; Robert Asa of Eastford, step granddaughter and her son, step grandson. He was predeceased by his parents, his daughter Bonnie Lee LeSage on Jan. 1, 1982, and a son-in-law Edward A. LeSage in 2009, a sister Bertha Brownell in 2003, and his stepmother, Marion B. Davis in 2009 at the age of 107.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Eastford Baptist Church, 133 Union Road, Eastford. No calling hours, private burial in Grove Cemetery, Eastford. Donations: Eastford Baptist Church, 133 Union Road, Eastford, CT 06242; or Eastford Independent Fire Co., PO Box 333, Eastford, CT 06242. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Hazel F. Sheldon,
nursery school
WOODSTOCK — Hazel F. Sheldon, 94, of Woodstock, died Oct. 5, 2011, at Day Kimball Hospital. She was born July 31, 1917, in Pomfret, daughter of the late John and Hazel (Dickey) Currier. She was the wife of Wayland N. Sheldon Sr. They were married for 62 years when he died Jan. 12, 1996.
Hazel helped start the first nursery school program in Woodstock in 1945. She spent many years as a housekeeper for many families of Woodstock Hill and beyond. Hazel also worked for the W.T. Grant Co. in Putnam for 17 years.
She was very active for many years with the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association working countless hours at the food booth at the fair and other various events. She led a home economics group for local women to learn crafts, cooking and sewing. She loved attending the Woodstock Senior Center for crafts.
She was best known for her fabulous cooking and generous heart.
She leaves four children, Wayland Jr. (Nancy) of Woodstock, Ronald (Dianne) of Pomfret, Susan (Eric) Fallenius of Woodstock and Deborah Pratt of Woodstock; 23 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren; three brothers: Frank Currier of Pomfret, Thomas Currier of Putnam and Robert Currier of Florida. She was predeceased by eight siblings, stepson Richard Sheldon, granddaughter Cindy Whitehouse, great granddaughter Ashley Sheldon and great great grandson Hayden Young.
Calling hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at Smith &Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 29 at the Christ Episcopal Church, 521 Pomfret St., Pomfret, CT. A light luncheon will be held directly after the services in the church hall. Burial will be later at Quassett Cemetery in Woodstock. Donations: Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, P.O. Box 222, So. Woodstock, CT 06267.
Lillian Murphy,
church member
PUTNAM — Lillian Elizabeth Murphy, 104 of Putnam, and Thompson, died Oct. 15, 2011, at Pierce Memorial Baptist Home in Brooklyn.
She was born Nov. 2, 1906, in Putnam, daughter of Zoe (Dumas) and Norbert Beaudreault. She was the wife of John T. Murphy of Pomfret, whom she married in 1936. He died in 1967.
Having lived in Putnam for almost 80 years, she moved with family to Thompson.
She enjoyed travel, reading, cooking favorite recipes, and sharing stories with friends. She had a talent for piano playing and loved listening to music. She guided many paths with her natural ability as a good listener. She was a communicant of St Mary Church of the Visitation, where she was a life member of the League of Catholic Women.
She leaves her daughter, Elaine Chicoine (Jean) of Sun City Center, Fla.; grandchildren: Stephanie Johnson (Erik) of S. Windsor, Jason Chicoine (Denise) of Pomfret, Dana and wife Tracy of Andover, Mass., Susan Satterly of Southern Pines, N.C., Sandra Nelson (George) of Vaas, N.C., and Dean (Wendy Stocks) of Putnam; seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Ruth E. Stocks, and son-in-law, Edward A. Stocks, in 2000, and a great granddaughter, Kimberly Satterly.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Oct. 18 St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Pierce Memorial Baptist Home, Brooklyn. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Thomas J. Toolan,
church member
DAYVILLE — Thomas Joseph Toolan, 93, of Ware Road, formerly of Putnam, died Oct. 10, 2011, in Westview Healthcare Center. Born in 1917 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Thomas and Deborah (Lynch) Toolan.
Mr. Toolan worked for the Putnam Woolen Manufacturing Co. and later Hale Manufacturing. He was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. He was a member of the Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, and the Monsignor Jean C. Mathieu Assembly, Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. He enjoyed watching baseball and was an avid Red Sox fan.
He leaves a brother, Joseph F. Toolan; a sister, Anna E. Toolan, both of Dayville. Tom was predeceased by his sister, Mary T. Toolan who died in 2008.
A graveside service was Oct. 15 in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Evelyn Barrette,
worked at Belding
N. GROSVENORDALE — Evelyn B. Barrette, 92, formerly of Riverside Drive, died Oct. 14, 2011, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam.
She was born in Natick, Mass., daughter of the late Joseph and Melina (Forcier) Barrette and lived in N. Grosvenordale most of her life. She worked for many years at Belding Heminway in Grosvenordale, retiring in 1982. She was a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale.
She leaves nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Aldor Barrette, Joseph Barrette, Robert Barrette and Alfred Barrette; also by her sisters, Corinne Charbonneau and Bella Blain.
Services were held at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.