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Barbara S. Richards,
church member
WOODSTOCK — Barbara S. Richards, 88, of Woodstock passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Feb. 10, 2012, at home.
Born in Norwalk, she was the daughter of Herbert and Myrtice Siegmund. She lived in S. Woodstock for over 60 years.
Barbara and James Richards raised their family while working hard as partners to build their business, Modern Home Products, Inc., which was at the current site of Windy Acres in S. Woodstock. After James’s death in 1967, Barbara enjoyed a long and happy career at Citizens National Bank, retiring as a Senior Loan Officer in 1990. Barbara loved playing competitive Bridge, completing NY Times Crossword puzzles, and she enjoyed road trips all over New England. During her retirement, her travel adventures included New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Alaska. She was a lifelong, loyal fan of the Red Sox, UConn Huskies, tennis and golf. She was an honest, moral, no-nonsense, practical and loyal person with a wonderfully wry sense of humor. Easy to laugh, easy to help, easy to listen, she was the one to count on for good advice.
She leaves three daughters, Cynthia Richards Wood, of Webster, Barbara Richards Eslinger, of Pomfret and Jan Richards-Schmidt of E. Killingly; two sons-in-law, Robert S. Eslinger and Roland H. Schmidt; six grandchildren, Keith R. Eslinger, Neal C. Eslinger, Tara Wood Myers, Elizabeth O’Connor, Lynn Marie Richards, and David Scott Hilton, and five great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Evelyn Richards Russell. She was predeceased by her two siblings, Warren Siegmund and Thelma Goodier. Mrs. Richards was also predeceased by her husband, James Ernest Richards Sr., a World War II veteran (Normandy), who died in September of 1967, and subsequently by her son, James E. Richards Jr., a Vietnam veteran, who died in 2002.
A Celebration of Life Service was Feb. 18 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam; Donations: Paralyzed Veterans of America, 7 Mill Brook Road, Wilton, NH 02086 https://secure.pva.org/site/ American Red Cross, PO Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018; https://american.redcross.org/ Salvation Army Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 509, Hartford, CT 06141-0509 http://salvationarmyusa.org/.
Claire J. St. Jean,
mother of 4
PUTNAM — Claire (Bessette) St. Jean, 79, of Perry Street, died Feb. 17, 2012, at home.
She was the wife of Gerald G. St. Jean.
Born in 1932 in Fall River, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Blanche (Cote) Bessette.
Mrs. St. Jean worked as an administrative assistant with Family Services for the State of Connecticut. She also worked for the Clerk of Courts, and Loos & Co.
Mrs. St. Jean loved playing bingo, especially enjoying the many friends she met at the local bingo games. She was a huge supporter of her children and grandchildren’s athletic and musical endeavors. She was a “Den Mother” for many years to hundreds of football players for the St. Mary’s Crusaders’ that she and her husband Gerald founded. They were co-founders of and publishers of the “Sportlight Magazine.”
Claire and her family were very talented musically. She enjoyed playing the piano and was a choir member for many years in St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation. She was an avid bowler throughout her life. She bowled with the “Bowlerettes,” and continued in various leagues until recently. She appeared on Candlepins for Cash in the early 1970s. She also enjoyed taking pictures, leaving her family with a lifetime of memories. Claire will always be remembered for her kind, friendly, caring manner and her beautiful contagious smile; always being the “eternal optimist.”
Claire was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. She was a past president of the C.S.E.A. She was an ambassador for the Deary Memorial Road Race and participated in the annual Relay For Life.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her sons, Kevin St. Jean *Nancy) of Brooklyn, Timothy St. Jean (Vicki) of Putnam, and James St. Jean (Debra) of E. Killingly; daughter, Laurie Sevigny (Michael) of Riverside, R.I.; brother, Richard Bessette of Florida; sisters, Alice Coderre of Putnam and Rita Johnsen of Florida; grandchildren, Sadie, Andrew, Seth, Nicholas, Jillian, and Krista; her step granddaughter, Sarah; and her step-great-granddaughter Ella. She was predeceased by her brothers, Adrian Bessette and George Bessette; and her lifelong friend, Harriette Drinan.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 22 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 23 in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial follows in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: DKH Deary Memorial Road Race; or to Hospice of NECT, both at P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.
Steven Cloutier,
father of 7
DANIELSON — Steven J. Cloutier, 50, of Fairview Street, died Feb. 11, 2012, at UMass Memorial in Worcester. He was the husband of Anita (McGovern) Cloutier.
Mr. Cloutier was born in Providence, son of the late Leo and Adelina (Bonar) Cloutier. He had been employed for several years at the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics. He served nearly eight years in the U.S. Army National Guard followed by four years of service in the U.S. Navy. He was also a former volunteer firefighter in Ashaway, R.I. Beginning in 1999, he worked at Hi-Tech Profiles in Pawcatuck, for five years where he met his wife. Most recently he was working in Gales Ferry, as a security guard for Securitas.
He liked to fix just about anything in or around the house but enjoyed working on cars and small engines the most.
He leaves his wife Anita; son Phillip Coad (Stephanie) of Nashua, N.H,; two daughters Kathy and Steffanie Cloutier of Ashaway; siblings Lawrence Cloutier (Linda) of Bradford, R.I., Cheryl Blanchette (Bailey) of Lake Mary, Fla., Sharon Roode (David) of N. Stonington, Janice Rubin (Stephen) of N. Stonington, Sheila Joslin Jr. (George) of Ashaway, Lorraine Fleck (Michael) of Apollo Beach, Fla.; mother-in-law Therese McGovern of Woodstock; four stepchildren, Ronald, Nicole, Justin and Craig Dumas; three grandchildren.
A memorial Service was Feb. 18 at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Donations: Charity of the donor’s choosing.
Jean Walker,
mother of 3
PUTNAM — Jean Walker, 76, of Heritage Road., died Feb. 16, 2012, unexpectedly at home. She was the wife of and best friend to John T. Walker Sr.
Born in 1935 in Worcester, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Mary (DiStefano) DiBaro.
Although she enjoyed traveling and visiting new places, she mostly loved to be home entertaining and cooking for her family and many friends. She was happy to be home working in her gardens, attending to her German Sheppards, taking long walks, and being outdoors. She was a past member of the Safari Club International, N.E. Chapter, and was an avid big game hunter.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her son, Stephen Cusson and his fiancée Charla Jones of AK; daughters, MaryJean DuPaul and her partner Jeffery Lind of AK, and Joan Cusson and her husband Russell Karlstad of AZ; brother Michael DiBaro of Auburn, Mass.; sisters, Palma (Dolly) Ostergard of New Braintree, Mass., Margaret Campbell of New Hampshire, Mikki Xanders of Colorado, Antoinette Entwistle of Worcester, Joyce McLeod of N. Brookfield, Mass., and Donna Cote of W. Boylston, Mass.; grandchildren, Joshua DuPaul, Jarred DuPaul, Jonathan DuPaul, and Ashley Cusson; several step-children; and step-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brothers, Dominic DiBaro and Francis DiBaro.
The Funeral Gathering will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 22 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence Street. Burial follows in St. John Cemetery, 260 Cambridge, St., Worcester. Donations: St. Jude Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Leonard J. Boutin,
steel worker
PUTNAM — Leonard J. Boutin, 84, of Smith Street, died Feb. 17, 2012 in UMass Memorial University Campus. He was the husband of Therese (LeClair) Boutin. They were married April 22, 1950, in St. Mary Church. Born in 1927 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Albert and Helen (Thomas) Boutin.
Mr. Boutin worked as a steel worker for Wyckoff Steel. He enjoyed making and playing guitars and fixing all sorts of small appliances. He was an avid fisherman and was a hunter.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his very special godchild Irene Rice (Jim); other godchildren, Edwina Hansen, Patricia Pribula, Nancy Berube; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Marguerite D. Boutin and Lillian Rogalski.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 21 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Mary Church, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Pauline Reissmann,
courthouse clerk
BROOKLYN — Pauline Reissmann, 70, of Plaza Street, died Feb. 12, 2012, at home.
She was the daughter of the late Gerard and Cecilia (Rainey) Blais. She was born on July 7, 1941, in Putnam. She was a member of the French Club in Danielson.
She loved to shop on QVC and she loved her dog Spike and her cat Lucy.
Pauline was employed by G.A.11 Courthouse of Danielson for over 36 years retiring as a deputy clerk.
She leaves a daughter Shelley Racine of Plainfield, a son Eric Reissmann and his girlfriend Joyce Erwin of Dayville, a sister Therese Belisle of Haddam; four grandchildren, Erica, Kyle, Kirt, Kaitlyn and a great-granddaughter Alyssa.
There was a Memorial Service Feb. 18 at St. James Church, Danielson. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Patricia E. Rogers,
school bus driver
PUTNAM — Patricia E. Rogers, 75, of Iverness, Fla., formerly of Putnam, died Feb. 13, 2012, in the Citrus Memorial Hospital, Iverness.
She was the wife of James L. Rogers. Born in 1936 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Emma (LaCombe) Deotte.
Mrs. Rogers worked as a school bus driver and moved to Iverness, from Putnam 30 years ago. Her hobbies included bowling, skeet shooting, billiards, playing cards “poket.”
She was a member of the VFW Post 7122 Ladies Auxiliary in Floral City, Fla.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her daughter, Tracey McNeely of Floral City; stepdaughter, Mindy Ashworth-Yeaw of N. Scituate, R.I., grandchildren, Amanda, James, Andrew, Emma, Colton, and Raylan. She was predeceased by four brothers and two sisters.
Visitation is from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 3 p.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., with burial in St. Mary Cemetery.
Walter Gontowski Sr.,
musician
WEBSTER — Walter B. Gontowski Sr., 94, died Feb. 5, 2012, at the Lanessa Extended Care Facility. He was born on April 13, 1917, in Webster to the late Frank and Pauline (Taraszkiewicz) Gontowski.
Walter “Bill” was well known for his musical abilities having mastered the trumpet and many other musical instruments.
Mr. Gontowski was a member of St. Joseph Basilica.
He leaves his wife of 73 years, Stasia (Marcinczyk) Gontowski; his daughter, Carole Allard Holley (Paul) of Waleska, Ga.; and his son, Walter S. Gontowski Jr. (Rose-Marie) of Prescott, Ariz.; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson. He was predeceased by his brother, Stanley Gontowski, his twin sister, Gladys Borowski, sisters Josephine Weiss, Harriet Moradian and Helen Krawczyk as well as his son-in-law Alfred Allard.
The Funeral Mass was Feb. 11 in St. Joseph Basilica, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace.
Donations: St. Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street, Webster, MA 01570. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral