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- Category: Past Issues
Barbara R. Doerr,
church member
DAYVILLE — Barbara R. Doerr, 69, of Dayville, went home to the Lord from her home on May 27, 2012. Barbara was the wife of the late Robert I. Doerr. They were married on March 12, 1978.
She was born Nov. 29, 1942, in Altoona, Penn., daughter of the late Ivan and the late Ruth (Ashburn) Dillman. She graduated from Altoona High School in Pennsylvania. She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church Dayville. She enjoyed antiques, history and craft work. She was an avid reader and animal lover. Barbara was deeply religious and was a breast cancer survivor.
She leaves a daughter: Jennifer Doerr-Hicks of Dayville; granddaughter: Tiffany Hicks of Dayville; brother-in-law: David Doerr (Anne) of Loganton, Penn.; sister-in-law Diane Vogt (William) of Lenox, Mass.; cousin Janeth Carlheim (Gene) of Altoona; cousin Jim Shay of Altoona. She was predeceased by her son Gregory DeBenedictis in 2005 and a brother Donald Dillman in 1995.
A Memorial Service will be held in August. Donations: St. Joseph Church, 350 Hartford Pike Dayville, CT 06241. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Carolyn C.
Robbins Pikul,
UNION — Carolyn C. Robbins Pikul, 76, of Union, formerly of Killingly, died May 28, 2012, at home.
She was the wife of the late Francis “Bud” Robbins. She later married Joseph P. Pikul who died in 1996. She was born July 28, 1935, in Putnam, daughter of the late George W. and Ruth (Barber) Coolidge.
She graduated at the top of her nursing class and worked for Day Kimball Hospital in the ICU, where she worked for 20 years and later retired. She was a member of the S. Killingly Congregational Church, a longtime member with her husband of the Waterfowl Counterfeiters where she and Joe enjoyed woodcarving and painting. She was an award-winning painter. She helped to rehabilitate orphaned wild animals including deer, raccoons and skunks.
She leaves two sons and a daughter; Kerry Robbins of Union, Guy Robbins of Union, Angela LeBlanc of Union; sisters, Georgia Ballard of Thompson, Kathleen Alex of Putnam; brother Dwight Coolidge of Atlanta, Texas; grandchildren; Michael, Rebecca, Kerry Jr., Jennifer, Heather, great-grandchildren; Taylor, Jiggy, Budd. She was predeceased by a son Michael Robbins and two brothers, Theodore and Arthur Coolidge.
The Funeral Service was May 31 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.
Kathleen F.
Bonesio-Bessette
DANIELSON — Kathleen Bonesio-Bessette, 61, of Plainview Drive, died May 27, 2012, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of Adrien Doug Bessette.
Born in November of 1950 in Avon, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Rita (McManus) Bonesio. The family moved to Hartford in 1953. Kathleen attended South Catholic High School in Hartford and graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a teaching degree in English and history. She began her career as the branch manager for the Society for Savings Constitution Plaza in Hartford. She left banking to pursue something she loved which was teaching children. She worked with pre-schoolers in St. Joseph School in N. Grosvenordale and kindergarten in St. Mary School in Putnam. She later became a Student Counsel Advisor for both Eastern Connecticut State University and UConn.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her son Matthew Frederick (Meghan); sister Lynn Bonesio-Peterson (John); brothers Robert Bonesio (Deborah), and Richard Bonesio.
Visitation is at 9 a.m. June 6 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: Hospice and Palliative Care of NE CT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.
Deborah O. Collins,
sales exec
MILFORD/WOODSTOCK — Deborah Collins, 50, of Sandpiper Crescent, died May 31, 2012, in Milford Hospital. Born in 1961 in Cranston, R.I., she was the daughter of Joan (Ogden) Collins of Boynton Beach, Fla., and the late Arthur Collins.
Ms. Collins was the North American sales executive for RWS Group. She also worked within the patent industry. She enjoyed sitting in her red chair, relaxing with a glass of red wine.
In addition to her mother, she leaves her son, Donald Jorgensen Jr. of Milford; daughters, Alisha Kallajian (Robert) of Lebanon, Tanya Winarski (Peter) of Lebanon, and Lindsay Jorgensen of Lebanon; sister, Sherrie Collins (husband Ronny Gibson) of Salinis, Calif.; grandchildren, Anastasia Kallajian and Cody James Winarski; nephew, Casey Gibson of Salinis; best friend, Donna O’Shaughnessy of Woodstock; close friend, Harry Arters of Killingly.
The Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. June 7 at The First Congregational Church of Pomfret, 13 Church Road. Gilman and Valade funeral homes.
Wanda J. Mack,
church member
ROGERS — Wanda J. Mack, 91, of Rogers died d away June 1, 2012. She was born Oct. 26, 1920, in Griswold, daughter of the late Frank and Antonia (Wolak) Grondelski. She lived in Rogers all of her life.
She attended schools in Killingly. Wanda was employed at Rogers Corp for many years. She received her LPN certificate and later worked for the State of Connecticut DMR for 15 years. She was a communicant of St. Ignatius and St. Joseph Church. She was a member of the Killingly Grange. Wanda was a prayer lady for CCP program, the Rosary Society and a faithful parishioner. Wanda made the most of life and was always on the go. She played many sports, loved to travel all over and playing cards. Wanda lived by the saying “Que sera sera” whatever will be will be, and lived life to the fullest.
She leaves her children Sandy Wheeler and Scott Mack both of Rogers; granddaughter Ashley Wheeler; three sisters: Jean Grondelski, Bertha Kuszaj and Alice Guay; nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. June 8, at St. Joseph’s Church, Hartford Pike, Dayville. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Lucille M. Lafreniere
BROOKLYN — Lucille M. Lafreniere, 80, of Brooklyn, died June 2, 2012, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. She was born Dec. 22, 1931, in Plainfield, daughter of the late Henry and Dora (Gibeault) Pratte. She was the wife of the late Edmond A. Lafreniere, who died on March 6, 2009.
After remaining at home with her children until they reached school age, she worked at the former LaRosa Macaroni Factory and the former Facet Company in Danielson. She was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson.
She leaves her children, Carol Cady (Norman) of Brooklyn, Susan Burns of Brooklyn, Michael Lafreniere (Joyce) of Brooklyn, Dennis Lafreniere (Debbie) of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Sandra Gallow of E. Killingly; brother Lucien Pratte of Naugatuck; sister Veronica Mathurin (Montcalm) of Brooklyn; 11 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Wayne Lafreniere; brother Adrin Pratte; sisters, Beatrice Pratte and Pauline Weaver.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June 5 in St. James Church, Danielson. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Lawrence J. Plaza,
WWII vet
DUDLEY — Lawrence J. Plaza, 84, of Dudley, died June 2, 2012, in Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge.
He was born in Dudley, a son of Stanley and Gladys (Budrow) Plaza and was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1945.He was a Navy veteran of WWII.
Mr. Plaza first worked as a lens maker at Webster Lens Company and then as a finisher at American Standard in Plainfield for many years, retiring in 1992. He was a member of St. Louis Church in Webster. He was a firefighter for the Dudley Fire Dept. for many years. He also enjoyed telling jokes.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Priscilla M. (Anctil) Plaza; three children, Susan M. Schofield (Gerald) of Woodstock, James R. Plaza (Pamela) of Putnam, and Gail A. Alexander of Dudley; three step-grandchildren; a brother, Carl Plaza of Moultrie, Ga.; step-sister. He was predeceased by a grandson, Nathan Plaza in 2007 and by two brothers, George and Ralph Plaza.
The Funeral was June 6 with burial in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Webster. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.