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David R. Belanger,
mechanic
WOODSTOCK — David R. Belanger, 52, of Woodstock, died June 4, 2012, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was born Oct. 7, 1959, in Willimantic, son of Audrey E. (Taylor) Belanger, with whom he made his home and the late Raymond F. Belanger.
He graduated from Plainfield High School in 1977 and later attended the Rhode Island Trade Shop School. David’s favorite hobby was cooking; he loved the outdoors especially fishing. He was a mechanic and loved to fix things with his hands.
He leaves his mother Audrey of Woodstock; two daughters: Erika Belanger and her fiancé Jonathan of Brooklyn, Amy Belanger and fiancé Tom of Milford; sister, Paula Ilewicz (Edward) of Sterling; granddaughter Madison; grandson Nathan; and nieces. He was predeceased by a brother John Russell.
A Memorial Service was June 11, at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam,
Roland E. Basley,
truck driver
PUTNAM — Roland E. Basley, 51, of Putnam, died unexpectedly May 31, 2012, at home. Roland was a truck driver most of his life. He enjoyed playing his guitar and being a DJ. Roland also did volunteer work at the local senior center to entertain the residents that lived there.
He leaves four siblings; Leonard G. Basley (Cathy) of Moosup, Clarissa (Basley) Cleveland (Randy) of Florida, Raymond Basley (Deana) of Lebanon, and Mae Basley-Dees (Jamie) of Mississippi; long time partner Pamela Carpenter of Putnam; three children; Nicole of Vermont; Jennifer and Samantha Basley of Putnam; two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother Clarissa (Bullard) Basley in 2004 and his father Leonard H. Basley in 2006. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Winona E. Brown,
mother of 2
DAYVILLE — Winona Elizabeth Brown, 40, of Primrose Crossing, died unexpectedly May 31, 2012, at home.
She was the daughter of Raymond Brown and Sylvia (Douglas) Grimes. Winona was born Dec. 28, 1971, in Willimantic. She attended Killingly schools and Quinebaug Community College. She had worked for the Town of Putnam in the Water Department as a secretary, retiring due to illness.
She leaves her mother and step-father Sylvia and Ronnie Grimes of Dayville; two children, Amanda Lee Brown and Shannen Ann Marie Cook; sister Roxanne L. Sylvester (Jeremy); her dog Cheerios. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Beatrice Currier,
church member
POMFRET CENTER — Beatrice Mary Currier, 88 of Pomfret Center, died June 4, 2012, at Regency Heights in Danielson. She was the wife of the late Charles Raymond Currier Sr. He died April 30, 2009.
She was born April 26, 1924, in Greenville, R.I., daughter of the late Camille Eli and Mary Ann (Laramie) Bellavoine. She had made her home in Pomfret since 1949, a member of Christ Episcopal Church, and active with the Church Altar Guild for many years. Beatrice enjoyed knitting and baking.
She leaves her daughter Mary Ann (Currier) Roy of Pomfret Center, and Starke, Fla.; son Charles Raymond Currier Jr. of Arizona; three grandchildren, Charles Raymond Currier III of Pomfret, Rebeecca Lynn (Lange) Suprenant of Pomfret, Cathy (Currier) Erskine of Washington, three great-grandchildren, Valerie and Julie Erskine and Jack Currier. She was predeceased by her brother Theodore Frances Bellavoine.
A Memorial Service was June 11 in Christ Episcopal Church, with burial in Christ Church Cemetery. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Richard H. Davignon,
father of 1
QUINEBAUG — Richard “Dav” Davignon, 71, of Linda Lane, died June 08, 2012, in Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Ann (Fitzgibbons) Davignon for 51 years. Born in 1941 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Joseph and Theresa (Vaillant) Davignon.
Mr. Davignon worked at Wycoff Steel in Putnam for 20 years and for Cranston Print Works in Webster, retiring in 1998. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a life member of the Valley Springs Sportsman’s Club. He loved golf and played regularly at the Woodstock Golf Course.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Richard M. Davignon and his fiancé Cathleen Seraphin of Quinebaug; sister Theresa Perrault of Westfield, Mass.; grandson, Ryan Davignon.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June 12 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in W. Thompson Cemetery. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Viola Robert,
loved animals
PUTNAM — Viola (Langlais) Robert, 94, formerly of Sabin Street, died June 8, 2012, at Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. Born in 1917 in Southbridge, she was the daughter of the late Artistide and Lucia (Genereux) Langlais.
Viola married in 1940 and the couple purchased a home on Pompeo Road in N. Grosvenordale. By 1953 she was raising her four children alone. She worked hard at raising her family as a single mom in a time when doing so was rare, earning a living as a private housekeeper as well as in various manufacturing jobs until her retirement around 1982.
She enjoyed canning. Visiting relatives were treated to a glass of her homemade root beer. And she was an excellent cook, filling the house with wonderful aromas of slow-cooked roast pork, meat loaf, spaghetti and meatballs, and upside down peach cake.
She had a great love for animals such as cats, dogs, and horses. Once her children were grown, her companions were her dogs. Over time she had three dogs Wiggles, Major, and Flash.
Her favorite pastime in her retirement included reading newspapers and magazines, some of which were written in French. She never watched TV but enjoyed listening to the local radio broadcasts of WINY. She enjoyed her trips into town wearing unique and often jeweled hats as they were conversation starters and she loved to make people smile and laugh with her whimsical humor.
She leaves three daughters, Lucille Wolff of Scarborough, Maine, Vivianne Mailloux of Danielson, and Madeleine Sears of Uxbridge, Mass.; a son, Paul Robert of New Mexico; sister Bertha Bonin of Charlton; 10 grandchildren: Peter Wolff of Georgia, Vt., Christine Wolff of Topsham, Maine, Maria Wolff of Portland, Maine, Lisa (Wolff) Leonard of Portland, Maine, Jeanne Mailloux of Woodstock, David Mailloux of Bonnerdale, Ark., Richard Mailloux of Thompson, William Mailloux and Timothy Mailloux of Putnam, Jeffrey Sears of NYC, and 9 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a grandson, Martin Wolff, 11 sisters, and a brother.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. June 15 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, A gathering will begin at 9 a.m. June 16 at Gilman’s, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Putnam. Burial follows in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Prudence Wetherell,
teacher
WOODSTOCK — Prudence Sheldon Wetherell, 59, died June 6, 2012, at home after a 15-month battle with cancer.
She was born March 9, 1953, in Worcester the daughter of Raymond W. Sheldon Jr. and Bernice Waterhouse Sheldon. She lived in Dudley until moving to Woodstock in 1979. A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Prudy taught physical education for 33 years at Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley and coached various sports teams. She retired in 2009.
She leaves her husband of 35 years, George A. Wetherell; children, Kate Wetherell and fiancé Jack Varin of Easton, N.H., and Ivy Wetherell (Lincoln Kamau) of Brooklyn; grandson Amani Kamau; mother Bernice Sheldon of Estero, Fla.; brother, Bruce Sheldon (Jody) of Stamford; two aunts; a special friend, Albert Pilon of Concord, Mass.
A Memorial Service was June 12 at the E. Woodstock Congregational Church, with burial in Quasset Cemetery. Donations: Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, 320 Pomfret St., Putnam, CT 06260; or to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741. Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.
Joseph Henry
Knight III
DANIELSON — June 6, 2012, Joe Knight has reached the shores of Glory and resting in the presence of his Eternal Father after persevering through many years of illness. Joe was born June 14, 2012, in Staten Island, N.Y., and raised as a son of retired Army sergeant Joseph Knight Jr.
After attending high school in Austin, Texas, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a corpsman on the Key West Naval Base in Florida. Joe was a treasure diver for Mel Fisher in the search for the Atocha fortune. He also worked the shrimp boats in Key West as well as drive truck for Dick Traynor of Putnam Connecticut. He was a member of the Willimantic Church of the Nazarene. He was employed by the Vanilla Bean Café as well as a provider of web design services for local businesses. Joe loved gardening herbs and vegetables, the great outdoors, fishing and cooking for family and friends.
He leaves his mother Greta Knight of Danielson; brother John Knight of Danielson; sisters Bonnie Knight of Moosup, Donna Knight-Mayo of Stonington, Greta Lynn Freeman of Plainfield; son Joe Knight IV of E. Brooklyn; daughters Danielle Cassell of Danielson, Jennifer Thompson of Danielson; and canine companion, Sage.
A Memorial Service was June 14 at the Willimantic Church of the Nazarene. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.