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Richard T. Cass,
Navy veteran
WOODSTOCK — Richard Tyler Cass, 77, of Woodstock died Aug. 9, 2012, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. He married Jean (Fosberg) Cass Feb. 29, 1964, in Hartford.
Richard was born Feb. 18, 1935, in Albany, N.Y., son of the late Francis and Katharine (Holmes) Cass.
His father died in WWII, and Richard was raised thereafter by his mother and Raymond Reeves. Richard served in the U.S. Navy. After the Navy Richard worked as a social worker and community organizer. He took great pleasure in the company of people from all walks of life, and was a lifelong advocate for others. He worked in many communities; he loved both the inner city and the country. His experience included communities in Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Richard loved to sing, fish, play ice hockey, and was known for his humor and storytelling. He enjoyed the outdoors, the ocean, and music. After retirement, he served on the Board of Finance for Woodstock.
He leaves his wife Jean; daughters Eleanor Katharine Cass of Woodstock, Sarah Rachel Desmond (Edward) of Boston; a granddaughter Tara Rosamunde Cass of New Haven; grandson Tyler John Desmond of Boston. He was predeceased by a daughter Laura Virginia Cass in 1985 and a granddaughter Madeline Rose Desmond in 2012.
A Memorial Service will be held at noon Aug. 26 at Christ Episcopal Church of Pomfret, 521 Pomfret Street (Rt.169), Pomfret, with burial in Christ Church Cemetery. Donations: American Heart Association, PO Box 5022, Wallingford, CT 06492. Smith &Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Vivian B. Grochmal
BROOKLYN — Vivian B. Grochmal, 93, of Brooklyn, died Aug. 8, 2012. Vivian was born on Jan. 26, 1919, to the late Joseph and Elizabeth LaPointe in Fall River, Mass., where she spent most of her childhood.
She married James D. Riley in 1937 and after WWII migrated to Danielson, where they owned and operated Liberty and Casino Bowling Lanes for 20 years.
She leaves three Riley children, James F. Riley, Diane E. Shields, and Daniel Riley. Her husband James died in 1966. She was also predeceased by her parents, three brothers, Lionel, Armand and Roger and two sisters, Estelle Riley and Irene Kirkwood.
In 1967, Vivian married Stanley Grochmal and mothered four of his children, Maryann Szela, Dorothy Grochmal, Stanley Grochmal and Thomas Grochmal. She is predeceased by husband Stanley and his son Stanley. The combined families produced 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren from the Riley family and three grandchildren from the Grochmal family. The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 13 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6932 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814; or to the charity of their choice. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Mary H. Leboeuf,
mother of 2
WEBSTER — Mary H. Leboeuf, 95, of School Street, formerly of N. Grosvenordale, died Aug. 6, 2012, in Hubbard Hospital. She was the wife of the late Laurent P. Leboeuf.
Born in 1917 in Blackstone, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Pyzik) Wojick.
Mrs. Leboeuf was a cafeteria worker for the Thompson Public Schools. She also worked for the Cluett-Peabody Company. Mrs. Leboeuf enjoyed bowling, playing Scrabble, Word Jumble and her family.
She leaves her son, Larry Leboeuf and his partner Gayle Salisbury of N. Grosvenordale; daughter, Elaine Murdock (William) of Webster; brother Frederick Wojick (Rachel) of Thompson; grandchildren, Jason Leboeuf (Danielle) of Worcester, Kristen Lemire (Douglas) of Worcester, Charlene Bolduc (John) of Webster, and William Murdock (Shawna) of Dudley; great-grandchildren, Erin Murdock and Grace Murdock. She was predeceased by her sister Stella Feige.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 11 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.
Mary Jane Guertin
Mary Jane Guertin, 78, formerly of Putnam, but recently living with her daughter Claudette Hill and family in Plainfield, died Aug. 7, 2012.
She was the wife of Henry Guertin who died Feb. 8, 2008.
She was born Nov. 11, 1933, in Norwich, daughter of the late Cleo Sr. and Lena (Louis) Laroche.
Mary Jane worked for Linemaster as an assembler. She enjoyed reading, solving word puzzles, sitting on the porch and watching the birds, watching her beloved UConn women’s basketball team, talking on the phone with Rita and friends, as well as baking her granddaughter Amanda her favorite pie.
She leaves her daughter by Claudette Hill and son-in-law Kevin O’Brien; daughter Terry Wilson (John); son Henry Guertin II; grandchildren, Amanda, Bhavin, Patrick, Tessa and William; sister Rita and brother-in-law Walter; sister Rose of California, a sister-in-law Gail of Plainfield. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband, a brother Cleo Jr., sister Terry, and her aunt, Rose Richmond who Mary Jane cared for.
Calling hours were Aug. 10 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial later.
H. ‘Harry’
Townshend Jr.
NEW HAVEN/POMFRET — Henry “Harry” H. Townshend Jr., 92, died July 28, 2012, at home after a short illness.
Harry Townshend lived in Pomfret part time since 1956 after purchasing 1,200 acres from Ethel Barber for farming, fishing and hunting. Each fall since 1967 Ragged Hill Farm has been used by the New England Bird Dog Championship for the regional field trials. A responsible breeder of English Setters, Harry trained his dogs for field trials throughout the country. In 1987 he was inducted into the National Field Trial Hall of Fame.
The property in Pomfret also includes the site of the “Lost Village of the Higginbothams,” a local historical ruins which has been used by the Windham 4-H Camp, Ragged Hill Woods Environmental Education program and Pomfret Community School for educational purposes. In 1995 he funded an archaeological dig at Lost Village which was supervised by state Archaeologist Nick Bellantoni.
A direct descendant of Israel Putnam, Harry felt a deep connection to the Quiet Corner. He spent many happy years hunting, fishing and experimenting with agriculture including growing flax which was once grown on the farm in the 1700s. He grew broom straw and tried to resurrect the chestnut trees which had been destroyed by the chestnut blight.
He enjoyed flint knapping and all things connected to natural history and the outdoors. He taught fly-tying for many years at Yale and spent summers fishing on his ranch in Montana. An artist in many mediums, he created a 30-foot long giant squid which hangs in the Peabody Museum, New Haven. A WWII veteran, he was honorable discharged as a captain after the war. He was a superintendent of Marlin Firearms Co., in New Haven and director of the First Union Trust Co. He also owned the J.T. Henry Manufacturing Co. where he invented many tools and gun-parts and held patents on several inventions and innovations. He was active in many civic affairs.
Besides his wife of 70 years, Deb (Biesterfeld), he leaves five children and their spouses: Sharon Townshend and Fred Fauver of Pownal, Maine, Cynthia Townshend-Lacock (Darrell) of N. Guilford, Hervey Townshend (Pamela) of Guilford, Nancy Townshend-Vess (Karl) of Harwich Port, Mass., and Timothy Townshend (Sue) of Pomfret; 10 grandchildren and spouses and a dozen great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Center Church on the Green in New Haven.
Kevin C. Valade,
worked in sales
N. GROSVENORDALE — Kevin C. Valade, 53, of Reardon Road, died Aug. 5, 201, in Dudley.
Born in 1959 in Putnam, he was the son of Rita (Groh) Rohr of N. Grosvenordale and the late Joseph Valade. Mr. Valade worked in sales for R.E. Prescott in Exeter, N.H.
Kevin was an avid golfer and enjoyed following all of the Boston sports teams.
He was the past president of the Thompson Lions Club.
In addition to his mother, he leaves his step father, Gordon Rohr of N. Grosvenordale; brothers, Joseph Valade (Linda) of Woodstock, Wayne Valade of N. Grosvenordale, and step brother Greg Rohr of Byron, Ill.; sisters Jacqueline Sujdak (John) of Dudley, Michelle Marcinczyk (Richard) of Dudley, and Kirsten Johnson (Brendan) of N. Grosvenordale; several nieces and nephews; and Danielle Mitchell of Pittsfield, Mass., a daughter-like figure who he helped mentor.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 11 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery in Webster. Donations: St.. Joseph Church 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255; Overlook Hospice, 88 Masonic Home Rd., Charlton, MA 01570; or Thompson Lions Club, P.O. Box 28, Thompson, CT 06277. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Rose Marie Williams,
mother of 2
DAYVILLE — Rose Marie Williams, 68, of Conrad Park died Aug. 5, 2012, at Regency Heights in Danielson. She was the wife of the late Donald Williams who died in 2003.
Rose was born Jan. 7, 1944, in Putnam, daughter of the late Thomas and Anita (Bourdia) O’Brien.
Rose enjoyed doing word searches and loved to send birthday, anniversary and special cards to her family.
She loved decorating for the holidays. Rose was a member of the High Pointe Church in Thompson.
She leaves a son Kevin O’Brien and his girlfriend Tina Lefebvre of Dayville; a daughter Lisa Girard (Roland) of Brooklyn; brothers; Thomas O’Brien Jr. (Sybil) of Canterbury, Robert O’Brien (Cindy) of Putnam and Michael O’Brien (Edith) of E. Haddam; grandchildren; Ashley Lynn O’Brien, Gabriel Gideon and Joseph Michael; her special friend and neighbor Alice. She was predeceased by her sisters Maryann Roy and Shirley Violette.
The Funeral was Aug. 9 at High Pointe Church, with burial in The High Street Cemetery in Dayville.
Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Michael Surrell
BROOKLYN — Michael A. Surrell, 34, died Aug. 7, 2012 unexpectedly in Thompson. Born in 1977 in Putnam, he was the son of Ronald B. Surrell Sr. of Chicopee, Mass., and Margaret B. (Dart) Surrell of Canterbury.
He was employed by E&C Excavating and Services in Canterbury driving tri-axle dump trucks.
He was an avid street bike rider, enjoyed fishing, loved driving his 2000 Freightliner tri-axle dump truck and loved playing football and coaching his sons from the sidelines. Mike was also involved with Judo where he won the Connecticut State Championship.
In addition to his father and mother, he leaves his step-father, Emmett Shea of Canterbury; his stepmother Donna Surrell of Chicopee; brother Ronald B. Surrell Jr. of Danielson; ex-wife Magen L. Surrell of Sterling; fiancée Stephanie A. Meier of Moosup; children, Brennan M. Surrell of Brooklyn, Alyssa B. Surrell of Brooklyn, Jenna L. Surrell of Sterling, Jayden A. Surrell of Moosup.
The Funeral was Aug. 13 at Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson, with burial in Evergreen Cemetery in Central Village. Donations: The Savings Institute Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 8, Canterbury, CT 06331, to help with final expenses.