Gerard J. Cotnoir, WWII Army Air Forces veteran
PUTNAM —Gerard J. Cotnoir, 100, of Van den Noort Street, passed away on May 19, 2026. He was the loving husband of the late Leona (LaVigne) Cotnoir, who he married in 1950.
Born March 31, 1026, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Leo and Clara (LaFlamme) Cotnoir. Gerard was born, raised and lived his entire life in Putnam.
Gerard attended Marianapolis Preparatory School and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces shortly after from 1944 to 1946. After serving in the armed forces he graduated from UConn with his master’s degree in psychology.
Gerard worked as a teacher in South Windsor and Thompson, prior to becoming principal of Putnam Grammar School, a position he held until his retirement in 1988.
He had a passion for photography which began during his time in the service with his military aerial photography training, which became a life-long passion.
He operated a professional studio for many years and was a collector of photography equipment.
He was a long-term member of the Putnam Planning and Zoning Commission, served on the Putnam Police Commission and was a long-time member of the Putnam Rotary Club.
He leaves two sons, Ernest Cotnoir (Madeline Oden) and Marc Cotnoir (Laura (Cortigiano) Cotnoir); son-in-law Gary Samson; grandchildren, Joshua, Gerry and his wife Taylor, Carly, Emma and Nicole; and great-grandson, Zachary.
Gerard is predeceased by his brother, Leo; sisters, Marguerite and Bella; daughter, Michelle; and son, Gerard and his wife Barabra (Smith).
The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was May 23 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam with burial following in St. Mary Cemetery.
Donations: St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, PO Box 665, Putnam, CT 06260; or The ALS Association, 1919 University Ave. W. Suite 175, St. Paul, MN 55104. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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Dr. Francoise Gauthier
PUTNAM — Dr. Françoise Gauthier, 81, of Putnam, passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation Center.
Born Aug. 3, 1944, in Biddeford, Maine, she was the only child of Raymond and Viola (Pomerleau) Gauthier. After graduating from St Bernard High School in New London, Françoise entered the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. She was then known as Sr. Raymond Françoise. She received her bachelor’s in education from Annhurst College and a master’s in Spanish language and literature from Universidad Ibero-Americana in Mexico. Françoise also received two PhD degrees: Biblical Theology from I.B.I.S in Orlando, Fla., and Theology and Parish Administration from the International Seminary, also in Florida.
Françoise began her ministry in education as a teacher and assistant principal at All Hallows School in Moosup. She continued as a teacher at Putnam Catholic Academy then a professor of Spanish and English at Annhurst College. From 1983 to 1995 she served as principal at St Mary School in Putnam and again from 2006 until it closed in 2010.
Françoise separated canonically from the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in 1998 but remained attached in her heart. In 2001, what started as a part-time summer job coordinating the cars and drivers at the Provincial House eventually led to taking on the role of Development Director, a task she was still fulfilling at the time of her death. In that role, she coordinated with many individuals and groups, including the Knights of Columbus.
She loved to travel and her fluency in French, Spanish, Italian and some Portuguese and German helped. Her proficiency in languages was an additional asset as she translated numerous documents and meetings, both large and small, for religious congregations, especially the Daughters of the Holy Spirit and the Bon Secour Sisters in Baltimore for over 25 years.
Under her stern, no nonsense exterior was a generous spirit. She shared her time, talent and resources with a vast network of friends who will miss her greatly.
Calling hours will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday June 3, at Holy Trinity Church, 568 Pomfret St., Pomfret, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held there at 11 a.m. followed by burial at St Mary Cemetery in Putnam.
Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260; or Interfaith Human Services of Putnam, Inc., 53 Grove St, Putnam, CT 06260 for Daily Bread of the Greater Putnam Area. The Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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Jeanne M. (Caron) Huhtala
PUTNAM — Jeanne M. (Caron) Huhtala, 82, of Ballou St, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 15, 2026, at Hartford Hospital after a fall and brief illness.
Jeanne was born May 2, 1944, in Putnam to the late Gerard and Marie (Dumont) Caron. She graduated with honors from St. Mary’s Parochial School, Putnam Catholic Academy, and then Annhurst College in Woodstock. Jeanne was a French teacher at Helen Baldwin Middle School (Canterbury) and Norwich Public Schools for several years, before changing careers to become a CNA.
She spent several years working at St. Christopher’s in Norwich, before moving back to Putnam where she spent the remainder of her career working at Matulaitis Nursing Home. Her favorite hobbies were group activities with her friends at Ella Grasso Apts., spending time with family, and also became an avid Boston sports fan later in life.
She leaves her sister Pauline LaRocque of Warwick, RI.; her son Erik (Charlotte) Huhtala of Putnam; her granddaughter Hayleigh Huhtala of Baltic; nephew David (Judi) LaRocque of Warwick; niece Laura (Stephen) Majeski of Estero, Fla, niece Allana (John) Christian of Londonderry, N.H.; great-nieces and nephews, her weekly caretaker and “other daughter-in-law” Amanda (Roland) Gaucher of Putnam, and a long list of relatives and friends that she loved and cared for deeply. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Gerard E. Caron, ex-husband John Huhtala, and her later fiancé Richard Carignan of North Grosvenordale.
Services will be held at the Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, Friday, May 29, at 9:30 to 10:30 will be calling hours, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation at 11, with a private burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
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