Stephen R. Peluso,
military vet
ROTONDA, Fla. — Stephen R. “Steve” Peluso, 82, of Rotonda, formerly of Putnam, died July 7, 2020, following a four-month battle with cancer. 
He was born Aug. 16, 1937, in Putnam, son of Nick and Louise Peluso.  He was the husband of Bettina (Rogala) Peluso. They were married Oct. 13, 1979.
Mr. Peluso graduated from Putnam High School in 1955, where he starred as an undersized lineman for the football Clippers of coach Jim Greenhalgh.  He earned a BS degree from UConn in 1963, where he also attended graduate school.  He also attended graduate programs at Central Connecticut State University, University of Hartford and Trinity College.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, July 1963 – December 1963.  He served in the Connecticut National Guard, 250th Engineering Co. from July 1963 to June 1971.  He was honorably separated from the unit with the rank of Sergeant (E-5), serving as a personnel specialist. 
Peluso enjoyed a lengthy professional career with the state.  His most recent position was assistant regional director for Administration for DMR Region 3. Previously he was institutional business manager at the Hartford Regional Center; administrative officer in the State Budget Division; personnel assistant at the State Department of Education; business officer at Central Connecticut State University; and administrative trainee purchasing for the Connecticut Labor Department – Social Security Division.
He was an avid UConn Husky fan and a rabid New York Yankee fan residing in the heart of Boston Red Sox territory.  Mr. Peluso was a 31-year member of the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 of Putnam and a longtime member of the Putnam Lodge of Elks #574.  He was a voracious reader, enjoyed a round of golf with friends and was a fan of cowboy western movies. 
In addition to his wife, he leaves four nieces and nephews; cousins and relatives in the Putnam area; friends, acquaintances and former work buddies in the Putnam and Greater Hartford region.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sisters Angelina Peluso, Evelyn Baxter and Ester Kragsnoger and a brother John Peluso. 
Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood, Fla.  Donations: American Cancer Society; or to the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13, P.O. Box 123, Putnam, CT 06260-0123.

Louise Elizabeth Longo
PUTNAM — Louise E. Longo, 78, wife of attorney Nicholas A. Longo of Putnam, died July 8, 2020, after a lengthy illness. She was born Nov. 6, 1941, and was raised in Putnam. She graduated from St. Mary’s School and Putnam Catholic Academy, and attended UConn.
Louise was an avid observer of nature and a wide-ranging reader and strong believer in education.
Mrs. Longo is the beloved mother of four children, James Nicholas Longo of Marion, Ohio, David John Longo of Putnam, Maureen Elizabeth Ryan of Putnam, and Kevin Joseph Longo of Danielson.
The Funeral was private. Donations: Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation, 742 Upper Maple St., Danielson CT 06239; and Matulaitis Rehabilitation & Skilled Care, 10 Thurber Road Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Phyllis M. Brodeur
PUTNAM — Phyllis M. Brodeur, 95, of Woodstock Ave., died July 6, 2020, at Westview Healthcare. Phyllis was born on May 23, 1925, in the family home in Danielson, daughter of the late Arthur and Pearl (Regis) Brodeur.
Phyllis attended St. Mary’s School in Putnam and graduated from Putnam Catholic Academy. She studied nursing in Hartford and received her radiology Certificate from Fitchburg Hospital. She worked in the X-ray department at Fitchburg Hospital and at Harrington Hospital and last worked in the Nuclear Medicine Department at Day Kimball Hospital.
Phyllis enjoyed playing golf, bowling, and singing in the St. Mary Church choir. She enjoyed visiting what she called the “Indian Mission” but never on Sunday. She had an infectious laugh and welcoming personality.
She leaves her sister-in-law, Theresa Brodeur; nephews, Michael (Maureen) Brodeur, Mark (Lori) Brodeur, great-niece Melanie (Bill) Korzon, Matthew (Jessica Costa) Brodeur, Roger and Joshua Brodeur; great-great-nephew and niece, Billy and Madeline Korzon; life-long friend Grace Brelsford. She was predeceased by siblings: Jacqueline and R. Roger Brodeur.
The Mass of Christian Burial was July 14 at St. Mary Church with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: Memory Lane Café at Day Kimball Hospital, 320 Pomfret Rd., Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. 

Deborah A. Mayhew
PUTNAM — Deborah Ann Mayhew, 68, of Putnam, died June 30, 2020, at Day Kimball Hospital.
Born Jan. 6, 1952, in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late John and Susie (Minichiello) Brisson Jr.
Deborah was a Communicant of St. Mary Church in Putnam, a member of the VFW Auxiliary, the Emblem Club of Putnam. She worked as a hair dresser and a textile worker. Deborah was an avid baker and enjoyed crafting and could make anything.
She leaves her children Brian Mayhew (Kirsten) of Pipe Creek, Texas, Jonathan Mayhew (Amber) of Colchester, and Heidi Mendence (Christopher) of Somerset, Mass.; her siblings Linda Therrien (Wayne) of Pomfret, Donna Nason of Putnam, and John Brisson III (Cheryl) of Moosup; grandchildren Lydia, Xavier, Nora, Ellery, Charlotte and Violet; her great-grandchildren Grayson and Gabriel. She was predeceased by her siblings William Brisson, Sandra Vassar, James Brisson and Joseph Brisson
The Mass of Christian Burial was July 7 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Providence Street, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Anita P. Beardsley
WEBSTER — Anita P. (Stelmach) Beardsley, 81, died July 9, 2020, in her home. Her husband of 46 years, James L. Beardsley, died in 2015.
She was born and raised in Webster, daughter of Sylvester and Florence (Girardin) Stelmach and lived here most of her life. She lived in Conway, S.C., for 11 years returning here in 2016.  She graduated from Brom’s Academy in Worcester.
She first owned and operated Anita’s Beauty Chateau in Oxford for several years.  She then was the co-owner with her husband A & J Tile Company in Webster before retiring in 2005. She was a member and former lector at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.  She also belonged to St. James Church in Conway while she lived there.  She enjoyed all board games, playing cards and being a member of the Pitch League at the TSKK until last year.  In her younger years she bowled in leagues at the Mohegan Bowl-A-Drome.
She leaves 5 children, Valerie J. Hedge and her partner Craig Shea, Debbie L. Errara (Jim), Patricia A. Lucier and her partner James Marino, and David V. Beardsley, all of Webster, and Jaimee L. Toutant (Craig) of Putnam; a daughter-in-law, Laurie L. Beardsley of Webster; 12 grandchildren, Denae, Derek, Anthony, Dominic, Andrea, Dalton, Sydney, Courtney, Breanna, Christopher, Madison and Morgan; 6 great-grandchildren, Ayden, Lianna, Rosalie, Julian, Violet and Lennox; a brother, Raymond Stelmach and 2 sisters, Connie Marrier and Barbara Orlowski, all of Webster. She was predeceased by her sister Rita Kus and by her brother Ronald Stelmach.
The Funeral Mass was July 14 in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Webster, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery.  Donations: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 18 East Main St., Webster, MA 01570; or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 202 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, Webster.

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Graduates
BOSTON — Camile Harvanek of N. Grosvenordale graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

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POMFRET — Buck’s Soft Serve, LLC of Woodstock Valley, set up a donation bucket at their checkout on their website and raised more than $4,500 for the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp.
Buck’s owners Judy Buell and Emilie Hebert and their families opened the serving windows to the public in 2018 on the farm originally owned by Harvey Buck, grandfather to Judy’s husband Ben.
In pre COVID-19 times, visits to the goat pen, bunny cages, and chicken coops, playing corn hole and hula hoops by the tables under the shade tree made it a wonderful family destination. Because of COVID-10, they switched to a curbside service in the former parking area. 
Both Judy and Emilie were 4-H club members and attended camp when they were kids.   Emilie was born and raised on a dairy farm and went to camp throughout her childhood, “making memories and friends that I cherish to this day”.  She has been leading cow camp since 2016 and also does Farm Camp.   Judy and her children also grew up as 4-Hers and attended camp.  Judy became a club leader and also served on the advisory group to the Windham County 4-H Fair Board, working with kids in all aspects of running the fair.  Judy said “the friendships I formed and skills I learned from my 4-H experiences are lifelong”.
Despite the temporary change to their business model, they were concerned enough about the virus-induced problems the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp was experiencing, that they set up a donation bucket at their check out and on their website and since the beginning of May, more than $4,500 has been raised at Buck’s for the 4-H Camp.


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