Obituaries pg 8 4-14-11
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Bernard LaFountain Sr.,
Korean war vet
PUTNAM — Bernard J. LaFountain, 71, formerly Grove Street, died April 6, 2011, in Matulaitis Nursing Home. Born in 1939 in Webster, he was the son of the late Francis LaFountain Sr. and Theresa (Bonneau) LaFountain.
Mr. LaFountain worked as an upkeep mechanic for Glass Container in Dayville. He was a Korean War Air Force veteran and a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He leaves his daughter, Cynthia Saad (Anthony) of Oxford, Mass.; son, Bernard J. LaFountain Jr. of Webster; brother Ronald LaFountain of Hillsboro, Org.; sisters, Dorothy Franek, Carol Spits and Marilyn Robinson, all of Webster; four grandchildren Jared Saad, Jennifer LaFountain, Anthony LaFountain, and Ryan Prentiss. He was predeceased by his brother, Francis “Skip” LaFountain Jr.
The Mass of Christian Burial was April 8 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial with military honors in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Elaine Henderson,
caseworker
DANIELSON — Elaine G. Henderson, 76, of Westcott Road died April 8, 2011, at Regency Heights in Danielson. She was born Oct. 23, 1934, in Lamar, Mo., daughter of the late George and Genevieve (Beede) Henderson.
She received her bachelor’s of fine arts from the University of Texas. She taught elementary school, high school, and college in San Angelo, Texas, Wichita Falls, Texas and Big Spring, Texas. In 1978 she moved to Pawtucket, R.I. She worked for the State of Connecticut as a caseworker and worked several years at the Dempsey Center. She retired from the State of Connecticut in 1997.
She was an accomplished artist in oil painting, made drawings and three dimensional arts.
She leaves her children: Troy Doyle of Putnam, Cynthia Bastek of Pomfret Center, Karen D’Angelo of Austin, Texas; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a brother George Henderson Jr. of San Angelo. She was predeceased by a brother Douglas Henderson.
A Memorial Service was April 12, at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. Donations: Daily Bread, PO Box 281, Putnam, CT 06260.
Louise Hibbard,
church member
WOODSTOCK — Louise Carolyn Hibbard, 92, died April 4, 201,1 at Regency Heights Nursing Home in Danielson. BornJune 6, 1918, in E. Woodstock on Hibbard Hill Farm, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Maude (Peckham) Hibbard.
Known as “Squeak” to friends and family, Louise was a graduate of Woodstock Academy, Class of 1936. She worked at the Still Water Mill for 20 years. She later was a cook and housekeeper at the Senexet House, and a cook at UConn until retirement. She was a member of the E. Woodstock Congregational Church. She enjoyed watching the UConn Lady Huskies basketball team.
She leaves her nieces and nephews: David Hibbard of Rhinelander, Wisc., Rev Barbara Schreier of Putnam, Donald Hibbard of Woodstock and Linda Worchel of Woodstock; several grand-nieces and grand-nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Chandler and Edna.
Donations: Muddy Brook Fire Department, PO Box 222, East Woodstock, CT 06244. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
James V. McKay,
Korean war vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — James V. McKay, 75, of Fabyan Woodstock Road, died April 2, 2011, at Day Kimball Hospital. Husband of Lucille (Lacoste) McKay, they were married Aug. 28, 1958.
Born July 11, 1935, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Joseph G. and Roseanna (Dionne) McKay.
James worked as a welder for General Motors for 32 years retiring as a supervisor.
He served in the Marines during the Korean war. James loved to ride his motorcycles and hunt. He had taught his children to ride motorcycles at five years old. He loved his woodworking and art work.
Besides his wife he leaves a daughter Karen Desjardins of Plainfield; two brothers, Sam McKay of Vancouver, Wash., and and Carter McKay of Akron, N.Y.; two sisters, Rosemary Simonds of Charlton, and Ellen Keene of Smithfield, R.I.; two grandchildren, Rebecca Desjardins and Kevin McKay. He was predeceased by a daughter Cindy McKay.
Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Carmela Oden,
pharmacist pioneer
THOMPSON — Carmela Oden, 84, of Thompson Hill Road, died March 28, 2011, at home. She was the wife of the late Howard Oden.
Born in 1926 in New Haven, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Mary (Giamo) Perrone.
Mrs. Oden was a pioneer in the pharmaceutical profession by becoming one of the first female pharmacists.
She was a licensed pharmacist in five states and worked for close to 50 years in her profession.
She began knitting in high school by making stockings for soldiers during WWII.
Her lifelong pleasure of knitting resulted in her founding and operating a Putnam yarn shop called The Wool Works, Ltd. before retiring.
She loved animals and enjoyed gardening, reading, and bird watching.
She leaves her children; Wayne Oden of Westford, Mass., and Madeline Oden of Putnam; brother, Carmelo Perrone of Waterford, and four grandchildren, Carly, Brian, Emma, and Steven. She was the sister of the late Josephine Wilbur.
The Funeral gathering was April 1 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Sr. Eleanore Baldoni’s animal rescue, 22 Pearl Ave, Putnam, CT 06260.
Elinor Perrin,
church member
WOODSTOCK — Elinor Williams Perrin, 98, of Rocky Hill Road, died April 5, 2011, at home.
She was born May 4, 1913, at Longmeadow Farm in W. Woodstock, daughter of the late John Marshall II and Ida (Preuss) Perrin.
She spent a good part of her life there on the acres which she loved so much.
Ms. Perrin’s family came to America in 1630 and she is a seventh grandniece of Rev. Stephen Williams, the first minister of the Second Congregational Church of Woodstock (locally known as the Church of the Good Shepherd). She was a member of the church where she was the organist for over 70 years. Her life’s work as a floral designer gave her an opportunity to express her love of nature, flowers and all growing things and her home was full of African violets and other plants.
Ms. Perrin was a member of the West Woodstock Library Board, a volunteer at Day Kimball Hospital for many years, and a charter member of the Northeastern Concert Choir for 35 years.
Elinor was predeceased by her sister, Elisabeth Mildred Perrin.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. April 17, followed by a Memorial Service at 2 at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Donations: Organ Fund of the Church of the Good Shepherd, PO Box 243, South Woodstock, CT 06267. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Virginia Pfund,
former manager
STUART, Fla. — Virginia L. Hopkinson Pfund of Stuart died March 3, 2011.
Born in W. Thompson, she was the daughter of the late John and Rosena (Lee) Hopkinson. She married Heinz R. Pfund in 1957. He died in 1987.
Educated in Thompson, she graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School in 1934. She worked in the Thompson Town Clerk’s office under the Works Projects Administration. She was the assistant office manager at Putnam Finishing Company in Mechanicsville for 19 years.
She then lived in Ridgefield, N.J., until 1980 when she and her husband moved to Florida. She was a trustee of the former West Thompson Methodist Church and was a life member of the Connecticut Order of the Eastern Star.
She leaves her brother-in-law, Adolph Pfund of Stuart.
The Funeral will be at 11 a.m. April 16 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in the W. Thompson Cemetery.
Donations: Hospice of NE Connecticut, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260.
Eleftherios Kostaras,
father of 2
DANIELSON — Eleftherios D. Kostaras “Laphty”, 89, of Wauregan Road, died April 7, 2011, at Harrington Hospital in Southbridge. He was the husband of Mersini (Christopher) Kostaras.
Born June 30, 1921, in Athens, Greece, he was the son of the late Demetrius and Alexandra Kostaras. He worked as a machine operator for Pervel Industries.
He leaves his wife Mersini; son, James Kostaras of Danielson; daughter, Alex Burns of North Carolina.
The Funeral was April 11 at The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Danielson, with burial in Westfield Cemetery. Donations: Oakwood Nursing Center, 11 Pontiac Ave., Webster, MA 01570. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Joseph Mozzer,
WWII vet
DANIELSON — Joseph “Joe” Mozzer, 90, of Katherine Avenue, died April 5, 2011, at Regency Heights Nursing Home.
Husband of Doris T. (Hebert) Mozzer, they were married April 11, 1942, in St. Ignatius Church. She died March 20, 2007. B
orn in Manchester, he was the son of the late Stephen and Julia (Vozna) Mozzer.
He attended local schools, and was a communicant of St. James Church. Joe was proud to be a member of the Merchant Marines. He joined the Marines in 1944, a veteran of WWII, honorably discharged in 1946.
He worked for Rogers Corporation as a machine operator for 46 years retiring in 1984, a member of the Paper Makers Union and the VFW. Joe enjoyed dancing, golfing, fishing, traveling and their winters in Florida.
He leaves two daughters: Cheryl Veilleux (Richard) of Danielson, and Darlene Harvey (James) of Danielson; a sister, Virginia Nycz of New Jersey; grandchildren, Tracey Columbia, Jamie Columbia, Barry Veilleux and Nicole Houle, great-grandchildren, Matthew Hajder, Zachary Hajder, Mackenzie Columbia, Anthony Veilleux and Cooper Veilleux. He was predeceased by eight siblings.
A Memorial Mass was April 11 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery with military honors. Donations: St. James School, 120 Water St., Danielson, CT 06239. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Lewis Olson,
father of 2
WOODSTOCK --- Lewis V. Olson, 38, died suddenly at home on April 7, 2011.
Lewis was born in Southbridge, graduated from Putnam High School and received his bachelor's from Nichols College. Lewis enjoyed home improvement projects, gardening, and World of Warcraft.
He leaves his wife Melanie (Provost) Olson; two children Nathan A. and Emily V. Olson; parents William and Norma (Fortier) Olson of Louisa, Va.; three brothers Carl (Tracey) Olson of Copperas Cove, Texas, Robert (Karen) Olson of Brimfield, his twin William (Andrea) Olson of Putnam; a sister Kori Lyon of Webster.
Donations: Olson Children’s Memorial Fund, Attn: B. Gale, P.O.Box 250, Southbridge, MA 01550. Sansoucy Funeral Home, Southbridge.
Loren DuBois
Navy vet
CHICAGO --- Loren Arthur DuBois, 82, of Chicago, and formerly of Ogden Dunes, Ind., born and raised in Putnam, died April 3, 2011, at home.
He was the son of the late Joseph and Edna (Lavigne) DuBois; brother of the late Joseph; uncle of Richard.
He graduated Yale Class of 1950; served in the U.S. Navy active duty from 1951 to 1954 and Naval reserves from 1955 through the early 1970s, retiring with the rank of commander.
He graduated Wharton School of Finance (University of Pennsylvania) with an MBA in 1955; employed by Marshall Field’s from 1955 until his retirement in 1988, after serving many years as senior vice president Operations.