Obituaries pg 8 6-16-11
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Gardner Johnson,
WWII pilot
S. WOODSTOCK — Gardner K. Johnson, 86, of Holmeslea Court, died June 7, 2011, at home after a long battle with cancer. He was the husband of the late Nancy L. (Riggles) Johnson. They were married April 10, 1949. She died Feb. 14, 2005.
He was born Nov. 20, 1924, in Warren, R.I., son of the late Charles and Pearl (Senter) Johnson
Gardner worked at Jens Risom for 20 years in N. Grosvenordale and 10 years at Montrose in Auburn, Mass. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Woodstock for over 50 years; he had served as a deacon. Gardner had served in the Air Force as a second lieutenant and a pilot during WWII. He was very active as a volunteer with the Arc of Quinebaug Valley for more than 40 years, 15 years were spent on the volunteer advisory committee and he served as chairman several times.
He leaves a daughter Kathleen Johnson and her husband William of Plymouth, Mass.; two sons Gardner Johnson Jr. of Putnam and Scott Johnson of Woodstock; three brothers; Richmond Johnson of San Diego, Russ Johnson of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Shepherd Johnson of St. Petersburg; three sisters-in-law Nina, Sister and Marcella; two grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister Myrtle and a brother Charles.
A Memorial Service was June 11 at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, with burial in the New Willimantic Cemetery. Donations: Arc of Quinebaug Valley, 687 Cook Hill Road, Danielson, CT 06239. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Sister Alice
Carrow, DHS
PUTNAM — Sr. Alice Carrow, DHS, 83, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit died June 13, 2011, at the Holy Spirit Health Care Center where she has been in residence since 2003.
Sr. Alice was born on March 14, 1928, in Tupper Lake, N.Y., the daughter of the late Adelard and Bertha (LaRose) Carrow. In 1950, she entered religious life and made her religious profession on Aug. 18, 1953, at the Provincial House in Putnam. She was then known as Sr. Elizabeth Adelard.
A graduate of Diocesan Sisters’ College, Sr. Alice earned a bachelor’s in education. Following which she taught in elementary and junior high schools in Waterbury, Jewett City, Moosup, and Plainville, all in Connecticut, and in Burlington, Vt. and Tupper Lake. In 1995 she retired from teaching and did Pastoral work at St. Alphonsus Parish, Tupper Lake. Until her retirement at Holy Spirit Provincial House in Putnam in 2003.
She leaves a sister-in-law, Eileen Carrow of Tupper Lake; nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Calling hours at the Provincial House chapel will be from 6 to 8 p.m. June 16 with a Prayer Service at 7:15. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. June 17 at the Provincial House Chapel in Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Daughters of the Holy Spirit Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT. 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Doris C. Gordon,
church member
PUTNAM — Doris C. Gordon, 93, of Putnam, formerly of Quinebaug, died June 7, 2011, at Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of Milton Gordon. He died in 1986.
She was born Dec. 18, 1917, in Providence, daughter of the late George and Catherine (Schaeffer) Boisclair.
She was a machine operator with Belding Heminway where she retired from after many years. She was a communicant of St. Stephen’s Church for 50 years. She loved going to Foxwoods to play bingo and cards.
She leaves behind many nieces and nephews and her dearest friend Laura Ethier. She was predeceased by her siblings, Florence Barylski, William Boisclair Lillian Deveau Berube, Mildred Aucoin and Irene Whitney.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June 10 St. Stephen’s Church, with burial at W. Thompson Cemetery. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St. Putnam.
Robert Duffy,
WWII vet
BRANFORD — Robert “Bob” Arthur Duffy, husband of the late Mary Ellen (McKenna) Duffy, died June 8, 2011, at Hospice of Connecticut.
He was born on March 21, 1926, in Putnam, to Thomas F. and Margaret (Curran) Duffy.
He graduated from Putnam High School in 1943, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 as a tail-gunner on a B-29, and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a business degree in 1950. He was employed as a special agent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 28 years including assignments in Knoxville, Chicago, and Connecticut.
He was a long time communicant of St. Margaret’s Parish in Madison. An avid Boston Red Sox fan, he loved family vacations at the beach in Weekapaug, R.I. He cherished family visits either on the front porch or around the kitchen table.
He leaves seven children: Thomas F. Duffy (Maureen) of Sharon, Mass.; Mary Ellen Ballard (Robert) of Noblesville, Ind., Margaret Doherty (Brian) of New Rochelle, N.Y., Timothy M. Duffy of Norwich, Patrick J. Duffy (Terry) of Madison, Matthew J. Duffy and his two dogs Foose and Doc of Madison, and Robert E. Duffy (Cheryl) of Hays, Kan; 14 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He was predeceased by his only brother Thomas F. Duffy who died while serving his country in WWII; his wife Mary Ellen of 44 years. A Mass of Christian Burial was June 13 at St. Margaret’s Church, Madison, with burial in Westside Cemetery, Madison. Donations: Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405. Guilford Funeral Home, Guilford.
Beatrice C. Leo,
mother of 3
PUTNAM — Beatrice C. (Gauvin) Leo, 92 of Mechanics Street died June 12, 2011, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of the Late Samuel J. Leo Sr. Born in 1919, in Plainfield, she was the daughter of the late Harvey and Virginie (Bonin) Gauvin. Mrs. Leo was an order picker for the former Sanitary Dash Company. She had also worked for American Optical. She enjoyed bingo and traveling.
She leaves her children, Samuel J. Leo Jr. (Kim), and Debra A. Leo, all of Putnam; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son David A. Bibeau, a sister and two brothers. Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m. June 16 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial follows in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.
Marguerite Liard,
math teacher
LAWTON, Okla. — Marguerite (McLaughlin) Liard, 92, died June 6, 2011. She was the wife of the late Theodore J. Liard Jr. Born in 1918 in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Bridget McLaughlin. Mrs. Liard earned a bachelor’s and a master's degrees in education and was a math teacher in Warwick, R.I., and Maryland. She moved to Lawton after her husband died. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church. She leaves her daughters, Marjorie Pellenbarg (Robert) of California, Denise Flusche (Mark) of Lawton; eight grandchildren; great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, a sister and a niece. A graveside service was June 14 at St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Boy Scouts of America, Last Frontier Council, Black Beaver District, 3031 NW 64th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73116. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.