Obituaries pg 8 7-14-11
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Edmond W. Chmura,
WWII vet
BROOKLYN — Edmond W. Chmura, 85, husband of Evelyn (Nash) Chmura died July 8, 2011, at home.
He was born Dec. 13, 1925, in Moosup, a son of the late Louis and Victoria (Budnik) Chmura.
Mr. Chmura was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with Company G, 410th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division in Germany during WWII. He received the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), the American Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Victory Medal.
After his honorable discharge July 8, 1946, Mr. Chmura returned home and learned the automotive trade at Norwich Tech under the GI Bill. He worked as a service technician at Delaney Ford, Santerre Motors, and Del Chevrolet.
In 1951, he met the love of his life, Evelyn Winifred Nash. They were married on Aug. 23, 1952. In 1959, Mr. Chmura opened Ed’s Service Center in Brooklyn. He was joined in business by his son, Tom, in 1976 and shortly thereafter by his youngest son, Pete, in 1980. Mr. Chmura worked alongside his sons, until his retirement in April 2011. He was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson.
Mr. Chmura was a kind and honest gentleman who always enjoyed talking with his customers and socializing with friends and family. He enjoyed boating and camping. He introduced his young boys to the world of stock car racing at Thompson Speedway, and continued to enjoy going to the races with his boys and grandsons, watching the races from his favorite spot of turn 4 in his later years. His greatest joy was his family, and he enjoyed his last Fathers Day with all of his children.
Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter: Priscilla McQuighan (James) of Chesapeake Beach, Md.; three sons: Thomas Chmura of Killingly, Charles Chmura (Lisa Schena) of Pomfret, and Peter Chmura (Dawn Benoit) of Brooklyn; five grandsons: Ryan McQuighan Esq. (Sara Waugaman) of Owings, Md., Dr. Brendon McQuighan and Kyle McQuighan, of Chesapeake Beach, and Chad Chmura and Brett Chmura of Pomfret; three brothers: Longen Chmura of Groton, Arthur Chmura of Moosup, and Irving Chmura of E. Haddam; and his miniature dachshund, Winnie. He was predeceased by two brothers: Frederick Chmura and Theodore Chmura.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was July 12, at St. James Church, Danielson. Donations: The Edmond Chmura Memorial Fund, c/o Jewett City Savings Bank, P.O. Box 335, Jewett City, CT 06351 (for a yearly graduation award to a student attending Ellis Tech who is specializing in automobile mechanics.) Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Alma Hershenov,
owned store
W. PALM BEACH, Fla. — Alma Hershenov, 88, of West Palm Beach, formerly of Brooklyn, died June 17, 2011, in Atlantis, Fla., after an illness.
She married Milton M. Hershenov, April 24, 1957. He died July 1979.
Alma owned and operated The Alice Eleanor Shop, a retail women’s boutique in Danielson.
She was born May 21, 1923, in Willimantic, daughter of John and Blanche (Marcil) Hanoian. She was a graduate of Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson, N.H., and attended Rivier College in Nashua, N.H. Alma moved to Florida after her husband’s death.
A Mass of Christian Burial was July 14, 2011, in Our Lady of LaSalette Church, Brooklyn, with burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Willimantic. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson
James Kerouack,
father of 2
BROOKLYN — James L. Kerouack, 52, ended his one-year battle with brain cancer on July 4, 2011. Jim was born on Nov. 20, 1958, son of Lucille Fusco and the late Louis Kerouack.
Jim grew up in northeast Connecticut and graduated from Killingly High School in 1976.
After achieving his bachelor’s from Fairfield University in 1980, he secured a computer programming position working for Ross Perot at EDS in Dallas.
He moved with EDS to Connecticut in 1985 and continued his information services work with CT National Bank/ Fleet/ Shawmut, Cigna, Putnam Investments, Shoplink.com and finally The Hartford.
Jim was known for his numerous innovations and information technology both in the bank and insurance industries.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed the changing seasons with his crew, The Orangemen, hunting deer on his land in Brooklyn and fishing for bass at his lake home in Maine.
He leaves his wife Tina (Puzzo); sons, Jesse (fiancé Stephanie) of Hartford, Aaron of Boston; his mother Lucille Fusco; sisters Cheryl (Robert) Alubowicz, Sandra (J. Robert) Truman, Pamela (Mark) Warner; his Jersey in-laws. Jim was predeceased by his step-father, Anthony Fusco and maternal grandparents, Stanislas and Arsena Gervais.
The Funeral Mass was July 9 in Sacred Heart Church, Wauregan.
Donations: The National Rifle Association (NRA) www.nra.org; Day Kimball Well-Wishers; or Hospice of NE CT, both PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Beatrice (Lemieux)
Seraphin
FABYAN — Beatrice (Lemieux) Seraphin, 86, of Sunshine Terrace, died July 6, 2011, in Webster Manor Nursing Home. Born in 1925 in Webster she was the daughter of the late Philip and Suzanne (St. Cyr) Lemieux.
Mrs. Seraphin worked as an injection molder for American Optical for many years. She enjoyed bowling and traveling. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 10008 in Quinebaug.
She leaves her sons, Allan F. Korch (Mary) of Wilsonville, Milton L. Korch and his companion Linda Thorstenson of Winn, Maine, and Bradley Paul Korch (Anna) of Charlton, Mass.; brothers, John Lemieux of Beaufort, N.C., Arthur Lemieux of Putnam, David Lemieux of Southbridge, and Robert Lemieux of Dudley; sisters, Theodora Perrone of Welaka, Fla., Helen Dawicki of Webster, Jacqueline Wallen of Wilsonville, and Rose Bernier of Webster, and her dear friend, Frank. She was predeceased by her daughter, Joan Beatrice Mayotte; brother, Joseph Lemieux; sisters, Rita Czernicki and Theresa Turenne.
The Mass of Christian Burial was July 9 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale. Donations: St. Joseph Church, P.O. Box 897, N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255. Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Beatrice L. Masso,
homemaker
DANIELSON — Beatrice (Strain) Masso, 75, of Westcott Road, died June 20, 2011, in UMass Memorial Healthcare. She was the wife of the late Arnold Masso. Born in 1935 in Norwalk, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Strain.
Mrs. Masso was a homemaker who lived most of her life in Carteret, N.J. She was a member of Carteret Senior Citizens Center. She enjoyed cooking, bingo and had many dogs and cats.
She leaves her brothers, David Strain of Danbury, and Frederick Strain of Danielson, Beatrice received special care from her appointed guardians, Mary Lou Verrette, her niece, and Crystal Madera, her great niece, both of Danielson. She was predeceased by her siblings, Mary Anne Clark, Laura Baldino, Elizabeth Strain, Robert Strain, John Strain, Richard Strain, Ernest Strain, and James Strain.
The graveside service was July 7. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Elizabeth Ryan,
church member
DAYVILLE — Elizabeth Ryan, 84, of Dayville, died July 4, 2011, at UMass Medical Center, Worcester.
Betty was born Dec. 10, 1926, in Southbridge, to the late Ernest and Lena Andrews.
Betty was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in Dayville. She was married Aug. 31, 1946, to Richard Ryan Sr. He died in 2000. She loved vacation time with her family camping in North Conway, N.H. She enjoyed reading. She worked for American Optical and retired from Preferred Plastic in 1989.
She leaves a son Richard Ryan Jr. (Theresa) of Dayville; two grandsons, Christopher Ryan and Richard Ryan III; extended family: George Axtell Sr. (Joan), Lena Axtell, her son Ryan Axtell, George Axtell Jr. (Tracy) and their son George Axtell, Phillip Axtell (Amber) and their son Dylan Axtell, Annie Wittmann and her sons Evan Comtois and Mathew Wittmann. Betty was predeceased by a sister Doris Plasse.
The Funeral Mass was July 8 in St. Joseph Church, Dayville with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation www.cff.org. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Shirley White,
church member
WOODSTOCK VALLEY — Shirley C. M. White of Woodstock Valley, died July 5, 2011.
Shirley was born in Bridgeport on April 25, 1924, daughter of the late John and Pauline Marcincin. Shirley and Earl Rand White were married on May 8, 1948 in St. James Church, Stratford. He predeceased her.
After graduating from Stratford High School she graduated from Weylister College, finishing school for girls and later graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University. They lived in Willimantic and later moved to Woodstock Valley. She and Earl lived in a house that they and their five children helped to build.
Shirley was a member of the Woodstock Seniors Citizens and the R.S.V.P and also a communicant of the Most Holy Trinity Church.
She leaves her five children and their spouses: Jesse (Sue) of Coventry, and Jesse’s two sons, Wesley (Tracie) and their two daughters, Ashley and Abigail of Illinois, and Carlton (Valerie) and their son, Carson of Pennsylvania; Eric (Kathy) and their two children, Amanda Marian (Greg) and their two sons, Anthony and Andrew of Florida and their son, Jason of Florida; Brian and his son, Justin, of Pomfret Center; April Goodier (Tim) of Pomfret Center and their three daughters, Eliza and Heather of Pomfret Center, and Sarah and her husband Jeff of Thompson, and their son Daniel; Regina Molnar (Dale) and their children, Jennifer and Brandon all of Hebron. She was predeceased by her brother Carleton John Marcincin and her husband Earl Rand White.
A Mass of Christian Burial was July 8 at the Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret, with burial in St. Michael Cemetery in Stratford.. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Mary C. Brumbaugh,
WWII vet
SANFORD, Maine — Mary C. Brumbaugh, 89, formerly of Danielson, died in her sleep at home July 2, 2011.
She was born on May 7, 1922, in Brooklyn, the oldest daughter of Gladys (Rainville) Carpenter and Jesse R. Carpenter. She was formerly married to U.S. Army Major (retired) David M. Brumbaugh, who predeceased her.
In addition to family, she had two major loves in her life. The first of these was the military. She was a decorated Army veteran, having served with distinction in the Women’s Army Corps during WWII, serving in many locations throughout the South Pacific. After the war, she married David M. Brumbaugh, a career Army soldier. They, together with their two children, traveled to and lived in Europe, the Far East, as well as within the U.S. Many of her fondest memories are of military life. David retired from the Army in 1961 and she then settled in Danielson. Shortly after that, Mary became involved in what would become her second love in life.
That love was the Putnam Public Library. She started at the library in 1964 as an assistant and finally retired 42 years later, in 2006, as head librarian. She had innumerable stories of the wonderful friends made there. And the books – she seemed to know each book in the library.
She leaves two children, Sharon L. Fitts, of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and David R. Brumbaugh of Brooklyn; one sister, Jean L. Fortune, of Greenville, R.I.; one granddaughter, Christine Becotte of Springvale, Maine. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by two sisters, Ella L. Barrette and Alice M. Crabtree. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Woodrow D. James,
worked at Whitcraft
DAYVILLE — Woodrow D. James, 46, of Dayville, died July 10, 2011, at home, after a yearlong battle with leukemia.
Born July 19, 1964, in Norwich, he is the son of Barbara James of Canterbury and the late Woodrow H. James.
Woody worked for a number of years at Kaman Aerospace in Moosup and most recently was employed by Whitcraft in Eastford.
He leaves his wife of 16 years, Susan; two step-children, Joshua Larkin (Holly) and Neysha Larkin; grandson Jason Larkin; one brother Scott James (Lisa) and their sons Thomas and Jacob
The Funeral was private. Donations: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Raymond Withey,
Vietnam vet
DAYVILLE — Raymond H. Withey, 62, of Dayville, died July 9, 2011, at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. He was born Oct. 24, 1948, in Putnam, son of the late Raymond H. and Clara Martha (Waldron) Withey.
Mr. Withey served in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran. He worked at Electric Boat for many years as a first class welder and then later at Superwinch in Putnam until his retirement. He was a member of the VFW Post #4908 in E. Killingly where he served as commanding chief for two terms, member of the American Legion Post #91 in Moosup and the Pomfret Rod and Gun Club.
He leaves his children, Troy M. Withey of Taftville and Deborah J. LeBlanc (Christopher) of Worcester; two grandchildren, Caitlyn M. Withey and Alex C. LeBlanc; two nieces, Michelle Martinik and Melissa Grenier. He was predeceased by his brother, John M. Withey.
Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. July 13 in Tillinghast Funeral Home, 433 Main St., Danielson. Burial will be private. Donations: VFW Post #4908, East Killingly, CT 06243.