Obituaries pg 8 9-22-11
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Mark P. Desaulnier,
appraiser
PUTNAM — Mark Peter Desaulnier, 36, of School Street, died Sept. 16, 2011, in an auto accident in Putnam. He was the son of Ronald G. Desaulnier of Thompson and Peggy (Crowley) Desaulnier of Woodstock.
He was born April 14, 1975, in Putnam and attended Woodstock Elementary School, Marianapolis Prep School, Class of 1993, and received his bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut University in 1998. He was a member of the Marianapolis basketball team, which won the Class S 1993 State Championship.
Mark worked for several years as a real estate appraiser in the Waterbury - Meriden area. He had a great passion for sports, his favorites - Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics and the Oakland Raiders. He was a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. Mark had made his home for the last 15 years in western Connecticut, moving back to Putnam in July of 2011.
In addition to his father and mother he leaves a brother Michael Desaulnier (Leanne) of Rockaway, N.J.; two nieces Charlotte and Chloe; uncles: Dennis Desaulnier (Pam) of Eastford; David Desaulnier (Pati) of Putnam; Daniel F. Crowley Jr. of Dana Point, Calif.; aunts: Beverly Spink (Paul) of Brooklyn; Joanne Woodfall (Gordon) of Amesbury, Mass.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 21 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 22 in the Most Holy Trinity Church, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: Connecticut SPCA of Connecticut, 359 Spring Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468.
Leo C. Adams,
WWII vet
PUTNAM — Leo C. Adams, 84, of Killingly Avenue, died Sept. 11, 2011, in Day Kimball Hospital.
He was the husband of Rose M. (Lamiotte) Adams for 58 years. Born in 1927 in Killingly, he was the son of the late Henry and Alice Adams.
Mr. Adams worked in highway maintenance for the towns of Woodstock, Pomfret, and Putnam.
He had also worked for the Putnam Water Department, Cluett Peabody, Hale Manufacturing, Joe’s Sanitary Service, Plainfield Greyhound Park, Senexet Landscape, Pomfret Livery Community Cab and as a handyman.
He was a WWII Army veteran and was a member of VFW, DAV, and the American Legion.
He played the electric guitar in a country band and was a member of the Pomfret Fire Department. He was an avid auto-racing fan and enjoyed watching his sons compete. He enjoyed doing anything outdoors including fishing, gardening and riding his motorcycle. In addition to his wife, he leaves six sons, Leo J. Adams (Claylene) of Putnam, John E. Adams of Putnam, David R. Adams (Karen) of Nanjemoy, Md.,, Richard P. Adams of Putnam, Bruce P. Adams of Putnam, and Francis A. Adams and his companion Pamela Benoir Walker, of Putnam; a daughter, Christine M. Adams of Danielson, many grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was the father of the late Joseph R. Adams and Donna M. Robichaud.
The Graveside Service with military honors was Sept. 16 in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam.
Donations: Hospice of NE CT, 320 Pomfret St, Putnam, CT 06260. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Pauline C. Bourdia,
worked at Colts
GROSVENORDALE — Pauline C. (Mathew) Bourdia 79, of Riverside Drive, died Sept. 17, 2011, in Hartford Hospital. She was the wife of Edward J. Bourdia Sr. for 51 years. Born in 1932 in Westerly, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Norman and Cora (Mayhew) Burdick
Mrs. Bourdia worked in the inspection department at Colts Plastics. She was an avid Red Sox and UConn Huskies fan.
In addition to her husband, she leaves four sons, Donald Genest (Sue) of Woodstock, Leonard Genest (Kelley) of Putnam, James Genest and his companion Linda Simmons of Woodstock and Edward Bourdia Jr. (Pam) of Grosvenordale; five daughters, Donna Drake (Jack) of Oneco, Theresa Chiras (James) of Hubert, N.C., Mary Preston (Raymond) of N. Grosvenordale, Cora Grider (Ben) of Grosvenordale and Lorinda Radzik (Paul) of Grosvenordale; four step-sons from California; 20 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
A gathering will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 20 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. Burial follows in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam
Gerald H. Ralston,
teacher
WOODSTOCK --- Gerald H. Ralston, 74, a long-time resident of Woodstock, died Sept. 5, 2011, at St. Francis Hospital in > Hartford, after a long battle with heart disease and a > two-month battle with Lyme disease and babesiosis. He was the husband of Jane Ralston.
He was born June 27, 1937, in Conway, Mass., son of Hugh and Ethel (Matteson) Ralston. He > graduated from UMass and later on obtained his master's degree in education from the University of Hartford. He was a social studies and history teacher at Tolland Middle School in Tolland, Connecticut for 23 years. He had a passion for antique cars, steam trains, trolleys and tractors.
After his retirement, he and his wife ran an antique business with the theme of “Welcome to Yesterday.” They traveled all over New England.
He leaves wife of 32 years, Jane Ralston; daughter, Leslie Wolf, her husband Jonathan and their sons Rowan and Jasper; son Peter; brother Paul (Joanne); stepson Charles Gleim and his children Brittany, Charles, Shane, Colin, Julia, and Connor and Charles’s companion Moira Manning and her children Mary and William, and stepdaughter Paige Gleim and her companion Craig Bard.
A Memorial Service will bat 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the S. Woodstock Baptist Church All who attend are invited to share a memory of Jerry with others.
Charles L. Oates,
ministries member
PUTNAM — Charles L. Oates, 83, of Thayer Street, died Sept. 10, 2011, at Regency Heights in Danielson. He was the husband of Eva (Pipkin) Oates. He was born March 14, 1929, in Fayetteville, N.C., son of the late Sylvester and Mattie Oates.
He had made his home in Putnam for more than 21 years. He was a member of Act II Ministries in Thompson. He was a truck driver, working for the Connecticut Charcoal Company for over 30 years.
He leaves his children Linda Oates, Anthony Oates and Jim Oates, all of Dunn, N.C., Edna LaPointe, Sheila Oates, Mattie Oates, Jill Epps, Tony Oates and Lynwood Pipkin, all of Putnam, Ken Pipkin of Enfield;, a sister, Jean Oates of Dunn; 27 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
The Funeral was Sept. 17 with burial in E. Thompson Cemetery, Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Madelyn C. Deitert,
mother of 4
POMFRET — Madelyn C. Deitert, 75 of Pomfret, died Sept. 13, 2011. She was the wife of John T. Deitert, mother of Ted Deitert IV; Kristin Walker, Kim Duval and Eric Deitert.
The Funeral Service was Sept. 17 at the Evangelical Covenant Church, Woodstock, with burial in Elmvale Cemetery. Donations: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Sarcoma Research, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Doris Paquin,
mother of 2
PUTNAM — Doris (Raymond) Paquin, 93, of Liberty Highway, died Sept. 16, 2011, in the Transitional Care Unit at Hubbard Regional Hospital. She was the wife of the late Elmer Paquin. Born in 1918 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Wilfred and Albertine (Breault) Raymond.
Mrs. Paquin worked as a waitress for the Stateline Restaurant. She also worked in the Putnam High School cafeteria and the Israel Putnam School cafeteria. She was a member of the Putnam Senior Citizens, AARP and served for 50 years as the Putnam Alumni Association’s secretary. She enjoyed knitting, reading, traveling and cooking.
She leaves her sons, Paul Paquin of Putnam; and Robert Paquin of Wilmington, Mass.; grandchildren, James Paquin, Michael Paquin, Susan Freudenthal, Alicia Paquin, Jamie Paquin, and Chad Paquin; great grandchildren, Ryan Freudenthal, Ashley Martinez, Makayla Martinez, and Tyler Martinez; her nieces and nephews, Joanne and Dale Warren of Eastford, Evelyn and Richard Samborski of N. Grosvenordale, and Father Larry LaPointe of Willimantic; and her close friend, Evelyn Russell of Putnam. She was predeceased by her sisters, the late Laura Cady, Lorena LaPointe, and Beatrice Spielman.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 19 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
E. ‘Betty’ Rauert,
mother of 2
ASHFORD — Elizabeth (Ladson) Rauert, 88, of Ashford Center Road, formerly of Broad Channel, NY, died Sept. 17, 2011, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of the late John Rauert. Born in 1923 in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Archibald and Caroline (Kolgen) Ladson. Mrs. Rauert was a homemaker.
She leaves her son, John M. Rauert Jr. of Woodstock; daughter, Carol Olsen of Ashford; and her granddaughter, Ginger Ann Olsen.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 21 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a prayer service at 7. Burial will be Sept. 22 in Long Island National Cemetery in Calverton, N.Y.
Alfred J. Socquet,
WWII vet
DANIELSON — Alfred J. Socquet, 95, of Danielson, died Sept. 16, 2011, at Westview Health Care. Born Feb. 7, 1916, in Killingly, he was the son of Hubert and Ernestine (Herve) Socquet.
He was a school teacher in the New York school system for many years retiring in 1971. He was a veteran of WWII serving with the U.S. Army. He received his master’s degrees from UConn and Springfield College.
He leaves two brothers, George Socquet (Jeanne) of Downey, Calif., and Germain Socquet (Madeleine) of Danielson; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by seven siblings.
The Funeral was private. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Lois Banister,
volunteer
NEWVILLE, Penn. — Lois Ann Banister, 87, died Sept. 10, 2011, at home at Green Ridge Village.
Born in Newton, Mass., she was the daughter of Seth W. and Elizabeth Montgomery Banister. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts and lived most of her adult life in Woodstock.
Lois worked for Rogers Corporation. She traveled extensively throughout the U.S., and Europe, notably Greece and Japan. She was a volunteer at the Pink House in Woodstock and at the Public Housing Authority in Putnam and later in life volunteered in different capacities at Green Ridge Village. She will be remembered for her constant optimism and sense of humor.
She leaves two nieces, Kim Banister and Robin Banister; two nephews, William Banister and James Banister; and seven grand nieces and nephews, Caleb and William Banister, Tyler and Emma Heishman, Rachel Schor, and Hugh and Anne Banister.
Donations: Green Ridge Village Auxiliary, c/o Pete Falk, 134 Birch Tree Cir., Newville, PA 17241; or to Historic New England in support of Roseland Cottage, 141 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02114-2702.
Elaine E. Foster,
worked at AO
WEBSTER — Elaine E. Foster, 74, of Webster, formerly of Sunrise, Fla., died Sept. 16, 2011, at Lanessa Extended Care.
She was born May 18, 1937, in Webster, daughter of the late Alpherei and Jeannette (Picard) Forcier.
She was predeceased by her former husband Malcolm Foster.
Mrs. Foster was employed for 20 years as an inspector at American Optical in Southbridge, and later worked at Motorola in Florida.
She leaves her sons Michael J. Seraphin of Putnam and Scott Seraphin of Danielson; sister, Beatrice Gardner of Thompson; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was predeceased by her sister Florence Anderson.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 19 at St. James Church, Danielson.
Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Jeffrey J. Wiggin,
veteran
STURBRIDGE — Jeffrey J. Wiggin, 41, of Sturbridge, and formerly of Eastford, died Sept. 9, 2011, in his sleep at home. He was the son of John and Susan (Evans) Wiggin of Eastford.
He was born Nov. 7, 1969, in Hartford, and grew up in Eastford. He was a 1987 graduate of Woodstock Academy. Jeffrey was a disabled veteran of the USAF, lover of live music, Sci-Fi and the visual arts.
In addition to his parents, he leaves a brother, Jason Wiggin (Barbara) of Manchester; a sister, Nicole Wiggin of Eastford; three nieces, Zoe, Hannah, and Jillian Wiggin.
The funeral was private. Donations: Windham Special Olympics, c/o Karen Schenck, P.O. Box 213, Sterling, CT, 06377. Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, Southbridge.
William Menard,
owned business
N. GROSVENORDALE — William A. Menard, 79, of Pompeo Road, died Sept. 11, 2011, at Radius Health Care Center in Southbridge.
He was born in Oxford, son of the late Ephraim and Letitia (Roberts) Menard and he lived in N. Grosvenordale most of his life. He owned and operated Elm Press and then Colonial Printing. He was a past president of the Thompson Lions Club, was a member of the Independent Order of the Forresters in Auburn. He loved woodworking and traveling.
He leaves his wife of 58 years, Stasia B. (Collins) Menard of N. Grosvenordale; a son, Michael W. Menard of New Hartford; a daughter, Renee B. Miller (Philip) of N. Grosvenordale; a brother, Omer Menard of N. Grosvenordale; a sister, Blanche Czernicki of Putnam; a sister-in-law, Gert Menard; one grandson, Austin Miller. He was predeceased by three brothers, Gene Menard, Ernest Menardand Robert Menard; three sisters, Dora Grochowski, Aurore Barthlet and Elaine Moran.
A Celebration of Life was Sept. 17. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Thomas Lavallee,
father of 4
DANIELSON – Thomas Edward Lavallee, 61, of Danielson died Sept. 14, 2011.
He was born Jan. 11, 1950, son of the late Rusty and Dede Lavallee. Tom was a lifelong resident of the Danielson/Putnam area.
He leaves four children, Shawn and Toni Lavallee of LaVista, Neb., Kelly Lavallee of Port Neches, Texas, Kara Lavallee of Groves, Texas and Kimberly Lavallee of Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren: Tyler, Dominick, Alexis and Adelyn; sisters, Janice Lavallee and Edra Codding. He was predeceased by his brother Bobby Lavallee and sister Elaine Bates.
Burial will be in Grove Street Cemetery, Putnam, later. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.
Christy Skarani,
active in town
POMFRET CENTER — Christy Ligori Skarani, 82, of Pomfret Center, died Sept. 5, 2011, at home, following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the husband of Arlene Mae (Booz) Skarani.
Christy was born Aug. 13, 1929, in Woonsocket, R.I., and was the son of the late Gregory Ligori Skarani and Effermia (Anastas) Skarani.
He graduated from Cole Trade High School in 1947, and was the owner (along with his brothers and sisters) of Skarani’s Market, American Lanes Bowling Alley, The American Motor Lodge, Globeamatic Vending and Skarbros Reality, all of Southbridge and Sturbridge.
The Skarani family has lived in Pomfret and have been active community members since 1971. Christy is remembered for his keen sense of humor and generosity. He was an extremely hard worker who enjoyed maintaining his beautiful property.
In addition to his wife, he leaves a son, Christopher Mark Skarani of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Pomfret Center; two sisters, Shirley Hanlon of Southbridge and Helen Poulin (George) of Southbridge; two brothers Joe Skarani of Southbridge and Henry Skarani (Doris) of Southbridge.
His Funeral was Sept. 8 at the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home.