Obituaries pg 8 5-31-12
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Barbara B. Peckham,
dairy farmer
WOODSTOCK — Barbara B. Peckham, 83, of Woodstock, wife of the late Robert Chase Peckham, died May 21, 2012, at home.
She was born Nov. 28 1928, in Worcester a daughter of the late George and Anna (Heald) Bair. Barbara and Robert “Bob” ran their beautiful Woodstock dairy farm and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary one month before Bob’s passing on July 20, 2003.
Barbara was a graduate of Bridgewater State University in 1950. She taught for several years in Auburn and Worcester. After marrying Bob she continued teaching in Webster and Dudley. She later retired to help Bob run their dairy farm, and to take care of their family.
She leaves a son, Robert G. Peckham and daughter-in-law Ann Marie Peckham of Woodstock; grandsons Matthew R. Peckham (Christine) of Woodstock, Mark A. Peckham (Sarah) of Nashville; five great-grandchildren, Caleb, Grace, Graham, and Tucker of Woodstock and Atticus of Nashville; sister-in-law Beverly Bair of West Brookfield, Mass., and her son and daughter George and Debbie; brother-in-law Adelarde Millette and his daughters Heidi (wife of Ronnie Kuszewski) and Bonnie Meagher, a sister in law and brother in law Eleanor P. and Clarance Jolley of Danielson CT. She was predeceased by her sister Lois Millette and her brother George Bair.
A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. June 2 at the E. Woodstock Congregational Church, with a reception to follow in fellowship hall. Burial in Center Cemetery. Donations: Hospice of NECT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam CT 06260. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St. Putnam.
Louise M. Behrens,
church member
DANIELSON — Louise M. Behrens, 87, of Westfield Village died May 21, 2012, at Regency Heights. She was the wife of Herbert Behrens. They were married March 22, 1980. He died April 4, 1984.
She was born Oct. 28, 1924, in Killingly, daughter of the late Joseph and Viola (Marchand) Poudrette. She attended St. James School and Killingly High School. Louise was a communicant of St. James Church in Danielson. She worked in many of the local textile mills and retired from Danielson Curtain in 1983. She had made her home in Westfield Village since 1989. Louise was active in supporting her family through babysitting and assisting in household responsibility.
She leaves several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother Paul Poudrette and a sister Florence Passmore. The burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Norma A. Breault,
mother of 2
PUTNAM — Norma Ann Breault, 59, of Putnam, died May 18, 2012, at Day Kimball Hospital, after a battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Morris C. Breault who died in March 1, 1989.
Norma was born March 10, 1953, in Putnam, daughter of the late Norman (1963) and Loretta (2003) (Baril) Gamache. She loved her children and her animals; she was an avid collector of “I Love Lucy” memorabilia. She lived in Wauregan and Plainfield most of her life, moving to Putnam in 2000.
She leaves a daughter Melissa Breault of Kingstown, R.I.; son Steven Breault of Spring Lake, N.C.,; brother Michael Gamache (Robin) of Thompson; two nephews, Adam and Josh and a niece Jamie, three sisters-in-law and four aunts and best friend Mary Adams.
A Graveside Service was May 25 in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Wauregan. Donations: American Cancer Society. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Aldea M. LaBonte,
church member
PUTNAM —Aldea M. LaBonte, 94, formerly of Harrison Street, died May 26, 2012, at Westview Healthcare Center. Born in 1917 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Victor E. and Rose A. (Benoit) LaBonte.
Miss LaBonte worked as a textile worker for Hale Manufacturing. She also worked for the laundry department at Day Kimball Hospital and as a housekeeper for Westview Healthcare Center. She was a communicant of St. Mary Church of the Visitation.
She leaves nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was the sister of the late Ernest LaBonte Sr., Cecile Y. Bodo, and Alice LaBonte.
The Mass of Christian Burial was May 27 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
George Leaska,
WWII vet
ENFIELD — George Leaska, 86, of Enfield, died May 22, 2012, at The Suffield House Nursing Home. He was the husband of Annemarie Leaska for 55 years.
He was born on Dec. 6, 1925, in Killingly, son of the late Nicholas and Flora Leaska. George lived in Putnam before moving to Bloomfield in 1957, then moving to Enfield in 2005.
George served in the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant during WWII from 1943-1946 as a tail gunner in a B-24 bomber. He flew 33 combat missions in the southwest Pacific Theater.
George graduated from Bryant College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was the comptroller of F.W. Sickles Corporation in Danielson before starting his own business in 1956 as president of Leaska Construction Company. He was in the building and development business for over 50 years. George was a lifetime member of AHEPA, VFW and Free Masons.
He leaves his wife Annemarie Leaska; children Karen Darna (Mark) of Enfield, Suzanne Urena of Somers, and Michael Leaska (Sharon) of Somers; grandsons Christopher and Matthew Urena and granddaughters Taylor and Micalea Leaska, all of Somers; Victoria Elliott of Danielson and a special friend William Flagg of Somers. He was predeceased by his sister Ora Pelkey and brother Mitchell Leaska.
The Funeral was May 29 at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Hartford, with burial with military honors in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Donations: St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 433 Fairfield Ave., Hartford, CT; or American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492. Carmon Funeral Home, Windsor.
Harley David
Racine –Goble
PUTNAM — Harley David Racine – Goble, 24 of Sunnyside Avenue, died May 12, 2012, unexpectedly at home. Born in 1987 in Putnam, he was the son of Kathy Racine of Putnam.
Harley worked as a master foreman – roofing for Northeast Builders.
In addition to his mother, he leaves brothers, Brian Cadger (Jalynn) of San Antonio, Texas, and Chevy Goble – Racine of Putnam; sisters Krystal Racine-Dalton and her wife Nicole of Brooklyn, and Sabrina Racine and her fiancé J.R. Desreuisseau of Putnam; nephews Brian and Blake; niece Emily Russell Hart; his grandmother Bern Racine of Woodstock; uncles, Mark Racine and Alan Racine of Dudley; and many other close “brothers.” Harley was predeceased by his brother, Cory Racine. Visitation was May 18 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Ruby Rzeznikiewicz,
church member
BROOKLYN — Ruby E. Rzeznikiewicz, 91, of Brooklyn, died May 21, 2012, at the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam after a brief illness. She was the wife of Henry Rzeznikiewicz. They were married in July 14, 1945. He died in 2008.
She was born April 5, 1921, in Putnam, daughter of Henry and Frances (Whitehouse) Creapo. Ruby made her home in Brooklyn for over 60 years, was a communicant of Our Lady of LaSalette Church. She worked at Racine Printing in Brooklyn from 1966 to 1978 and previously at Arrowhart. She spent her youth in Woodstock and was a 1939 graduate of Woodstock Academy. Ruby was a league bowler for several years.
She leaves two children, Alan Rzeznikiewicz (Nancy) of Gosnell, AR, Linda Parsons (Bruce) of Brooklyn; grandchildren, Kelly Allen, Lori Smith, Bryan Parsons, Kendall and Devin Hughes, Savannah and Stevie Rzeznikiewicz, great grandchildren Zachary, Ty, and Cody Smith, Braeden and Logan Allen. A Mass of Christian Burial was May 25 at Our Lady of LaSalette Church, Brooklyn, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Danielson. Donations: Our Lady of LaSalette Church, PO Box 211, Brooklyn, CT 06234; or Mortlake Fire Company, PO Box 301, Brooklyn, CT 06234. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.