Obits pg 6 4-9-20
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Joseph ‘Lou’ Gravel,
Army vet
N. GROSVENORDALE — Joseph Lucien Gravel, 91, of Pompeo Rd., passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2020 at Matulaitis Nursing Home. Born in 1928 in N. Grosvenordale, he was the son of the late Elie and Parmelia (Forrest) Gravel.
Joe enlisted in the Army as a young man and served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. He loved hunting and fishing which led him to become one of the Founding Fathers of the “Valley Springs Sportsman’s Club” where he served as secretary for some years. He worked at Risom Manufacturing and then at Belding Heminway until he retired.
He leaves his daughter, Debra A. Huber (Tom Fern); his grandchildren, Jared Huber (Katie), Erin Huber (Bryan Butler), and Liane Joly (Justin); and nine great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Michael J. Gravel; his brother, Albert Gravel; and his sisters, Marion McNeal, Jean Leo and Gloria Sypek. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Judith Dennison
WOODSTOCK — Judith “Judy” Dennison died March 28, 2020, at home. Judy was born Dec. 12, 1939, to Lillian Etta Hoar and Aime Desmarais in Woonsocket, R.I.
She raised two daughters, Robin and Penny, and one son, Jay. She married Ralph Dennison on Dec. 24, 1984.
Judy worked at Linemaster Switch in Woodstock for 35 years as a production supervisor. She had the luxury of spending most of her free time with her son Jay and they both took care of one another for the last 50 years.
She leaves three children, Jay, Robin, and Penny; grandchildren, Jacob, Lily, and Connor. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph.
Donations: Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, 320 Pomfret St., Putnam, CT 06260. Condolence cards can be sent to Jay Dennison at: PO Box 147, South Woodstock, 06267. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Geraldine Reynolds
KILLINGLY — Geraldine C. “Jerry” Reynolds, 94, of Killingly, March 23, 2020, at home. Her husband, Harry N. Reynolds, died in 2003.
Geraldine was born in Maine and moved to CT with her family in 1941. She worked at Pratt & Whitney during WWII and in other factories until becoming a homemaker while expecting her first child. Geraldine enjoyed gardening, music, reading, writing letters and baking her famous Tollhouse cookies.
She leaves two sons and a daughter, a granddaughter and great-granddaughter, one sister, one brother. She was predeceased by her parents, three brothers, one sister, one nephew and one niece.
Gagnon & Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
D. ‘Pat’ Ducharme
EASTFORD — Dorothy “Pat” Harris Ducharme, 79, of died March 27, 2020, at Hartford Hospital, after a battle with cancer. She was born Jan. 21, 1941, daughter of Dr. Marshall and Georgiana (Robinson) Walker.
Pat was a retired pediatric nurse at Day Kimball Hospital. She loved the outdoors and had a deep appreciation for animals and nature. She enjoyed farming, traveling, kayaking and camping with her dog.
She leaves her brother Robert Walker of Maine, four children Diana Lee Bowen (Stephen) of Eastford, Suzan Riehl (Kevin) of Ballston Spa, N.Y., Laura Helfrich (Gary) of Mainesburg, Penn., and Richard Harris of Eastford; seven grandchildren Jonathan (Carriel), Melissa (Sean), Bryan, Heidi (Carl), William (Kristen), Jennifer, Annastasia (Marshall) and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two former husbands Richard Harris Jr. and George Ducharme.
Donations: The American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045; or The Eastford Independent Fire Dept., PO Box 333, Eastford, CT 06242. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Robin L. Everburg
WOODSTOCK — Robin L. Everburg, 59, of Woodstock, died April 1, 2020, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.
Robin was born and raised in Southbridge, daughter of Ruth and Don Everburg. She moved to Woodstock with her family about 30 years ago.
Robin took much joy in learning. A graduate of Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., she attained an international award for excellence in a foreign language (French), the only one in her class to achieve this honor. Robin partnered with her mother in the work of Robin’s Nest Studio in Woodstock and became an accomplished artist.
An avid reader with a special focus on American and British history, she had hundreds of books. Bookstore visits were very high on her list of favorite things to do. Blessed with a prodigious memory, could recall virtually everything that she had either seen or read even decades later. Was always, when in doubt, go ask Robin.
Robin loved sailing on the family sailboat in RI’s ocean waters. An excellent swimmer, her father soon learned never to get in a race with her. She also got special enjoyment from her work with Cornell University’s Birdwatcher’s program and inputting to them her findings weekly. During their inputting season, she could be frequently be seen hurrying to get her binoculars to most accurately identify the specimens. She also loved to rescue and care for homeless cats. Over the years, she personally cared for over 120 of them.
In addition to her parents, she leaves her sister Sherry; two nieces, Audrey and Erika Helmetag. She was predeceased by grandparents Wilbur and Emma Smith and Bill and Ruth Everburg. A graveside service was held in Elmvale Cemetery, Woodstock. Donations: Paws Cat Shelter, 240A Rt. 171, Woodstock, CT 06281. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Lorraine Adams
GROSVENORDALE — Lorraine (LaChappelle) Adams, 77, of Reardon Rd., died March 30, 2020, at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Born in 1942 in Windham, she was the daughter of the late Mitchell and Phobe LaChappelle.
Mrs. Adams was a school bus driver for the Town of Thompson. She enjoyed playing Bingo, cards, Scrabble, loved birds, dogs, foxes and feeding the deer. She also enjoyed gardening, going to yard sales and antiquing. She always had a great sense of humor.
She leaves her sons, Gordon Adams II (Muriel) of Putnam, James Adams (Diane) of Putnam, and Donald Adams of Putnam; daughters, Susan Montpelier of Canterbury and her longtime companion, Douglas Urbanowski, and Lorrie Anne Adams of Grosvenordale; 11 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
Donations: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.
Catherine King
BROOKLYN — I, Catherine Joanne King, died April 2, 2020, at my home in Brooklyn. I am survived by my beloved grandchildren, Tawnya Larkin (Josh), Traci Surrell, Heath Bourgoin (Melissa). I was predeceased by husband Warren O. King, children – Christine Langlois, Lynette Bourgoin, Matthew Warren King. At my request cremation will be private and at the discretion of the family. Gagnon & Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
Doria LaBrec
PLAINFIELD — Doria (Menard) LaBrec, 93, of Windsor Ave., died April 4, 2020, at the Colonial Health and Rehabilitation Center, Plainfield.
Born in 1927 in N. Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Doria (Guindon) Menard. She was predeceased by her husband, Harold A. LaBrec, longtime masonry instructor at Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School.
Doria loved being a hairdresser in her younger years, but when she married Harold LaBrec, she devoted herself and cherished her family. She enjoyed flower gardening and crafting including needle work.
She leaves her son, Harold LaBrec (Sandra) of Griswold; and her granddaughter, Cheryl Racicot.
Donations: Colonial Health and Rehabilitation Center, 16 Windsor Ave., Plainfield, CT. 06374. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
William 'Bill' Kirby
WEBSTER — Joseph William “Bill” Kirby, 90, died March 17, 2020, at home. He leaves his wife Jane (Williams) Kirby; his brother Daniel M. Kirby of Southampton; two sisters: Olive Williams and Barbara Thomas of Florida; four nephews; four grand-nephews and two nieces of the Putnam area.
He was born June 19, 1929, in Worcester, son of the late Daniel M. and Pelagia (Ksiazkiewicz) Kirby. Joe moved to Webster with his family when he was 5. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1947. He worked for the Webster DPW for 40 years. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Joy Bolton
WORCESTER — Joy Oneita Bolton, 63, of Worcester, died March 23, 2020, at Day Kimball Hospital of Putnam, after battling cancer. Joy was born July 19, 1956, in Everett, Mass., daughter of the late Frank Canale and Oneita (D’Andrea) Canale.
She lived in Dudley for years and worked in commercial insurance at Mapfre Insurance in Webster. She leaves her husband Jason Bolton; daughter Justine Laporte; sons Stephen Laporte and Andrew Laporte; mother Oneita (D’Andrea) Canale; brother Phil Canale; 5 five grandchildren. She has relatives in Thompson and Dayville. Donations: Danafarberjimmyfund.org Bartel Funeral Home & Chapel, Dudley.
Barbara Dalterio
SOUTHBRIDGE — Barbara R. (Bazinet) Yeagher Dalterio, 92, died April 2, 2020, at Overlook Masonic Home, Charlton.
Barbara was born in Webster daughter of the late Wilfred Bazinet and Florence (Barre) Bazinet and lived in Southbridge, prior to that living in Thompson. the late She leaves sons, Robert Yeagher Jr. of Thompson and Brian Yeagher of Dudley; daughters, Jean E. Walker of Webster and Michelle F. Yeagher of Sterling; 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son Barry Yeagher and her brother, the Honorable Dr. Wilfred Bazinet and two husbands, Robert E. Yeagher Sr. and Salvatore Dalterio. Graveside service in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
James J. LaRochelle
N. GROSVENORDALE — James J. LaRochelle, 60, died April 2, 2020, at the UMass Healthcare in Worcester.
Jim lived in N. Grosvenordale for 20-plus years. He was the Head Maintenance Engineer for the Shaner Group in Southbridge. He leaves his wife Laura J. Hackett and son Tyler Day, both of N. Grosvenordale; parents, Roland LaRochelle and Mary (Bachand) LaRochelle; brother Roland LaRochelle (Delores). Donations: American Diabetes Foundation. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Mary LeCour
QUINEBAUG — Mary (Jordache) LeCour, 73, died March 21, 2020, at home.
She was born in Timisoara, Romania, and lived in Quinebaug for the past year prior to that living in Huntington Beach. Mary taught pre-school for many years and most recent customer care in retail.
She leaves her husband Robert LeCour of Quinebaug; daughter Victoria Woodmancy (Joseph) of Huntington Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Soren Laica.
Donations: Your local elementary school special education program. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
James Weiss
THOMPSON — James Weiss 54, of Thompson died March 24, 2020, at home after a battle with cancer.
He was an auto body technician and worked for Precision Auto Rebuilders Inc. for more than 30 years. His attention to detail, creativity and precision carried him in so many areas of his life. He could build or fix anything.
Jamie leaves his high school sweetheart and wife Tammy (Rohr) Weiss of 32 years; his daughter Samantha Rogers (Zakary); granddaughter Ava Marie Rogers; father Bernard Weiss; brother Ronnie Weiss. He was predeceased by his mother Barbara Weiss in 2014
Donations: Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, 32 S. Main St., Putnam CT 06260; or to the Prostate Cancer Research Institute 300 Corporate Pointe, Suite 383 Culver City, CA 90230. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
Nancy Bell Asal
Nancy Bell Asal went home to be with her Lord and Savior April 4, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Holman and Edna (Leveille) Bell, born Aug. 19, 1929. As a young woman she worked as a switchboard operator for the Bell Telephone Company.
Through mutual friends she met her future husband Richard J. Asal Sr. They married on Sept. 3, 1955, at the home they would share for the next 58 years. She and Richard were an adventurous couple who loved to travel. In 1966 they bought and converted a school bus into a camper. They took many memorable trips with the whole family in tow. She would document these trips by keeping a daily diary. They both invested themselves in raising their 10 children. She was a stay-at-home mother with strong values who made sure her children attended church every Sunday. Nancy loved to bake and was quite an artist. She was well known for her hand knitted Christmas stockings.
She leaves her children Andre (Patricia) Asal of Anderson, S.C.., Richard Asal Jr. of Thompson, Debra Piper of Thompson, Priscilla Asal of Putnam, Cheryl Bisson of Thompson, Carla (Fred) Kress of Littleton, Colo., Sandra Law of Lexington, S.C., Kristine (Lawrence) Campos of Putnam, Scott Asal of San Diego, Calif., and Virginia Asal of Thompson; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Richard, granddaughter Rebecca Piper Herron, great-grandson Charles Spenser Finnegan Bledsoe and great-great-grandson Everest Hines-Greene. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Brandon L. Malarkey
DAYVILLE — Brandon L. Malarkey, 31, died unexpectedly April 2, 2020, at home.
Born March 13, 1989, he attended Plainfield High and graduated June 2007. He was a kind-hearted guy who always strived to be as independent as possible. He was a mentor to children at his church, Line Baptist Church in Foster.
He leaves his parents, Michael and Kim Malarkey of Jewett City; brothers: Dylan Malarkey (Jessica), Eric Malarkey (Jordyn), Shawn Malarkey and girlfriend Samantha, all of Killingly; grandmother Phyllis Malarkey. Brandon was predeceased by his mother Brenda Vose and grandmother Pauline Vose. Donations: Line Baptist Church in Foster. Gagnon & Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
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