Paul E. Cote,

Korean war vet

BROOKLYN — Paul E. Cote, 84, of Brooklyn, died April 21, 2016, in Putnam. 

He was born April 20, 1932, in Killingly, son of the late Joseph and Rose (Gelineau) Cote.  Paul married Beatrice Brunelle in 1954 and she died in 1974. Paul later married Marie V. LeVasseur in 1981. 

Paul was a communicant of Our Lady of La Salette Church in Brooklyn. He was a U.S. Marine and fought in the Korean War. Paul was honorable discharged on April 13, 1954. He worked for Clark Transportation, as a mechanic on the buses of The Brooklyn School system.

He leaves his wife Marie Cote of Brooklyn; son Gary Cote (Susan) of Rogers; his brothers George Cote of Quakertown, Penn., and Robert Cote of Verona, Va.; his sisters, Jeannette Etre of Worcester and Dorothy Bomster of Sterling; step daughter Kathleen Barry; step grandson and two step great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his brothers Lucien Cote and Joseph Cote, his sisters Bernadette Cote and Louise Pechie, a step granddaughter Lisa.

A Mass of Christian Burial was April 26 at Our Lady of La Salette Church, burial with military honors in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: American Cancer Society. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St. Danielson. 

 

Joseph M. Crawford,

Korean war vet

POMFRET — Joseph M. Crawford, 87, of Pomfret, died April 24, 2016, at home. 

Born April 25, 1928 in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was the son of the late Theodore and Edith (Taylor) Crawford. A former resident of Stamford and New Canaan, he retired to Pomfret in 1990.  

He was a Korean war Army veteran, serving as master sergeant, 169th Regiment, honorably discharged in 1953; member of Putnam VFW #1523; American Legion Post 13. Past Chief and 20 year member of the Order of Scottish Clans, he was also active in Congregational Church of New Canaan. Joe was active in New Canaan Pack #31 and served as B.S. Troop #70’s Asst. Scoutmaster and District Commissioner for Powahay and Nipmuck. A gifted carpenter, he was President of Joseph M. Crawford, Inc.; Treasurer New Canaan Home Builders.

He leaves his wife, Eleanor (Olsen); his children, Heather Crawford (Eric Alletzhauser) of  Madison, J. Myron Crawford (Janet) of Cheshire, Deborah Crawford of Woodstock; grandchildren, Warren C. Johnson, Emily C. Alletzhauser and Lucy K. Alletzhauser. 

Memorial Service will be at 11:30 p.m. May 14 at Christ Church, 521 Pomfret St., Pomfret. Donations: Hospice of NE CT, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Kathleen L. Gerardi

DAYVILLE & Jupiter, Fla. — Kathleen Louise (Rice) Gerardi, 73, died peacefully April 2, 2016, in Jupiter.

Born on May 19, 1942, in Buffalo, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Herbert C. and Ethel A. Rice. She leaves her husband of 54 years, Michael J. Gerardi, of Dayville and Jupiter.

Kathy grew up in Stamford and then moved to Willimantic where she graduated from E.O. Smith High School in Storrs. She worked as a secretary for the family-owned Nutmeg Broadcasting Co., and at radio stations WILI in Willimantic and WINY in Putnam, where she met the love of her life, “Mike G.” They were married on July 4, 1961.

Not only was Kathy the model homemaker and compassionate mother, she was a strong partner with Mike as they purchased WINY and operated the Gerardi Broadcasting Corp. in Putnam. Her deep faith in God gave her an interior life that brought joy to all that she did. She served her family and friends with humility and love. Kathy enjoyed reading, Bible studies, quilting, sewing, digging in the garden, and creating in the kitchen. She was an active member of the Catholic parishes of St. Peter in Jupiter and St. Joseph in Dayville. Her eyes were always open to the beauty of nature and to the value of every precious person she met.

In addition to her husband Mike, she leaves her children, Michele Fall (Michael) of Suffield, Mark Gerardi (Suzanne) of Nantucket, Mass., and Amy Reutter (Brook) of Tulsa, Okla.; her brothers, Michael Rice (Carol) of Mansfield, and Colin Rice (Loretta) of Lebanon; her sisters, Sheryl Leone (Tony) of Southington, Corrine Bock (Larry) of Vernon, and Robin Rice-Nardi (Jack) of Mansfield Center; nine grandchildren, Jessica, Nathan and Sarah Fall, Evan, Sophie and Hannah Gerardi, and Jordan, Kara and Emily Reutter; and many brother and sister-in-laws.

A Mass of Christian Burial was April 30 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam. Donations:  St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam, CT 06260; or St. Joseph Church, P.O. Box 487, Dayville, CT 06241 .  Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes.

 

Frances E. Briere

KILLINGLY — Frances E. Briere, 77, of Killingly, died April 22, 2016. She was the wife of the late Donald Briere Sr.

Fran was born on Sept. 7, 1938, in Attawaugan, daughter of the late Elmer and Julia (Ludlow) Marsh. 

Fran has resided in Danielson her entire life, where she raised her five children and cared for her grandchildren when they were young. Fran enjoyed playing solitaire, word searches, cooking for her family, visiting the casinos and had a great love for her two cats. 

She leaves her sons; Donald Briere Jr. (Laurel) of Connecticut, Ronald Briere (Ann) of North Carolina and Robert Briere of Connecticut, David Briere of Rhode Island; her daughter Gail Salvas and her significant other Glen of Connecticut; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A Chapel Service was April 25 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: American Diabetes Association, 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 105, Middletown, CT 06457. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St. Danielson.

 

Eleanor E. Brown

DAYVILLE — Eleanor E. (Miner) Brown, 95, a 75-year-resident of Alexander’s Lake, and the first lady of Dog Hill, died on April 26, 2016.

Eleanor (known to her friends as Edith, Edie, Bird and Ella) was born on Nov. 1, 1920, in Pomfret.  She was the last remaining sibling of 12 children born to Walter and Mabel (Lanning) Miner.  Eleanor was married for 46 years to the late James Caffrey Brown.  She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church, Dayville. She always had a great smile.

Eleanor leaves two children, Colleen Hannifan of Boca Raton, Fla., and Kevin J. Brown (Cheryl) of Willington; five grandchildren, James T. Hannifan (Jennifer), Kathleen M. Hannifan, both of Boca Raton, Ethan J. Brown and his partner Jennifer Brooks of Portland, Org.., Jason A. Brown (Jessie), of Canton and Colin J. Brown, of Willington; sister-in-law, Helen Miner. She was predeceased by son-in-law, John T. Hannifan, and great grandson, J.P. DeLisle. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was April 29 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: KB Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 209, Killingly, CT 06239. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson. 

 

Thelma ‘Penny” Geer

PUTNAM — Thelma “Penny” Geer, 92, of Putnam, died peacefully April 28, 2016, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam, after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Edward Royce Geer. He died in 1972. 

She was born Aug 13, 1923, in Springfield, Mass., daughter of the late Harold and Annie Palmer.

Penny devoted her life to taking care of people. She will be remembered for her strong will and her heart of gold. She leaves her two daughters, Judith Page of E. Hartford; Vicki Favreau (Mark) of N. Grosvenordale; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sons Robert “Skip” Geer, David Geer and Kenny Geer.

The Funeral Service was May 1 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam, with burial in Abington Cemetery, Pomfret. Donations:  Matulaitis Nursing Home, 10 Thurber Road, Putnam, CT 06260. 

 

Patricia Meyers

THOMPSON — Patricia J. (Landry) Meyers, 60, died April 18, 2016, at UMass Memorial Healthcare Center, Worcester. She was the wife of the late Howard Meyers, who died in 1987.   She was born in Norwich, daughter of Carol and the late Paul Landry and lived in the area all her life.  Patricia worked in health care.  She enjoyed playing pitch and pool and belonged to the APA. She leaves a son, Joshua Meyer (Lenka) of Thompson; a daughter, Kelly Meyer of Thompson; three brothers, Albert and John Landry of Thompson, Matthew Landry of Virginia; a sister, April Landry of Thompson; four grandchildren and one great-grandson; her mother Carol (Mount) Landry.   

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. May 7  at Valley Springs Sportsmen Club, Thompson.  Donations: American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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