1960 – 2012

Woodstock – Tracy (Handt) Thompson, 51, of Crooked Trail Ext., died peacefully Monday, January 30, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the loving wife of the late Michael R. Thompson. Born in Stoughton, MA, she was the daughter of Richard and Gloria (Hazard) Handt of Holliston, MA.

Tracy worked as a secretary in the Special Education Department at Woodstock Elementary School. She loved spending time with her family.

In addition to her parents, Tracy is survived by her son, Gregory R. Thompson and his wife Amie of Woodstock; her daughter, Danielle E.H. Sheldon and her husband Dan of Woodstock; her sisters, Lonna Marinaro, and Nancy Caron and her husband Ray; her granddaughter, MiaRose Thompson; and several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Tracy’s family from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Thursday, February 2, 2012 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A funeral service will take place at 10:00 am on Friday, February 3, 2012 in the East Woodstock Congregational Church, 206 Woodstock Rd., E. Woodstock. Burial in East Woodstock Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Day Kimball Hospital Oncology Department, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260 or Hospice of Northeast CT, P.O. Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.

1939 – 2012

Putnam – Joseph Karpenski, 72, died Saturday, January 21, 2012 in UMass University Hospital. Born in Webster, he was the son of the late Peter and Helen (Ambrosevicz) Karpenski.

Mr. Karpenski was a construction worker for Chzaszcz Excavating. Joseph loved water sports including boating, fishing, and swimming. He was an avid New England Sports fan.

Joseph is survived by his sisters, Bernice Ravenelle of N. Grosvenordale, and Helen Richards of Chicopee, MA. He was the long time companion of the late Eileen Lavasseur. He was predeceased by his brother, the late William Karpenski; his sisters, the late Jenny Bodnar, Anna Szarkowicz, and Theresa Beaudet; and his best friend, the late Stanley Chzaszcz.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit with Joseph’s family on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 2:00 pm in St. Joseph Church, 20 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com

1930 – 2012
Woodstock, CT – Dr. Stephen J. Kaplowitt, 81, of Green Road, died Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, MA. Born in Newark, NJ, he was the son of the late Jacob Kaplowitt and Martha (Glick) Kaplowitt. Dr. Kaplowitt was a professor of modern and medieval German language and literature at the University of Connecticut for 31 years. He also briefly taught at Columbia University in New York, as well as at the Goethe Institute in Schwäbisch Hall, West Germany. In addition to authoring several books and textbooks and many scholarly articles on medieval German literature and modern German grammar, he was a much sought-after pre-press reviewer of German textbooks and scholarly papers on medieval German literature. In 1988, he was tapped by the American Council of Learned Societies to contribute several entries to Scribner’s encyclopedic 13 volume Dictionary of the Middle Ages. His career as a scholar started early. He was valedictorian of his class at Weequahic High School in Newark, NJ, and after being selected to participate in Boys Nation, he was received at the White House by President Truman on August 9, 1946. He and his fellow members of Boys Nation spent two weeks in Washington meeting with legislative and military leaders and members of the Supreme Court, holding a political convention addressed by both the Democratic and Republican National Committees, and organizing a moot Supreme Court addressed by Justice Burton. He then went on to earn a baccalaureate degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and was once again named valedictorian of his class and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. He earned both of his graduate degrees, an MA and PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1952 he was named a Fulbright scholar and was a member of the first group of Fulbrighters to travel to Germany. From 1954 to 1956, Dr. Kaplowitt served in the US Army in post-war Berlin as a member of the Army Security Agency (the forerunner of today’s CIA) and was tasked with intercepting, translating, and analyzing telephone and telegraph communications. He was an avid connoisseur of classical music and fine food and wine, as well as fine art, and his love of languages and literature often led to bi- and even tri-lingual word plays and inventions that always delighted family, friends, and colleagues. He was loved and admired by those who knew him for bringing an unwaveringly clear sense of civility, reason and dignified equanimity to any situation. For many years, he served as the tireless and loving caregiver to the last remaining family member of his parents’ generation, his maternal aunt, Celia Glick. He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 30 years, Carlene A. Haworth of Woodstock, his two daughters, Beth A. Kaplowitt of Easthampton, MA, and Jane Kaplowitt Pike of Pittsboro, NC, and his son-in-law, Prof. David Pike, and granddaughter, Ekaterina Pike, also of Pittsboro, NC. He was predeceased by his first wife, Stephanie Shafer Kaplowitt, in 1983. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam has been entrusted with the arrangements. A memorial luncheon for family, friends and colleagues will be held on Saturday, February 11th in Pomfret, CT. Reservations may be made until February 1st by either contacting the family directly or by requesting reservations through the Memorial Guestbook site at www.GilmanAndValade.com. Memorial donations may be made in his name for Arts and Science programming at WGBH in Boston. www.wgbh.org

1988 – 2012

Danielson – Heather Credit, 23, of Cady St., died Friday, January 13, 2012 in her home. Born in Putnam, she was the daughter of Neil and Florence (Dixon) Credit.

Heather worked in the arena concessions for the Mohegan Sun Casino. She was a member of the Mohegan Tribe. Heather loved music, especially the Beatles and Elvis. She also enjoyed to swim and collected angels. She had always hoped to work with children someday.

In addition to her parents, Heather is survived by her sisters, Tiffany Credit and her fiancé Luke Frazer of Norwich, and Megan Credit of Fairfield, NJ; her maternal Grandmother Lorraine Dixon and her companion Victor Brannen, Sr. of Dayville; her maternal grandfather, Carlton Dixon, Jr. of Putnam; her paternal Grandparents, George and Sandra Newman of Moosup, CT; and Elijah and Carol Credit of Plainfield; and one niece and one nephew.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Heather’s family from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 21, 2012 in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.

June 23, 1913 – January 15, 2012

Putnam – Sr. Gertrude Bonin, 98, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died on Sunday, January 15, 2012 in the Holy Spirit Health Care Center in Putnam, CT where she had been a resident since 2009. Sr. Gertrude was born on June 23, 1913 in Putnam, CT, the daughter of the late Pierre-Emile and Edouilda (Guertin) Bonin. She held a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, Purchase, NY, and a Masters in Music from Duquesne University, Pittsburg, PA.

In 1932, Sr. Gertrude entered religious life in Putnam, CT and made her religious profession on August 8, 1935 at the Motherhouse in St. Brieuc, France. She was then known as Sr. Emile de Jesus.

She was primarily a music teacher most of her religious life. Her first assignment as musician was in France at St. Anne, Quimper and later at Pré St. Gervais. In 1937, she was assigned to St. Alban in Pontypool, England. She returned to the US in 1940 and continued to serve as musician in CT at Wauregan and Jewett City and then in Burlington and Swanton in VT and then in New Haven, CT. Following this, she taught in Leominster, MA. In 1956 she was one of 7 sisters assigned to the opening of St. Bernard High School in New London, CT where she taught music and French. She then served in Waterbury, CT and from 1967-1980 she served as assistant professor of music at Annhurst College, Woodstock, CT. In 1985, she returned to Putnam and served as church organist at St. Mary Church of the Visitation until 2007 when she retired to the Provincial House.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Calling hours at the Provincial House Chapel will be on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 6–8 PM with a Prayer Service at 7:15pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at the Provincial House Chapel on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 11:00 am, followed by burial at St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit Retirement Fund, 72 Church St., Putnam, CT, 06260.

Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT is in charge of arrangements. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com

January 12, 2012

Plainfield – Ethan James Slosek, infant child of Jason and Brenda (Cost) Slosek passed from this world on January 12, 2012 in Putnam.

In addition to his parents, Ethan is survived by his two brothers, Deven and Logan, his three sisters, Emily, Kaylee and Karissa; His maternal grandparents, Nancy Delaere of Foster and Clifford Cost of Foster; and his paternal grandparents, Blaise Slosek of Salem, NH and Dawn Chesbrough of Branford, CT

Funeral arrangements are private and are entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.

Rita Mailloux
1935 – 2012

North Grosvenordale – Rita (Bellerose) Mailloux, 76 of Red Bridge Road, died unexpectedly Saturday, January 14, 2012 in Southbridge. She was the wife of the late Maurice Mailloux. Born in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Mignonne (Metras) Bellerose.

Mrs. Mailloux worked as a lens polisher for American Optical in Southbridge, MA. She enjoyed camping, painting ceramics, playing cards and bingo.

She is survived by her son, Bruce Zulkiewicz of Danielson; her three daughters, Brenda Zulkiewicz of Dudley, MA, Michele Greene of Putnam, CT, Christine Jaworski of Pomfret Center, CT; her brothers, Normand Bellerose of Pioria, AZ, Paul Bellerose of Milton, FL, Richard “Dickie” Bellerose of Yelm, WA, and Bernard Bellerose of Thompson; six grandchildren and one great grandson. She was predeceased by her grandson Jeffrey Greene and her sister Jeanne Ravenelle.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Rita’s family from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, Friday, January 20, 2012 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1:00 pm in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. Burial will be private. Memorial Donations may be made to the Jeffrey Greene Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Peoples United Bank 60 Providence Pike, Putnam, CT 06260. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com

Henrietta C. Lachapelle
1906 – 2012

North Grosvenordale – Henrietta Cecelia (Seney) Lachapelle, 105, formerly of Riverside Drive died Friday, January 13, 2012 in Matulaitis Nursing Home. She was the wife of the late George “Pat” Lachapelle. Born in North Grosvenordale, she was the daughter of the late Amedee and Josephine (Bellerose) Seney.

Mrs. Lachapelle was a homemaker. She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church and a member of Les Dames de Ste. Anne.

She is survived by her three daughters; Nathalie Schunick of Baltimore, MD, Lorraine Blanchard of Fort Meyers Beach, FL, and A. Aileen Witkowski of Thompson, CT; 13 grand children, 33 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Henrietta’s family from 9:00 to 10:30 am Wednesday, January 18, 2012 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale, CT. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Memorial donationas may be made to the Matulaitis Activity Fund, 10 Thurber Rd., Putnam, CT 06260. For Memorial Guestbook, visit www.GilmanAndValade.com

1923 – 2012

Thompson, CT — Doris M. (Ducharme) Jewell, 88, died Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at Day Kimball Hospital after a short illness. Formerly of Mechanicsville, she had been a resident of Pierce Memorial Baptist Home in Brooklyn for over ten years.

Doris was born in North Grosvenordale, daughter of the late Joseph and Armenie (Daviau) Ducharme. On October 25, 1941, Doris was united in marriage to Stephen H. Jewell, Jr. Doris and Herbert had many happy years together until his death in 1977.

Doris attended St. Joseph School and Tourtellotte Memorial High School in North Grosvenordale. After completion of her education, she worked in various locations in the textile industry for many years. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary Post 10088 in Quinebaug, as well as the Thompson Senior Citizens. During her time at Pierce, she enjoyed creating handiwork with her friends in the Shawl Ministry. In years past, she belonged to the Royal Travelers and volunteered for RSVP.

Doris will be sadly missed by her three daughters and their families. She leaves behind daughters Jane Ellison of Thompson, Joyce Cormier and her husband Albert of Putnam, and Sandra LaBonte and her husband Lawrence of Thompson; her grandchildren Eric Ellison and his wife Monica of Tolland, Erica Groh and her husband Lawrence of Thompson, Carolyn Riendeau and her husband Christopher of Putnam, Amanda Bernat and her husband James of Shrewsbury, MA, Jennifer O’Connor and her husband Rick of Naugatuck, Jeffrey LaBonte of Thompson, and Jared LaBonte and his girlfriend Mandy Shenko of Thompson; her great-grandchildren Benjamin Ellison, Corey Groh, Alexandria Groh, Marcus Riendeau, Paige O’Connor, and Winter O’Connor. Doris is also survived by her brother Andrew Ducharme and his wife Anita of Thompson; sister-in-law Mary Jewell of Putnam; brother-in-law Marvin Jewell of Mechanicsville; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Doris was predeceased by her brothers Philip, Wilfred, Donat, Ernest, and Edward Ducharme, and her sisters Jeannette DuBois and Yvette Ducharme, as well as her son-in-law Paul Ellison.

Doris created beautiful knitted and crocheted items, most of which she gave to family, friends, and charity. From her childhood days in North Grosvenordale, to her years at Pierce, Doris opened her heart to all she met. She had a sincere love of people and an interest in their lives. She had a special quality of making those around her feel valued. Her kindness and laughter uplifted spirits when times were sad. She treasured her family and friends, and was especially appreciative of the loving care she received from the staff and residents at Pierce.

At the request of Doris, all services will be private. “I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done (from AfterGlow – anonymous).” In honor of Doris, take a moment to make someone smile.

Gilman Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. For memorial guestbook, visit http://www.GilmanAndValade.com.

Thomas J. Wilde
1928 – 2012

Quinebaug – Thomas J. Wilde, 83, of Breezy Lane, died Sunday, January 8, 2012 in Putnam. He was the Fiancé of Barbara Young for 35 years. Born in Pawtucket, RI, he was the son of the late Leo J. and the late Mary E. (Nye) Wilde.

Mr. Wilde worked as a bus driver for Northeast Connecticut Transit District and was a proud member of teamsters Local 251 of East Providence. He won the Connecticut Bus Drivers Roadeo and went on to represent Connecticut in the National Bus Drivers Roadeo. He was a member of the former Woodstock Chess Club and once beat a Russian Grand Master Chess player.

In addition to his Fiancé, Thomas is survived by his daughter, Patricia Babbitt and her husband Wesley M. Babbitt of Lawrence, MA; his son, Robert Wilde and his wife Lori-Ann Wilde of N. Providence, RI; and his grandchildren, Wesley W. Babbitt, and Geoffrey Babbitt. He was predeceased by his wife, the late Elvira G. Wilde.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Thomas’ family on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm in the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT. A gathering will begin at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the funeral home with his Funeral Service held at 11:00 am.. Burial will follow in Munyan Cemetery. For Memorial Guestbook, visit www.GilmanAndValade.com