Search Archived Marriage Records
JAMES A. KEANE
James A. Keane, 80, of 52 Hobart St., Westerly, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, at his home. He was the beloved husband of the late Maryita (Phelan) Keane.
Funeral arrangements, which are incomplete, are entrusted to the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Westerly.
BARBARA LEWIS
Barbara (Cottrell) Lewis, 57, of 40 Mechanic St., Pawcatuck, died Aug. 23, 2003, in Rhode Island Hospital, Providence.
Born in Westerly, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Ella Cottrell.
Ms. Lewis had been employed at Davis Standard as a wireman, retiring in 2002.
She is survived by her daughter, Linda Davis; and grandson, J.R. Davis, both of Pawcatuck.
Calling hours are omitted. Service and interment will be private. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly, is in charge of arrangements.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that contributions in her memory be made to the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation, Cancer Center, P.O. Box H, Providence, RI 02901.
JOHN T. MCCLURE
John T. "Jack" McClure, 57, of 5 Chestnut Court, Westerly, died at his home on Aug. 18, 2003.
Born in Hartford, he was the son of the late Eugene and Sarah (Shanley) McClure.
Mr. McClure had been employed as an aide by the State of Connecticut at the Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, Conn.
He is survived by a sister, Martha A. Nolan of Windsor, Conn.; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are omitted. Private graveside services will be held in Calvary Cemetery, Middletown. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly, is in charge of arrangements.
JENNIFER L. VAILLENCOURT
Jennifer L. Vaillencourt, 21, of 21 Plumtree Drive, Norwich, beloved wife of Andrew J. Vaillencourt, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, at The William W. Backus Hospital.
She was born March 22, 1982, in Westerly, a daughter of Andrew J. Mitchell of Brooklyn, Conn., and Carolyn L. (Brown) Mitchell of Plainfield, Conn.
Jennifer had resided in Norwich for the last three years, moving from Plainfield.
She was a graduate of Plainfield High School in the Class of 2000.
Jennifer had been employed by Foxwoods Resort & Casino for the past three years.
In addition to her husband and parents, she leaves a brother, Nicholas Mitchell, and a sister, Tara Mitchell, both of Plainfield; her paternal grandmother, Betty Mitchell of Leesburg, Fla.; her maternal grandfather, Eugene Brown of Westerly; her nieces, Abby, Nathalie, Hannah, Samantha, Rachel, Elizabeth, Claudia, and Olivia; and her cousin, Melissa.
The funeral will be held Monday at 10 a.m. from Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home, 595 Norwich Road (Route 12), Plainfield. Burial will follow in Dean Cemetery, Canterbury, Conn. Visiting hours are Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m..
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Stanley Dreczko Jr.
Stanley Dreczko Jr., beloved husband of Frances (Arrigo) Schweitzer Dreczko of 13 Stuart St. Westerly, died at William Backus Hospital, Norwich, at the age of 78. He was also the husband of the late Constance Crandall Dreczko. He was born in Maynard, Mass. on June 30, 1925, son of the late Stanley and Maria (Dzierzyk) Dreczko Sr. Mr. Dreczko had been employed for many years as a supervisor at Green Plastics, Hope Valley.
He was also formerly employed at American Felt in Westerly. An army veteran of WWII, he was a Purple Heart recipient who had served at various installations in Europe. A member of both the Westerly Yacht Club and the Westerly Lodge of Elks, BPOE 678. He was also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary where he taught boat safety courses for several years.
He was a an expert woodworker who not only made wooden wedding goblets, but also built two boats as well as his home. A well-read and very precise man, he was also very accomplished at creating smaller items such as cigar humidors and birdhouses
He was also a great cook and known for his plentiful vegetable garden.
In Addition to his wife he leaves five children; Raymond S. Dreczko Sr. of Charlestown, Pamela J. Thompson of East Killingly, Ct., Eric S. Dreczko of Chicago, Ill., Conrad B. Dreczko of Westerly and Mikel A. Dreczko of Minnesota; four step-children, Frank J. Schweitzer of Belfast, Me., Robert W. Schweitzer of Bethel, Conn., Rory G. Schweitzer of Kissimmee, Fla., and Robin L. Schweitzer - Mannuzza of Newtown, Conn; one sister Jean Coleman of Monterey, Calif., and 23 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by one brother Benjamin Korytowski, one sister, Helen Carson; a step-son, Frederick T. Schweitzer, and one grandson, Jason Y. Schweitzer.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family. Visiting hours are omitted. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly, is in charge of arrangements. The family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to The New England Scholarship Fund, 80 Buckeye Road, Charlestown, RI 02813, in his memory.
Dorothy E. (Hanson) Goss
Dorothy E. (Hanson) Goss, 75, passed away on Aug. 8, 2003, in Fort Wayne, Ind. She was the widow of John W. Goss, formerly of Stonington.
She was born March 16, 1928, to the late Clarence and Eleanor (Lieser) Hanson in Marlborough, Conn.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Debi Goss of Julesburg, Colo.; six grandchildren, Ashley Race of Julesburg, Michelle Peterson, Jennifer (and Mark) Dugan, Rebekah Hogan, all of Michigan, and Jeremiah (and Heidi) Hogan and Stephen Hogan of Ohio; seven great-grandchildren, all in Michigan; a brother, William (and Linda) Hanson of Florida; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by a brother, Clayton Hanson; and a son, David A. Goss.
There were no services following her cremation. Northeast Indiana Cremation Society was in charge of arrangements.
PETER J. GRILLS
Peter J. Grills, of 115 Oak St., Ashaway, beloved husband of Cecelia (Bookataub) Grills, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brookline, Mass., following a courageous three-year battle with lymphoma.
Born March 8, 1930, in Bradford, he was a son of the late Peter and Anne (Coon) Grills.
Mr. Grills received honorable discharges from the Army National Guard and the U.S. Navy. He was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and was employed by Pfizer Corporation as a chemist for 17 years. He left Pfizer to join his family at Bradford Dyeing Association, from which he retired in 1993. Mr. Grills was also co-owner of the Stardust Motel in North Stonington until its sale in 1999. He was an avid hunter, skier and snowmobiler and enjoyed full-time caretaking of the family farm in his retirement.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Grills is survived by two daughters, Nikki Scott of Ashaway and Dina Petrosky of Pawcatuck; a brother, Richard Grills of Ashaway; his sons-in-law, Stephen O. Scott Sr., and James Petrosky; and three grandchildren, Stephen Scott Jr., Vanessa Scott, and Katerina Petrosky.
Visiting hours will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly. A private funeral and entombment will be held at the convenience of the family.
Contributions in Mr. Grills' name may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Rhode Island, 75 Sockanosset Cross Road #206, Cranston, RI 02920.
