GLOUCESTER: Mildred E. “Millie” (Williams) Putaansuu Garland, 87, Saturday, March 13, 2010 surrounded by her family.
Millie, fondly nicknamed “The Duchess” by her son-in-law, was born on June 25, 1922 in South West Port Mouton, Nova Scotia to the late Stanley Williams and Susan (Fisher) Keating. She came to Gloucester at the age of eighteen months.
Millie graduated from Gloucester High School in 1940 and worked in Gloucester, having owned many businesses including Higgins Penny Candy Store, the Mill Dairy and the Korner Kitchen.
While working at Cape Ann Fisheries, she met Onni “Pete” Putaansuu; they married in 1946 and started their family.
She was a member of the Gloucester Emblem Club No. 339, Our Lady of Good Voyage Church Women’s Guild and the Ucita Council No. 46, Degree of Pocahontas. Following retirement, she volunteered for many years at the Port O Call. She loved knitting and yard sales. Her passion for bingo and love of slot machines took her on many interesting journeys. Hopefully her final journey will not be without her passions.
She leaves behind her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kevin R. (Hamilton) Putaansuu and their children, Kate wife of David Lovelace, Christopher, husband of Susan Putaansuu and their daughter, Ava all of TX. She also leaves a daughter and son-in-law, Sandra (Putaansuu) and Robert “Zeke” Mason and their four children, Amy, wife of Timothy Gallagher and their daughters, Marissa and her fiancé, Nick, Kali, Ryann and Shannon; Michele, wife of Darrin Strong and their children, Christopher, Tia and Becka, Anthony, husband of Andrea Milne and their two children, Zachary and Zoe all of Gloucester and Rebecca Mason of Lynn. She also leaves many other family members including two brothers, a very devoted niece, Cheryl Ann Messier and dear friends, Barb Agostini, Barb Francis and Bette Interrante.
Her funeral service will be held on Friday morning in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 9:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery.