Obituary of Jeanne Huhtala

PUTNAM - ​Jeanne M. (Caron) Huhtala, 82, of Ballou St, passed away peacefully on Friday May 15th, 2026 at Hartford Hospital after a fall & brief illness.  Jeanne was born in Putnam on May 2nd, 1944 to the late Gerard & Marie (Dumont) Caron.  She graduatedwith honors from St. Mary's Parochial School, Putnam Catholic Academy, and then Annhurst College in Woodstock, CT.  Jeanne was a French teacher at Helen Baldwin Middle School (Canterbury) & Norwich Public Schools for several years, before changing careers to become a CNA.  She spent several years working at St. Christopher's in Norwich, CT, beforemoving back to Putnam where she spent the remainder of her career working at Matulaitis Nursing Home.  Her favorite hobbies were group activities with her friends at Ella Grasso Apts., spending time with family, and also became an avid Boston sports fan later in life.

She was pre-deceased by her parents, her brother Gerard E. Caron, ex-husband John Huhtala, & her later fiancé Richard Carignan of North Grovesnordale.  

She is survived by her sister Pauline LaRocque of Warwick RI, her son Erik (Charlotte) Huhtala of Putnam, her granddaughter Hayleigh Huhtala of Baltic CT, nephew David (Judi) LaRocque of Warwick RI,niece Laura (Stephen) Majeski of Estero FL, niece Allana (John) Christian of Londonderry NH, several great-nieces & nephews, her weekly caretaker & "other daughter-in-law" Amanda (Roland) Gaucher of Putnam, and a long list of relatives & friends that she loved and cared for deeply.

Services will be held at the Smith & Walker Funeral Home 148 Grove Street, Putnam on Friday, May 29th at 9:30, to 10:30 will be calling hours, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church of the Visitation at 11:00, with a private burial at St. Mary's Cemetery.