Doris Putnam Lasselle

- Historian and author, caregiver and lifesaver, business owner, world traveler, and beloved Sunday School teacher Doris Putnam Lasselle died at home in Wilton, NY on March 6, 2022 at the age of 101.

Born May 27, 1920, in Northumberland, NY, Doris was the daughter of Jasper and Sylvia Ellithorpe Putnam. The oldest of five siblings, she grew up in the Wilton home her grandfather, the Rev. Osmond Putnam, built in 1924 after a fire destroyed the original house at the family homestead. After marrying Lawrence Lasselle of Burnham, Maine in 1940, Doris and her husband raised their family in that same Wilton home and later built a new house on the property but across the street. Her husband died in 1989. Doris lived on what is now Putnam Lane for most of her life, including her final years.

Following graduation from Saratoga High School in the class of 1938, Doris was a switchboard operator at the New York Telephone Company until her marriage. For many years, Lawrence and Doris Lasselle owned and operated Saratoga Bus Service, which featured school buses and charter buses along with a city bus line in Saratoga Springs. Later, she worked as a bookkeeper for businesses owned by Ralph and Larry Ernst and by Thomas Cunniff.

Doris devoted a great deal of time and leadership to South Wilton Methodist Church, serving for many years as Sunday school superintendent and as a church trustee (often chair of the board of trustees). Throughout those years, she engaged local community members from a variety of religious backgrounds in participating in church activities such as presenting annual neighborhood Christmas pageants and helping with monthly church suppers. When area Methodist churches merged into Trinity United Methodist Church, Doris continued to serve as a trustee. She gave principal stewardship to the South Wilton Cemetery for seven decades, continuing until her passing.

Always passionate about local history, she was a founder of Wilton Heritage Society and presented many programs there over the years. Her enthusiasm for family history and genealogy led her to write a book, Letters to Lura: 1850’s Life, Death & Publishing and The Jane McCrea Story, which was published in 2010, in association with the Washington County Historical Society. The book was based on a treasured, handed-down-through-the-generations collection of correspondence, journals, and published writings of her great-great-Aunt Lura Boies, a celebrated local poet who died in 1859 at age 24.

In her 70’s and 80’s, Doris appreciated traveling, making several trips to Europe as well as across the U.S. It was a particular delight to visit with her daughter Sally on the northern California coast. For almost twenty years, Doris enjoyed the winter sunshine at Holiday Village in Mims, FL, where she made many dear friends.

The most cherished memories of Doris’s impact on the world involve her gentle caregiving and her presence of mind in an emergency. As a young wife and mother, she cared for her husband’s parents, serving as the sole caregiver for her mother-in-law, who was bedridden for seven years and in constant pain that only Doris could comfort. As Mom, Aunt Doris, and Gram, she provided constant, gentle nurturing and caring as she opened her heart and home to generations of the extended family (and their friends) over many decades. A neighbor whose arm was severed in a farm accident always credited Doris with saving his life, telling the story of how she calmly rushed to his rescue, gave communication instructions to others, and drove him to the hospital in record time “with horn blaring and never hitting the brakes,” showing amazing skill and courage that day.

In addition to her husband and her parents, Doris was predeceased by her brother, Wayne Putnam, and her sister, Elsie Allen, as well as her beloved grandmother, Lizzie March Putnam; a son-in-law, Charles Baker; and close sister-in-law, Thena Brashear.

She is survived by a sister, Myrtle Buyce of South Glens Falls, NY, and a brother, Jay Putnam of Chandler, AZ; daughters Linda Baker of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Sally (Charles) Grigg of Westport, CA, and son Richard (Karen) Lasselle of Groveland, FL; grandchildren Charles (Pam) Baker of Burlington, VT, Linanne (Tom) Conroy of Rochester, NY, Melissa Allen of Naples, FL,  Jeanine Russell of Roswell, GA, and Alexis (Randy) Ross of Alexandria, VA; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express deep appreciation to all those who helped Doris lead a vibrant and purposeful life long after blindness overtook her. Particular thanks go to granddaughter Melissa and her family, who lovingly stepped up to care for her in their home for several years. She led an active life staying with her daughter Linda in her last years. Karen and Paul Millington were thoughtful and loving caregivers, providing extra help, comfort, and encouragement when it was needed most.

A celebration of Doris’s life, beginning with an informal calling hour, will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 155 Ballard Road, Wilton, NY.  With a service at
2pm, followed by an informal gathering to share memories.  

Online remembrances or condolences may be shared at: www.compassionatefuneralcare.com. This website also provides information for those who might like to send contributions in Doris’s memory to the South Wilton Cemetery Association, Trinity United Methodist Church, or the Wilton Heritage Society.

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