Obituary for Colette Renee Williams (Harson)
Colette R. Williams (Harson), 95, of Newtown, passed peacefully away in her sleep on Sunday, December 13, at her home on Main Street. Colette was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, on September 21, 1925, to Felix Harson and Paulette (Martineau) Harson.
In 1919, Colette’s parents arrived from Paris, France, and eventually settled in Pawling, New York. Near the end of World War II, her father moved his family to New York City where he continued his career as a jewelry designer and diamond setter for some of the large jewelry companies locate in the Diamond District: Tiffanies and Harry Winston Jewelers. In the mid to late 1940’s, Colette attended Hunter College and began her career working for Elmo Roper at the nation’s first, science and research based, public opinion poll company, the Roper Center. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in politics. Working on the 44th floor of their downtown building, she spent many lunchtimes skating at the ice rink located across the street at Rockefeller Center or waiting in line to see Frank Sinatra at the Paramount Theater.
Marriage brought Colette to Newtown, CT, in the late 1950’s where she began her real estate career. With true dedication to her chosen profession that she loved, she tirelessly worked as a realtor in town (minus six years selling real estate in Jupiter and Tequesta, FL in the 1970’s) until age 92. Known as a wonderful French cook, she loved to give intimate dinner parties for family and friends, and her delicious and elaborate real estate “Open House brunches” were always well attended by the local realtors on viewing day. Colette, always ready to lend a helping hand to colleagues, enthusiastically worked eight days a week, and could often be found raking leaves, shoveling snow, planting flowers, or painting rooms at her listings.
Since 1949, Colette has been an active member of the Newtown Congregational Church and served for many years on the flower committee. She was a member of the Newtown Board of Realtors, the BPW, a driver for Meals on Wheels and an early member of the Newtown Woman's Club. Gardening was a passion of hers. She was an longtime, active member of the Newtown Garden Club and was always ready to show off her beautiful gardens at 56 Main Street.
Colette was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. She leaves her two children: Michelle (Williams) and her husband, Herb Rosenthal of Newtown and Paul Williams and his wife Maria, of Clifton Park, New York. She was a proud grandmother of Lauren (Vastarelli) Collingwood and her husband Jeremy Collingwood of Durham, CT; Michael Vastarelli of Newtown; Eric Williams and his fiancé, Jennifer Hamlett, of Albany, NY; Renee (Williams) Ceraso of Bethel, CT; and Mark Williams of Clifton Park, NY; and a great-grandmother of Damien Pastore, Cody Pastore, and Mia Ceraso. She also leaves her loving stepsons Tim and Peter Jefferson of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Kittery, Maine, respectfully; niece, Elyse (Harson) Fairchild and her husband Brian of Litchfield, CT; great-niece Lindsay (Harson) Hayes and her husband, Justin; and their children Bowen and Lilah; and great-nephew, Tyler Hayes. She will also be dearly missed by her step-grandchildren and great grandchildren: Dan and Meri Rosenthal and their children: Hana, Emi and Ben; John Rosenthal; and Sarah and Bill Sullivan and their children: Fiona and Brendan.
The Williams, Rosenthal and Harson families would like to thank the Regional Hospice of Danbury and all the wonderful staff and volunteers there, especially Colleen, Denise, Emily, Mary and Tanya, for their kindness and dedication. We shall also be forever grateful to the Visiting Angels of Brookfield, especially Colette’s caregiver, Phumza, for her kindness, patience, dedication and compassion during these difficult times.
As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Colette to the Regional Hospice in Danbury: regionalhospicect.org
Due to COVID-19 and the family’s desire to keep everyone safe, there will be no services at this time. A private graveside service for the family will take place at the Newtown Village Cemetery on Monday, December 21. Arrangements are under the direction of Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, in Newtown. The family will have a celebration of Colette’s life sometime next year.
In 1919, Colette’s parents arrived from Paris, France, and eventually settled in Pawling, New York. Near the end of World War II, her father moved his family to New York City where he continued his career as a jewelry designer and diamond setter for some of the large jewelry companies locate in the Diamond District: Tiffanies and Harry Winston Jewelers. In the mid to late 1940’s, Colette attended Hunter College and began her career working for Elmo Roper at the nation’s first, science and research based, public opinion poll company, the Roper Center. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in politics. Working on the 44th floor of their downtown building, she spent many lunchtimes skating at the ice rink located across the street at Rockefeller Center or waiting in line to see Frank Sinatra at the Paramount Theater.
Marriage brought Colette to Newtown, CT, in the late 1950’s where she began her real estate career. With true dedication to her chosen profession that she loved, she tirelessly worked as a realtor in town (minus six years selling real estate in Jupiter and Tequesta, FL in the 1970’s) until age 92. Known as a wonderful French cook, she loved to give intimate dinner parties for family and friends, and her delicious and elaborate real estate “Open House brunches” were always well attended by the local realtors on viewing day. Colette, always ready to lend a helping hand to colleagues, enthusiastically worked eight days a week, and could often be found raking leaves, shoveling snow, planting flowers, or painting rooms at her listings.
Since 1949, Colette has been an active member of the Newtown Congregational Church and served for many years on the flower committee. She was a member of the Newtown Board of Realtors, the BPW, a driver for Meals on Wheels and an early member of the Newtown Woman's Club. Gardening was a passion of hers. She was an longtime, active member of the Newtown Garden Club and was always ready to show off her beautiful gardens at 56 Main Street.
Colette was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt. She leaves her two children: Michelle (Williams) and her husband, Herb Rosenthal of Newtown and Paul Williams and his wife Maria, of Clifton Park, New York. She was a proud grandmother of Lauren (Vastarelli) Collingwood and her husband Jeremy Collingwood of Durham, CT; Michael Vastarelli of Newtown; Eric Williams and his fiancé, Jennifer Hamlett, of Albany, NY; Renee (Williams) Ceraso of Bethel, CT; and Mark Williams of Clifton Park, NY; and a great-grandmother of Damien Pastore, Cody Pastore, and Mia Ceraso. She also leaves her loving stepsons Tim and Peter Jefferson of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Kittery, Maine, respectfully; niece, Elyse (Harson) Fairchild and her husband Brian of Litchfield, CT; great-niece Lindsay (Harson) Hayes and her husband, Justin; and their children Bowen and Lilah; and great-nephew, Tyler Hayes. She will also be dearly missed by her step-grandchildren and great grandchildren: Dan and Meri Rosenthal and their children: Hana, Emi and Ben; John Rosenthal; and Sarah and Bill Sullivan and their children: Fiona and Brendan.
The Williams, Rosenthal and Harson families would like to thank the Regional Hospice of Danbury and all the wonderful staff and volunteers there, especially Colleen, Denise, Emily, Mary and Tanya, for their kindness and dedication. We shall also be forever grateful to the Visiting Angels of Brookfield, especially Colette’s caregiver, Phumza, for her kindness, patience, dedication and compassion during these difficult times.
As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Colette to the Regional Hospice in Danbury: regionalhospicect.org
Due to COVID-19 and the family’s desire to keep everyone safe, there will be no services at this time. A private graveside service for the family will take place at the Newtown Village Cemetery on Monday, December 21. Arrangements are under the direction of Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, in Newtown. The family will have a celebration of Colette’s life sometime next year.