Rita May Roman, age 90 of Newtown, passed away on Saturday, June 18, 2016. She was born March 4, 1926, in Waterbury, CT, the daughter of Joseph Anthony Miller and May Zubras Miller.
Rita attended Waterbury schools and studied fashion design at Traphagen School of Fashion and Design in New York. She later studied floral design and worked at Four Seasons of Newtown and other area shops. Her design flair carried into her home decorating and hobbies of needlework, painting and gardening.
In 1948, Rita married Richard, her husband of 64 years. They moved to Miami Florida, pursuing his airline career, then Port Washington New York and returned to Connecticut in 1961 to be closer to family and loved ones. Rita lived in Newtown for 55 years where they raised their three children.
Family and friends were Rita’s joy in her life. She was active in the lives of her grandchildren and the neighborhood children who found her warm smile, wise advice and calm and gentle ways so comforting. She loved the St. Rose Carnivals, Newtown Labor Day Parades and fireworks.
Rita was a member of Heritage Village and Rock Ridge Country Clubs playing in golf leagues. She enjoyed art classes and card groups with her cherished friends. She continued to enjoy her trips to New York for plays and museums. She was a member of the New York Botanical Gardens. She served as a volunteer at Danbury Hospital and Newtown VNA.
In Rita’s later years, she remained current with New York life watching the parades and Christmas tree lighting on TV. She was a fan of Joan Hamburg of WOR Radio. She watched Bill O’Rielly on TV daily and golf, every weekend. She was very grateful for the attention given by St. Rose Parish and Bethel VNA supporting her independent life.
Rita is pre-deceased by Richard and daughter Regis Levin. She is survived by two children, Paula Todd of Woodbury CT and David Roman and wife, Deborah, of North Granby CT. She has four grandchildren: Jonathan Todd and wife, Elizabeth Hannon, of San Francisco CA, David Roman Jr. of Yarmouth ME, Elizabeth Roman of Windsor CT and Michelle Gyngell of Colchester CT.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown, Thursday June 23rd at 12:00 noon. Friends may call in Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, Thursday morning from 10:00am to 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Bethel Visiting Nurse Association, Bethel CT, or your charity of choice.

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