A Sad Post

This morning I have received word of the passing of a friend of my family's. Vera Rozarie has been a part of my life since I was a child, always the loving and kind woman I knew from St. James, my parish. As I have gotten older, she has become special to me as I am a future educator, and this was also the profession she chose. She's my "buddy", and she will be greatly missed. Please pray for Vera and her family, as they are struggling with their loss.

ROZARIE Vera J. Rozarie of Stratford, went home to the Lord on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. She was the third child born to James L. and Helena E. Londea Kazee. One of six children, she was educated in Bridgeport, Fairfield, and New Haven. She graduated from Harding High School, SHU (B.S.), and SCSU (M.S., 6th Year Professional Diploma). Vera was prede-ceased by her husband, Edward C. Rozarie. Together they parented four children, Gwen Ann, Edwina, Dirk (married to Judith) and Carla. Vera was grandmother to Lisa, Andrew, Gina and Emily Eaton, Meghan, Jeremiah and Casey Rozarie; sister to William of New York, NY, Anna of Pompano Beach, Fla.; "Auntbear" to many nieces and nephews; sister-in-law to Edith and Otis Otts of the Westville section of New Haven. Her wide network of friends and extended family included Mary and MaryLou Semedo; her church family at St. James; Cursillo of Fairfield County; her Sisters in Christ, Celeste, Connie, Nancy, Rhina and Rita; two very special friends, Ernest and Thom; her educational family, the Stratford Community Family (through CARE), Baldwin Center and Marathon Bridge Group Family, as well as her friends and neighbors at Tide Harbor where she was a member of the Board of Directors. She was also a member of the Red Rose Hatters (Co-Queen) and Les Treize. She was the only lay member of the Stratford Clergy Association. Vera had many associates in life but chose her friends carefully. To name them would mean leaving important people out. Each of you knows the role you played in her life. God, family, friends, church, community and life (which included a good poker game or game of Spanish 21) filled her days. Vera was a nurturer and teacher all of her adult life. As Vera believed strongly in the power of education and service to community, please make a donation to the scholarship program of your choice in her honor. There are several excellent scholarships associated with organizations she was involved in (as listed above).Calling hours are 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 1st in the Pistey Funeral Home, 2155 Main Street, Stratford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. James Church on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Burial services at the convenience of the family. "God bless and keep you until we meet again."