Occupation: I’m a retired home economics teacher. When that subject was eliminated from the curriculum, I was asked to run a computer lab in Stamford for about 15 years. It was really interesting to learn about computer in the ‘90s, and I enjoyed working with the students in the lab.

Family: I’ve been married to my husband, John, for 51 years. He’s my best friend and college sweetheart. We have a son, John, Jr, who is married to Cynthia. They have two children, Sabrina and John III, who go to Newtown High School. They recently opened a store here in town, BD Provisions. Our daughter, Marie, lives in Boston. Her husband, Mike, works for GE. They have a son, Michael, and a daughter, Rose.

Pets: I adore cats. My favorite cat, Tom, lived to be 21½. My husband is not a pet person, so for now, we have no pets.

How long have you lived in Newtown? We moved here from Stamford 14 years ago to be closer to our grandchildren. I commuted for seven years back to Stamford until I retired.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love gardening — my own and the Victory Garden here in town — and I sew for an organization in Bethel. We make dresses for charity. It’s a really nice group of women. I also spend some time at the Senior Center; it’s a very nice place. I love to do graphic work on the computer. I wrote a children’s book a few years ago called The Life and Times of a Newtown Bear, and I continue to write. I also have a few friends that I like to see in Stamford. Oh… and can’t forget exercise, out of necessity.

Do you have a favorite author? I love to read, and for right now I would say Ann Tyler is a very good author.

What is your favorite travel destination? It would be a toss-up between Italy and Germany. My husband has relatives in Italy, and I have cousins in Germany.

What is the best part about Newtown? We didn’t know anyone except our son and his wife when we moved here, but now we have many good friends.

What has been the greatest influence in your life? My parents’ very unhappy marriage. It was hard on my sister and me, but I always used it as a guide for my own marriage and life in general.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? It would be my dad. We were separated for a while due to the divorce, then we had a few years together, and then he died suddenly in a car accident. He never got to go to his grandchildren’s weddings, and there are things I would like to share with him.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I love the music from the late-’50s/early-’60s. My husband calls it “bubblegum music.” It’s also called doo-wop.

Do you have a favorite TV show? I don’t watch much TV, but my husband and I love Jeopardy and reruns from Frazier.

What is your favorite food? The truth is chocolate, but if I want to show my virtuous side, I would say veggies.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? I was recently told by Dr Susan Verano during a presentation at Maplewood to never sabotage yourself as you get older. If you forget something, do not assume you are losing your mind, simply say you forgot for the moment and will get back to it later.

What is something you cannot live without? My family. They make life worthwhile. I’m grateful for all of them.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I loved being a mother… I still do and love to be a grandmother to my grandbabies (though they are not babies).