Occupation: I’m a registered nurse at St Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven. I’ve been there for 22 years.

Family: My husband is Pat. I have two boys, Michael Parker, who is 18 and at St Leo’s University in Florida, and Christopher Parker, who is 16 and a junior at Newtown High School. I have two stepdaughters, Tina and Angela. Tina is 19 and goes to Hartford University and Angela is 17 and in high school in Ansonia.

Pets: We have a large dog, Bella, who is a Lab and Great Dane mix. She’s the best mix ever, so gentle and sweet. Bella is the second dog of this mix we’ve had. Both were rescue dogs. We loved our first one so much we went online to find another mix like that and found Bella. She is 3 years old and we got her in North Carolina from a rescue group.

How long have you lived in Newtown? I have lived here since 2001, but my husband’s family has been in Newtown since around the time that the Stevenson Dam was built.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to make quilts. I make one every year for a family member. I like to read and go hiking, and I go to my kids’ sports events.

Do you have a favorite book? The one I always recommend is One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus. It is not widely read and not one of those books that there’s a big buzz about, but it’s a fabulous read. Whenever I have to give a present and I think the person likes to read, I give this book as a gift.

Do you have a favorite vacation destination? We go to Myrtle Beach, S.C., a lot. We have relatives there and my best friend just moved there. The water is so warm and clean, and there are good waves. It’s a beautiful place.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The school system is fantastic. I can honestly say that. I’ve had kids in other school systems and I have actually observed the difference. Newtown has really good schools.

If you could spend a day with someone, who would you choose? It would be nice to spend a day with the Pope. I’d like to know his views on how the Middle Eastern women are treated and how he feels about the different cultures.

Do you have a personal philosophy? I try to be nice to people. Do unto others as you would want done unto yourself.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? Chocolate. I prefer milk chocolate and indulge as often as I can.