Occupation: I was the reception secretary at Newtown High School for 18 years, until I retired this past August. I worked for 26 years in the Newtown Public School system.
Occupation: I was the reception secretary at Newtown High School for 18 years, until I retired this past August. I worked for 26 years in the Newtown Public School system.
Family: I have three children. My oldest is Joe, Jr. He lives in Chicago. Ray is in Sandy Hook with his wife, Elaine, and son, Joey. And my daughter, Jen, lives in Woodbury with her husband, John, and two little girls, Madison and Makenzie. Madison is three years old and Makenzie is three months old.
Pets: I no longer have pets. Weâve had many, but not anymore.
How long have you lived in Newtown? Iâve lived here for 38 years. We moved from Mt Vernon, N.Y. and settled right here in Newtown.
What do you like to do in your free time? Right now, Iâm babysitting for Joey in the mornings. Iâm a lector at St Rose, and Iâm also part of a local and national ministry called âBeginning Experience.â Itâs a team that hosts healing weekends for men and women who are divorced, separated, or widowed. Iâm very active in that. I like to read, and I like to work in my yard, too.
Do you have a favorite author? I like Maeve Binchy and Debbie Macomber as authors. Their books are pleasant reading with good stories.
Do you have a favorite travel destination? I have been to Cape May in New Jersey several times with friends and I love it. Itâs quaint. Itâs a cute little Victorian town, with bed and breakfasts all along the ocean.
What is the best thing about Newtown? Itâs our emergency response volunteer system. The dedication and the time they put into it and what they do for us is incredible â not just the firemen, but all of the emergency personnel. Newtown is very lucky to have these volunteers.
What is the biggest change you have seen in Newtown? The traffic and the housing development. Newtown is no longer the small, quaint New England town it once was. Itâs sad, but itâs progress, I guess.
If you could travel, would you go to the future or the past? I would go to the past. I know what it was and the future is too unknown.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Try not to take things for granted. Appreciate what you have now. If things get tough and overwhelming, let go and let God.
What do you most cherish? The time I have with my grandchildren and all of my family.