Vera Caroline Rice

Vera Caroline Rice, age 93, a former long time resident of Chester passed away peacefully in Old Saybrook surrounded by her loving family at the home of her son Glenn and daughter-in-law Judith Rice on Sunday morning, May 18th. Vera was the beloved wife of the late Frank J. Rice who predeceased her on November 4, 1990. She was born in New Haven on August 9, 1920 the daughter of Walter V. and Florence Hitchcock. Vera was an active member of the Chester community and the United Church of Chester where she served the church as a long time Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent. She formerly co-owned and operated both the Laval Corporation in East Haddam and the Delta Machine Company in Chester until 1990. She worked for Janet Sachs Realty for many years as well. During WWII she and her friends volunteered in many capacities. A lifelong Red Sox fan, she lived through the long drought to celebrate three championships. She enjoyed reading, singing along to the radio, feeding and watching birds and sharing time with her many relatives, neighbors and friends. For more than 20 years she enjoyed playing setback weekly with her cast of characters. She welcomed everyone into her "House By the Side of the Road" with a genuine grace and she made friends wherever she went. She laughed easily (especially at herself) and thanked God for her life each day. She is at peace. Besides her son Glenn and daughter-in-law Judith, she leaves her son Roy Rice (Anya) of Monmouth, ME, daughter-in-law Linda Rice of Deep River, sister Trudy Assunto of Nashua, NH, grandchildren Stacia Rice Libby (Belden) of Ivoryton and her daughters Ryce and Maizy Libby, Evan Rice (Amanda) of Centerbrook, Emily Dale (Kristian) of Old Saybrook, and her daughter Eva Dale, Mark Rice (Mia) of Venice, Italy, Shawn Rice (Heather) of Orlando, FL, Ingrid Rice, of Burlington, VT, Frank Rice, of Monmouth, ME and Richard H. McCabe and daughter Kora, of Monmouth, ME and many nephews, nieces and extended family members. Vera was also predeceased by her son Mark Rice, brothers Lawrence E. Seaman, Charles A. Seaman, Raymond Hitchcock and her sisters, Helen S. Wrzosek, Ruth Palmieri, and Evelyn H. Gilbert. Visitation will be held at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook on Thursday, May 22nd from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 23rd at 1:00PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 109 Main Street in Centerbrook. Burial will follow in the Cedar Lake Cemetery, Cedar Lake Road in Chester. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chester Hose Company, P.O. Box 214, Chester, CT 06412 or to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries, P.O. Box 804, Essex, CT 06426.