Elsie “Jean” Roland (Montanaro), 93, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2019, at Hartford Hospital, after a long illness. Jean was born in Hartford on January 16, 1926, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Orfitelli) Montanaro. She grew up in Hartford and later moved to Wethersfield, where she graduated from Wethersfield High School. In 1944 she met the love of her life, Ernest Dean Roland, while on holiday in New York City. The two married 3 months later and shared 67 wonderful years together, first in Hartford, then Rocky Hill, and then in Glastonbury. Dean passed away in 2011. In 2016, Jean moved into Seabury Meadows in Bloomfield, where she received loving care. Dean and Jean worked together at Dean’s Spirit Shoppe, on Main Street, East Hartford, which they owned and operated, from 1969 until they retired in 1987. They were both active in the East Hartford community and, in 2009, Jean was awarded the Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Award for community service. She kept an immaculate home and enjoyed gardening and spending time with family. Considered the life of any party, Jean was always the first one on the dance floor. Jean is survived by two daughters, Donna Barnett of Glastonbury, and Andrea Gaedeke and her husband, David, of New Hartford; a son, Bob Roland and his wife, Lisa, of New Hartford; seven special grandchildren: Deana Lynne Hutson and her husband, John, of Old Saybrook; Darcey Jean Heywosz and her husband, Mike, of Wethersfield; Sarah Roland Gaedeke and her husband, Alex Clarke, of Canton; Jacob Roland Gaedeke of New Hartford; Emma Roland Gaedeke of Brooklyn, New York; Paige Albee Roland of Norwood, Massachusetts; and Jameson Albee Roland of Hartford; two great-grandchildren, Myles Roland Clarke and Norah Roland Clarke of Canton, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Calling hours will be Tuesday, November 5, 2019, from 10-11am at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 580 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Funeral service will take place at 11am with burial immediately following. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jean’s name may be made to the East Hartford Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 280722, East Hartford, CT 06128-0722, or to The Roland Family Fund of The Beekley Community Library, P.O. Box 247, New Hartford, CT 06057. Please share online expressions of sympathy, memories or photo tributes at www.rosehillfuneralhomes.com.
Rose Hill Funeral Homes Inc.
580 Elm Street
Rocky Hill
06067
(860) 529-3381
Website
