Benita Rosa "Rosina" Rebula, of Granby, CT, and a former longtime Stamford resident, was surrounded by the love and touch of her family when she died at Hartford Hospital on September 22, 2017, after a long and valiant battle with stomach cancer. Born on September 28, 1929, in San Michele al Tagliamento in the province of Venezia, Italy, Rosina was the daughter of the late Giovanni and Luigia Ceretti. With her husband Guido and their young children, she arrived in the United States and settled in Stamford in December, 1955.

As her young children grew and along with Guido, she worked hard and long hours to build a good life for their family, and to provide education opportunities for each of their children. Early on she attended night school to learn English. Like her husband, she worked multiple jobs to make ends meet and build the American Dream for her family. Initially she cleaned houses during the day, and worked as a nighttime telephone operator for SNET for two years. She then worked for Clairol, a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she became the company's first female Quality Controller. She retired from Clairol after almost 30 years of service.

Rosina had many talents, and with her hands of gold she was successful at just about anything she attempted. An accomplished fashion designer and seamstress, she won awards in Europe for her design, production, and modeling of outfits. She made custom wedding dresses and outfits in the United States and abroad. Rosina enjoyed gardening vegetables and beautiful flowers -- she had a green thumb and could make any plant grow and thrive. She was a wonderful cook and baker -- her strudels, chocolate nut rolls, anisette cookies, gnocchi, and homemade pizza were just a few of the family and friends' favorites. She had a marvelous ear for music: she played the accordion and piano (both self-taught) and had a beautiful singing voice. She made beautiful lace, fashioned and knitted sweaters and other garments, and won awards for her craftsmanship that took her to NYC. She was a spectacular decorator: for her family and others, she transformed bolts of fabric into beautiful items; with one-of-a-kind stencils that she handcrafted,rooms she painted and stenciled made jaws drop in awe.

The most treasured gifts she delivered from her hands, and which will be sorely missed, are her gentle touch and the most wonderful hugs -- both delivered straight from the heart. Rosina always placed others first, and had a way of always making whoever she was with or talking to feel so special. Somehow she always said just what one needed to hear. That twinkling sparkle in her eye, and her wonderful warm smile will be missed, but can never be forgotten.

Rosina loved to walk, and she walked fast! Over the years she clocked hundreds (if not thousands) of miles walking through Stamford's Cove and Shippan sections, to various churches for mass, and downtown. A devout Catholic, Rosina daily attended Mass and recited the rosary; when she passed away she was holding her rosary close.

Rosina is survived by her children: Oscar (Lisa) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Enzo (Nancy) of Natick, MA, Edward (Anna) of Granby, CT, and Rosemary of Granby, CT; eleven grandchildren: Christopher (Julia), Catherine (Justin), Andrew, John, Matthew, Anna Grace, Maria, Thomas, David, Daniel, and Laura; and five great grandchildren: Alexandra, Margot, Twila, Hawk, and Sylvie. Also surviving her are: her sisters Rina Marani, and Anna Maria Consiglio and husband Nicolo, all of Monfalcone, Italy; sisters-in-law Marinella Ceretti of Gorizia, Italy, and Vida Parisi of Stamford, CT; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, Rosina was predeceased by her son Edoardo, her daughter Marisa, two brothers Ugo and Ugo Bruno, and her sisters Livia Guidastri and Isolda Romita.

Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Rosina's Birthday,Thursday, September 28th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. A funeral procession will be leaving the funeral home on Friday, September 29th at 9:40 AM for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM
at The Basilica of St. John the Evangelist RC Church,279 Atlantic Street, Stamford. For those who would like to attend the Mass but are not able to do so in person, the live Mass can be seen using IPad, IPhone, or computer by going to the Basilica's URL (stjohnsstamford.com) and then clicking on the “Live WebCam” photo icon.
Interment will be Saturday, September 30th at 10:00 AM at St. John's Cemetery, 25 Camp Avenue, Darien, CT.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations in Rosina's name be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, or the American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway, Suite 2700, New York, NY, 10006.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com

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