Kathleen "Kay" Roan

Kathleen "Kay" Roan, 97, of Willimantic, Connecticut, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on Monday, September 5, 2011. Kay was born November 24, 1913, and grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She moved to Connecticut in her teens. She attended Southern Connecticut State University, and taught elementary school in West Haven, Connecticut. She moved to Willimantic in 1946, when she married Jack Roan, a local merchant and community leader, who died of cancer in 1966. Kay was an incredibly dedicated volunteer throughout her life, wherever she lived. In West Haven, she volunteered as an ambulance attendant. During World War II, she volunteered with the Red Cross overseas in India for a year. At age 97, Kay was still a Board member at Windham Hospital and Eastern Connecticut State University, the Treasurer of the Willimantic Housing Authority, and a Rotary Club member. Kay is survived by her only child, Kaye Hamilton-Smith. In lieu of flowers, Kay's daughter is requesting that contributions be made to the Kay Roan Scholarship Fund at Eastern Connecticut State University, payable to the ECSU Foundation and addressed to ECSU Foundation, 83 Windham St., Willimantic, CT. 06226. No donation is too small - it might help one student buy a much needed book. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com . Visitation will be help on Friday Sept. 9th between 5:00 and 7:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Please wear a smile and something purple in memory of Kay's passion for a good joke and all things purple! Her Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 10th at 10:00am, at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic. After the service, Kay will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. Joseph's Cemetery - together again after 45 years.