Rina Coville

Loved Family And Life

Rina Coville, 86, longtime Stamford resident, died of colon cancer, December 6. She was born January 13, 1923, in the mountains of Montenars, Italy, to Giovanni and Domenica Jacob.

She is survived by her daughter Jean Coville Dawe of Newtown; grandson Erik Dawe of Washington, D.C.; sister Lia Brooks of Westport; and several nieces and nephews. Her husband, William, and a daughter, Karen, predeceased her.

She grew up in Leon, France, until World War II forced her family to return to Italy and take refuge in the mountains, where they resisted and hid from the Germans until the liberation of Europe by Allied forces in 1945. She came to the United States in 1949 as the wife of US Army Private William W. Coville.

She worked in retail until retirement at the age of 76, and began taking classes at UConn in political science and philosophy. She returned to work, at the age of 82, at a French antiques store in Darien. She spoke four languages fluently and was well educated, traveled, and read. She believed in the equality all human beings. She loved her family, friends, learning, gardening, reading, and discussing politics and social justice. She thought of others before herself, and led by example. Her message was one of kindness, understanding, and acceptance for all people.

A traditional Latin Requiem Mass will be held Monday, December 14, at 1 pm, at St Maurice Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Hospice Program at VNHC, 1266 East Main Street, Stamford CT 06902.

The Newtown Bee       December 11, 2009