Irene Rolseth

Irene Rolseth, age 90, of Newtown, died at home on August 10, 2021, surrounded by her family. Irene was born in Chicago on October 7, 1930, the only child of Iver and Othilie Jossund Reitan. She attended Chicago public schools and earned her secretarial certificate, before becoming an executive secretary at the Paul Weir Company. She is survived by her husband, Harold, to whom she was married for 66 years. Irene was an avid reader and stitcher. Her family and friends will not need to look far in their homes for reminders of her skills in knitting and embroidery, as she produced work of exceptional quality and generously shared it with those she loved. For many years, she was a member of South Salem Presbyterian Church, where she headed up the annual craft fair. Irene and Harold raised their family in New Jersey then Ridgefield, where they lived for 34 years before moving to Newtown in 2018. They enjoyed traveling and visited many national parks in the Western US, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, and Norway. Irene is survived by her husband and their two children, Susan Brooks of Gaylordsville (husband Mark) and Ken Rolseth of Arizona (partner Karen Sissom). She is also survived by three grandchildren, Dan Brooks of Massachusetts, Chris Brooks of Massachusetts (married to Brandi), and Becca Grayeb of Cheshire (married to Kate), and two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Henry Grayeb.