Frances M. (St John) Rubino

Frances M. (St John) Rubino age 85, passed away on February 16, 2023, at home in Ellington, CT. She was born in the Bronx, New York and lived in California, Arizona, and Connecticut as well. While in the Bronx she married her husband Robert (Bob) in 1957 and started a family with the birth of a son Robert, Jr. in 1958 and a daughter Paula in 1961. Following an opportunity in the country’s burgeoning space program, Bob and Frances moved their Family to Canoga Park, California in 1962 and three years later returned to the east coast where they built a home in Willington, Connecticut in 1966. While in Willington for 30 years, Frances worked as Assessor’s Clerk and Assessor and managed the family package stores, located in South Willington and being permittee of the Willington Hill Package Store in West Willington. In 1995, Bob & Frances built a home in Sun City, Oro Valley, Arizona where they spent some of the best years of their lives. Frances volunteered her time to the Sun City Genealogical Society in many capacities. One of which was taking responsibility for their monthly newsletter “The Timeline” in May 2001. As a member of the Sun City Oro Valley Genealogical society interested in her own family history, she taught genealogy classes to fellow genealogists in Sun City & SaddleBrooke. Frances was an avid bridge player drawing on her considerable ‘luck of the Irish’ and angelic poker face. She loved gardening wherever she lived; was an avid reader; philatelist and enjoyed big screen movies. In the spring of 2022, Bob & Frances sold their home in Sun City of 27 years, downsized, and moved to Fairwinds Independent Living in Oro Valley, where they, with Frances’ infectious sweet disposition and friendly competitiveness at ‘high stakes’ Bingo, began anew making fast friends. Wishing to be closer to her family back east as her health progressively failed, Frances and Bob moved back to Connecticut and moved into The Ivy, assisted living residence in Ellington. Frances is predeceased by her parents Henry J. & Helen F. (McMahon) St. John and her twin sister, Helen M. McLaren, and Robert’s parents, Anthony & Marion (Urgolites) Rubino. Surviving her is loving husband of nearly 66 years Robert A Rubino, her two wonderful children and their spouses: Robert A Rubino, Jr (Jan) and Paula L Rubino (Steve Jablonski), two granddaughters Rachel Trinque (Jesse) of Union and Nicole (Kyle) Sprague of Coventry and three great granddaughters (Eva, Ivy & Clara) all of Connecticut. She also leaves a very special Cousin, Judy and her husband Bharat in New Jersey, two nieces and several great nieces and nephews. Although for much of her life she was separated by miles from her family, she was very loving and devoted to them as evidenced by never missing an opportunity for sending birthday cards and special Christmas gifts. Burial will be in the Town of Tolland Cemetery, Tolland, CT. In lieu of flowers, the Family asks donations be made to Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens; a treasured place of Frances’. Visit tohonochul.org/support/make-your-gift