Rosamond Lehren Emmons, a resident of Darien for 60 years, died Tuesday, April 4, at Bridges Memory Care in Norwalk, just shy of her 91st birthday.
Rosamond Emmons, 90, passed away April 4. Her funeral will be held on April 16.
Artistic, community-oriented, and forever fashionable, Roz was a tour de force. She was a passionate wife, mother, and award-winning painter.
Born in Yonkers, New York, on April 21,1932, she was the fourth child and only daughter of Hazel and James Lehren. Roz grew up in Riverside and attended Greenwich Academy.
She met her husband, Harry, in Manhattan after graduating from Endicott College. She worked as a fashion editor at Brides Magazine in New York City until she and Harry moved to Darien to raise their three daughters.
Throughout her life, Rosamond generously gave her time to the community. Over the years, she was head of the Saint Luke’s Parish Altar Guild, co-president of Royle School’s PTA, and led teams and committees at the Tokeneke Club.
Roz’s greatest contribution to Darien was her involvement in the creation of the Darien Arts Council (now the Darien Arts Center), which continues to inspire and educate children and adults in art, dance, theater and music.
She was also a volunteer with the “Learning to Look” program, teaching art to underserved teens in Norwalk and Bridgeport Public Schools.
Roz was a go-getter. She was a highly successful agent for the Darien News Review and its sister papers for 19 years. Her creative spirit touched all she did.
She once painted 35 rocks to resemble the guests attending her husband Harry’s 50th birthday, to serve as place cards at the dinner table. Roz loved to entertain and was a formidable chef. She was famous for her parties, especially a neighborhood party every Christmas Eve, featuring Swiss Cheese Fondue.
Her happy place was in the kitchen, singing while arranging the flowers her husband grew. Other simple pleasures included: masterful dancing to Broadway tunes, chatting with the family dog, crushing it on the paddle court, and skiing in the French Alps on a bluebird day.
Roz was predeceased by her husband, Harry. She is survived by her older brother, Harry Lehren of California. She is also survived by her three daughters, Lisa Thoren (Peter), Polly Tilghman (Stuart) and Didi Emmons (Henry MacLean); five grandchildren: Alexa, Laura, Lindsay, Lee and Tally; and five great-grandchildren. She was adored by her entire family and will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, April 16, at Saint Luke’s Parish. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to The Darien Arts Center.
— an obituary from Leo Gallagher & Sons Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left