Bertha Ruth "Bunny" (Orent) Rhodes

Bertha Ruth “Bunny” (Orent) Rhodes, 84, of West Hartford, beloved wife of the late Jack J. Rhodes, passed away Friday, February 18, 2011 at St. Francis Hospital.  Daughter to the late Phillip and Bertha Orent, Bunny was born in Meriden on April 16, 1926. Bunny’s loving and courageous life has been an inspiration to her family and friends and all those she has touched.  The light of Bunny’s life was her loving family. There was no greater joy than to spend time with her children, grand-children and great grand-children. One of her many hobbies was knitting countless sweaters, afghans, hats, and booties.  Bunny spent many years as a child caretaker for more than 300 children. She dedicated her life to caring for her husband Jack during his long illness and was devoted and committed to her family. She leaves three children, Howard I. Rhodes and his wife Donna of Newton, MA, Sheri Bazinet and her husband Arthur of Vernon, and Phyllis Cortese and her husband John of Newtown; six grandchildren, Michelle Horgan and her husband Brian, Danielle Shweky and her husband Jeffrey, Shawn Bazinet and his fiancé Tanya Dejesus, Alison Rhodes and her husband Benny Meshoulam, Dylan (Rhodes) Cortese, and Brooke Cortese; and two great-grandchildren, Mackenna Horgan and Jack Rhodes Shweky.  Bunny was predeceased by her three sisters, Belle Giber, Rebecca Levitt, and Sadye Goldberg Feld. Funeral services were held on Monday (Feb. 21, 2011) at Carmon Funeral Home in Windsor with interment at Cutler Family Circle Cemetery in West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Masonicare Home Health & Hospice, 111 Founders Plz # 200, East Hartford, CT 06108-8306.  Please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com to send online expressions of sympathy to the family.