Viola B. Chapman

1925 - 2015

Viola B. Chapman, 89, beloved wife of 64 years to William Rodman Chapman, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday , February 19, 2015. She would have been 90 on February 25, 2015. Viola was the daughter of Vernon Charles and Mildred (Gowen) Bodwell. Born in Dorchester, MA on February 25, 1925, She grew up on a farm in Dunstable, MA where her family raised chickens, cows and horses. She went to school in a two room school house where she won $100 scholarship when she graduated from eighth grade. Viola graduated 1943 from Deering High School in Portland, ME and graduated with an associate's degree in 1947 from Principia College for Christian Scientists located in St. Louis, MO where she majored in English. She went to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where she won a regional musical competition. She studied nursing at Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association in Boston, MA. She met her husband, William Rodman Chapman, in September 1950 at the Christian Science Mother Church in Boston where they were studying their religion to obtain Professional designations of S.S. They were married April 28, 1951 in the Union Congregational Church, Rockville, CT. Her career life included jobs in Hartford, where she worked as an operator for the insurance firm; Morley, Baldwin and Watson. In 1953, Viola and her husband moved to Rutland,VT where she worked for Seward's Dairy doing office work. They then moved to Ashtabula, OH in 1957, where she worked at the Ashtabula Star Beacon Newspaper doing office work. In 1963 they moved back to Rockville, CT and Viola worked at Nelson Freight located in Ellington, CT. She also worked at Rockville Credit Union and the Rockville Chamber of Commerce as secretary. While her children were attending school, she worked at the Rockville General Hospital as a Nurses Aide and Vernon Manor Convalescent Home. She was a church organist at the Christian Science Church in Rockville. Viola was an adopted member of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot Indian Tribe. Her Native American name was Red Feather. She enjoyed attending Native American Socials and Pow Wows. Viola leaves four children; Naomi Kilgore and her companion David Lee, Craig Chapman and his wife Joey, Neal Chapman and his wife Nhan, Norma Gregory and her husband Dennis Sample; Seven Grandchildren; Sarah married to Ted Cabata, Lauren married to Zach Ellis, Jamie married to Mason Manzi, Marissa Chapman, Vanessa Chapman, Kurt Chapman and Morgan Sample. Two Great Grandchildren; Emilia Cabata and Connor Ellis. Her brothers Russell Seavey Bodwell and Vernor Charles Bodwell; her sister in law Janet Bodwell and several Nieces and Nephews. She was predeceased by a son Gregory Rodman Chapman and her brother William E. Bodwell. Relatives and friends may join the family Tuesday, February 24, 2015 from 9:30-11:30 at The Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect st, Rockville. A Funeral Home Service will take place at 11:30. Burial will follow at Grove Hill Cemetery, Rockville. For online condolences please visit www.pietrasfuneralhome.com