Rita Layton "Layton" Dailey

Rita Layton Dailey, 90, of Rocky Hill, formerly of Tariffville, died Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Masonicare Greenridge Place in Rocky Hill. She was born May 12, 1935 in Elmira, NY to Edith (Smith) Layton and Lee Arthur Layton and had lived in Macedon, NY prior to moving to Tariffville in 1964 and ultimately to Rocky Hill in 2018. Rita was a graduate of Southside High School in Elmira, NY, class of 1952, and married her beloved husband William Paul Dailey, Jr. on November 14, 1954. They celebrated 62 wonderful years together until Bill's passing on February 14, 2017. Bill was the absolute love of her life, and she of his, and they created a home filled with love and happiness for their four children. Rita worked in several office positions in furniture, craft and clothing boutiques. She was also room mother more times than she could count and was a Den Mother for many years with the Cub Scouts. Her greatest joy, though, was as a wife, mother and homemaker. Rita was multi-talented, she painted, wallpapered and decorated her home numerous times over the years. She was an excellent quilter and seamstress, and enjoyed traveling to Hilton Head Island, Hawaii, and particularly to Ireland where she last visited in 2020. She was also an avid reader, excellent cook and baker, and made the very best pies. When Rita was promoted to Grandma in 1987 she was absolutely ecstatic. Her six grandchildren were her pride and joy and she loved spending time with each and every one of them. She was extremely proud of all of them. Rita was predeceased by her parents; her sisters Gladys, Betty and Jean; her brother Chester; her parents in-law William Dailey, Sr. and Dorothy (Emerick) Dailey; brothers in law Charles, Gerald, Dennis, Duane and Gary and her sisters in law Linda and Judy. Rita is survived by her four children William (Betsy) Dailey, Thomas Dailey, Michael (Carol) Dailey and her daughter Lucinda (Scott) Stevens; her six grandchildren Kate (Pat) Bernard, Jen (Paul) Lambert, Tara (Rich) Sangster, Sam Dailey, Madeline and Ally Stevens and her two great grandchildren Clare and Melody. She is also survived by sisters in-law Penny (Charles) Noll, Ethel (Jan) Verkey and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to express our sincerest thanks to the aides and staff at Masonicare Greenridge Place in Rocky Hill for their excellent care of Rita for the last 18 months as well as Masonicare Hospice for the support they provided in the last several weeks. Calling Hour will be Monday, August 18, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. followed by the Funeral Service at 3:00 p.m. at Rose Hill Funeral Home 580 Elm St, Rocky Hill. Memorial donations can be made in Rita's memory to The Alzheimer's Association https://donorservices.alz.org, Masonicare Hospice https://www.masonicare.org or a charity of the donor's choosing.