Zara Rodman

Zara Rodman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, Aunt and friend, passed away peacefully January 7, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, humor, and kindness.

Zara’s first jobs were clerical where she mastered what is now the lost art of shorthand. She and her husband, Robert Rodman, of 68 years, met on a blind date and married soon after. On the night they booked their wedding venue, Bob received a letter notifying him that he was drafted into the service. They married and began their military life in the Navy with stops in California, Hawaii and finally Sasebo, Japan. It was in Japan, where they started their family before settling back home in Massachusetts where they had their first born who is referred to as the son who was "made in Japan".

Zara was a passionate reader who cherished spending her days in the library, losing herself in the words and stories that books offered. She aspired to be a writer taking classes, doing research, and staying up late so she could write without the interruption of family. She wrote poetry, worked on a romance novel and even submitted jokes to the legendary Phyllis Diller. In the early 1980s, Zara published two humorous articles, “Ringing in the Flu” and “Vacuuming Doesn’t Compare to a Riding Mower!” in the Hartford Courant and Farmington Valley Herald, offering her unique perspective on the joys, humor and challenges of family life.

For the most part, a stay-at-home Mom, Zara followed her passion for writing and became a journalist in 1984, writing the article “Hanging Up the Dishrag…Entering the World of Journalism” covering local happenings in Avon, CT, as a reporter for the Farmington Valley Herald. Her work captured the essence of community life, blending her love of research and storytelling.

Zara’s greatest joy was her family. Known for her big heart, she was always there for her loved ones, listening and offering advice and support day or night. She was endlessly proud of her children and grandchildren and celebrated their every accomplishment.

She is predeceased by her parents, Anna and Irving Greene, and her beloved sister, Barbara Goldman. She is survived by her devoted husband, Robert Rodman; her children, Michael Rodman and wife Sherri, Lisa Rodman, and Jennifer Zullo and husband Tony; her cherished grandchildren, Lindsey Buckley and husband Connor, Haley Rodman, Jack Dedmondt, Robert and Maggie Zullo; her sister, Vera Wolfson and husband Paul; and her niece and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 1:00PM at the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, MA 02067.

Zara will be deeply missed but forever remembered for her warmth, humor, and enduring love.