Elizabeth Bean Redway Obituary

#Middlebury #Obituary

Elizabeth Bean Redway (Liza) died peacefully at home on Jan. 16, 2020, surrounded by her family, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor more than a year ago. She was the wife of James D. Redway of Middlebury for 38 years; the couple began dating in 1974. The daughter of Carolyn Granniss Bean and the late Robert L. Bean of Middlebury, she was born in Waterbury on June 3, 1958. Besides her husband and mother, Liza is survived by her two sons: James Christopher Redway and his wife, Sherry, of Cheshire, as well as Jason G. Redway of Woodbury.

A 1976 graduate of Pomperaug High School in Southbury, Liza received her bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York, where she was a member of Beta, Beta, Beta, a national biological honor society. She also earned an associate degree in Plant Science and Horticulture from SUNY Cobleskill in 1980.

After graduating college, Liza worked as a floral designer at Nature’s Touch Flower Shop in Middlebury for 10 years. In 1990, Liza joined her husband in building and selling their 18th-century-style solid cherry furniture at their shop, The Silver Cherry in Woodbury, and at various other furniture markets and shows throughout New England. Near the end of the 1990s, Liza again joined her husband in their new company, Knightlite Software LLC, creating and selling computer study software for Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics throughout the nation. She was also a former member of the Middlebury Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

Liza was an incredibly creative and unique individual. She was always a kind, sweet, and caring person. How Liza came across to others was how Liza really was. She was as genuine as she was beautiful, both on the inside and out.

As a girl, Liza enjoyed riding her horse, Clancy. She was skilled at flower arranging and would often handle the wedding flowers for friends and family.

One of her favorite things to do was to sit on Madaket Beach in Nantucket, sipping wine and watching the sun sink down into the ocean, always hoping for a colorful sunset. She also loved to go to the Redway House in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where the couple managed the family vacation rental and danced under the Berkshire stars at Tanglewood.

In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by her sister, Suzanne Bean Cooper, and her husband, Doug; a brother, Scott Bean; her brother-in-law, Albert S. Redway III (Tad) and his wife, Stephanie; along with two nieces, Erica Kerber and Christine Burgos. She was the aunt of the late Max Bean.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, at 11 a.m. at Middlebury Congregational Church on the Green in Middlebury, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Middlebury Congregational Church, 1242 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762.