Regina Mae Bunker Randich, 94, of Farmington, formerly of Newington, beloved wife of the late Ted Randich, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 12, 2020. She was born in Chicago, IL, on May 1, 1926, the daughter of Joseph and Louise (Geimer) Bunker. Her French-Canadian father had anglicized the name “Boncoeur” to “Bunker,” but Regina lived up to her birth name, “Queen Goodheart.” She possessed beauty, brains, childlike innocence, and pizzazz. After losing her father to a stroke, young Regina forged a creed of “making do.” She valued simplicity, hard work, and trusting in our better angels. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Villa Park, IL, and began serving up ice cream and “One in a Million malted shakes” at Prince Castle. One day a handsome, young first generation Croatian-American drove up and ordered from her. He soon became a regular. On July 19, 1947, Regina married this prince, Ted Randich, the love of her life. Their first Christmas Regina and Ted decorated a tree that stayed up for months until the landlord told them it was a fire hazard. They shared a love of ritual, nature, and renewal – to be their children was to believe in magic. Regina got a job in the Loop as a telephone switchboard operator, flexing her dulcet voice. She remembered being teased with chants of “Fifth anniversary, nothing in the nursery,” but she and Ted loved children, and children came in abundance, seven-fold. In 1963 the young family moved from Hillside, IL to Newington, CT, where they lived happily for over fifty years blessed by pets including a succession of beagles, Shane, Misty, Cinnamon, and Shana, bunnies, and Chanté, a canary rescued on Good Friday. Through their service to the town, they came to be known as Mr. and Mrs. Newington. While she was still raising seven children, Regina returned to work for sixteen years, serving as the Secretary of St. Mary Church in Newington, CT, from 1974 to 1990. After she retired, Regina and Ted traveled, enjoying the arts and life. Regina will be greatly missed by her seven children and loved ones: Kevin Randich and his wife, Susan, of Webster Groves, MO; Jean Randich and her husband, Michael Chybowski, of Coventry; Michael Randich and his wife, Lisa Spalla, of Farmington; Richard Randich and his wife, Galina, Robert Randich and his fiancée Kathleen Murphy, and Ruth Randich, of Newington; and Patricia Randich Dumas and her husband, Royal Dumas, of Montgomery, AL. Regina's good heart lives on in her six precious grandchildren, Thomas and Amelia Randich, Theodore and Evan Randich, and Cyprian and Tristan Dumas. Her brother Cyprian, and the indomitable Bunker sisters, Gertrude, Mary, Marge, and Therese, all preceded her in death. Her nieces, nephews, other relatives, companions, and friends could not resist her smile. An impassioned Democrat, Regina was involved in political campaigns for her husband Ted and son Robert. A parishioner at St. Mary Church, Newington, for over 50 years, Regina was president of the Ladies Guild, served on the Golden Jubilee Committee and succeeded her husband as president of the Parish Council. She was also a Eucharistic Minister, serving and cheering the homebound. Regina delighted in volunteer service, and for 15 years delivered Meals On Wheels. On one such trip she saved the life of a woman who had collapsed in her home and couldn’t get up. Regina was a member of the Newington Historical Society, and a Friend of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library. A born listener, late blooming feminist, and extraordinary gift-giver, Regina showed up for events all over the United States whenever her children, grandchildren, and sisters needed her. She had deep wells of empathy: to be with her was to be seen. Well into their 80's, Ted and Regina savored their daily walk around the block. Her father inscribed her child’s autograph book: “A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.” There was no quit in Regina. She never gave up on anyone, including herself. In spite of dementia, she continued to sing, reaching out through old-fashioned love songs when conversation failed. Ever graceful, Regina would want the good souls who work at Arden Courts of Farmington to know she thanks them. They rekindled her love of dancing, laughing, game playing, and art making. As a young girl, Regina sang in a contest on the radio, and could belt a torch song like nobody’s business. In the words of her favorite song, Regina’s love is “not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year, but always.” Her funeral service will begin on Saturday, November 21, 2020, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 626 Willard Ave. Newington. She will be lovingly laid to rest in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to Annunciation Parish at St. Mary Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington, CT, 06111.