Denise Pryzgoda Gehring

Denise Pryzgoda Gehring, a Bethel resident since 1996, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 5, 2023 after a brief and sudden illness, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 66. Denise was born on October 20, 1956 to Robert and Agnes

(Dronzek) Pryzgoda in Yonkers, NY. She was a graduate of Peekskill High School class of 1974, and then a graduate of Katherine Gibbs School. In the summer of 1985, she met, who would become her 'bestest friend', Carl at Yankee Stadium. On October 18, 1986 she married Carl Gehring at Assumption Church, in Peekskill, NY. In 1988 they moved from Manhattan, NY to Danbury, CT and then to Bethel, CT in 1996. Joining Sacred Heart Church in Danbury, CT in 1991, she became an active choir member and Cantor. She also served as a Eucharistic minister.

Denise will long be remembered as a die-hard Yankee fan, wearing anything with a Yankee logo on it and going to as many games as possible to support her team. When she wasn't cheering on the professionals, she was supporting her children, Donald and Dennis, in their baseball lives as a certified Bethel youth baseball coach, scorekeeper, and most importantly, team mom.

As an administrative assistant, her talents were utilized both by St. Regis Paper Co. and Bristol-Meyers Squibb of NYC until 1987. Upon moving to Connecticut in 1988, she worked for Caldor Corporation until 1998 and then Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals until her retirement in 2022.

Denise was an active Toastmasters member, giving speeches on all subjects and enjoyed hearing stories from many different perspectives. She loved traveling and taking in the sights, a favorite being Montauk, NY. She would read anything she could get her hands on and recommend anything she thought you might enjoy. Entertaining was a passion of hers, especially the Oktoberfest parties. She also hosted parties for the Daytona 500, the baseball All Star Game, and the football Super Bowl. If you were lucky enough to get a Stollen for the Christmas dinner table, she appreciated you in her life. She also enjoyed hosting the Saturday night firepits in her driveway, while listening to her favorite country music.

A loving and devoted wife, mother, and sister she is survived by her husband Carl, sons Donald and Dennis and siblings Susan (John) Tung of Lake Forest, IL; Robert (Linda) Pryzgoda, Jr. of Cortland Manor, NY and Lisa Pryzgoda of Bethel, CT, also many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Robert and Agnes Pryzgoda.

Family and friends will gather at Sacred Heart Church, 12 Cottage Street, Danbury, CT on Friday, July 21, 2023. Visitation will be at Sacred Heart Church from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by a funeral mass at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Church in Danbury, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or Wounded Warrior Project.