Patricia P. Gedney

Patricia Mary Pender (Pat) Gedney, 94 passed peacefully on September 10, 2024 after a short illness. Pat was recently predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Richard (Dick) Gedney of Madison, CT. She was born in Greenwich, CT on March 28, 1930 to Hugh Martin Pender and Anna (Weiss) Pender. Pat was a fixture in the art scene of her adopted hometown of Madison, CT.

Pat was predeceased by her siblings Marie (Pender) Bassett, Helen Rose (Pender) O'Donnel and Hugh Martin Pender, Jr.

Born on a farm in north Greenwich Connecticut her early life revolved around her family. Graduating from Greenwich High School, Pat went on to study art in New York City. A life-long painter in watercolor and oils, Pat was a graduate of the Jamison Franklin School of Professional Arts in New York and was a member of Madison Art Society and the Clinton Art Society. She studied locally with noted local artists Lou Stousberger, Jerry Caron and Joan McPherson. Pat was a recipient of various awards for her works in water color and oils. Her love of painting was reinforced at age 11 when her mother bought her a set of oil paints and she painted on cardboard she would find, often running out of "easels". At her summer house in upstate New York she painted an "old Fisherman" and a gentleman from NYC bought it to hang in his office. Pat never looked back and painted the rest of her life, finishing a painting this year of her granddaughter's wedding in Essex, CT. She and Dick frequently set out to visit and paint many waterfalls in Connecticut well into their 80's.

Pat's Artist's eye helped her in her first career at Mead's of Greenwich Art Supply Department and later at Bloomingdales in Stamford, CT as a manager and buyer.

Pat helped her husband found Kitchens By Gedney in Madison CT in the 1970s, a successful family business that continues to this day. Pat was instrumental in starting the family business, the idea originated with her, and she oversaw the finances in the early days while her husband concentrated on design and sales.

Pat was proud of her Irish heritage as her father immigrated from the village of Balinabanba in the parish of Fohenagh, County Galway. Pat regularly visited her relatives there and maintained an Irish Passport.

Pat was very competitive and loved playing tennis in twenties and thirties winning several tournaments. Pat and Dick Gedney were semi-professional ballroom dancers who won many awards in competitions throughout the northeast region. Her family was always first and she was a vigorous supporter of her sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She could be seen at a hockey rink or play productions well into her 90's.

Pat is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Richard and Elizabeth (Liz) Gedney of Madison; son and daughter-in-law Jeffrey Hugh and Deborah Amber Gedney of Trumbull CT; and son and daughter-in-law Curtis Dennis and Jeanne C. Gedney of Clinton CT. She is also survived by granddaughter Kathleen Tommaso and her husband David Tommaso of Madison CT and their daughters Celia and Juliette; grandson Robert Warren Gedney and his wife Lena Brown of Keene, NH; granddaughter Kendra Anne Gedney and her husband Benjamin Kevin Johnson of Washington, DC; grandson Benjamin Gedney and his wife Leah Bergeron-Rosa of Manchester, NH; grandson Patrick Richard Gedney of Middletown CT; and grandson Zachary Gedney of Middletown, CT.

Family and friends may call on Friday November 1st from 4-7pm at the Swan Funeral Home in Madison. Words of remembrances and shared memories will take place at 6:30 pm at the funeral home. A private burial will take place at St mary Cemetery in Greenwich at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to The Madison Art Society.