Heather J. Gerl

On January 11, 2025 we lost a kind gentle soul in Heather Jean Soderberg-Gerl who passed away surrounded by her family from complications of kidney disease. She will be missed by anyone who ever crossed her path, saw her beautiful smile, or heard her infectious laugh. Heather was born in Norwich on September 26, 1975 to Mark Soderberg and Lois Hopkins. When Heather was five her mom married Matthew Schroeder. It was at this point, Heather met Matt's Mom Grandma June RN. It wasn't long after hearing stories of helping others that Heather started her journey towards Nursing.
Heather grew up in the quiet corner where she excelled in school, played basketball, and taught sunday school at Preston City Congregational Church. While Studying at UConn for her BSN, Heather met her future husband Michael Gerl and the next twenty-eight years flew by. Heather and Michael traveled the east coast chasing striped bass, red drum, and beading stores in their little camper with their dogs in the back seat of the truck. Heather's best catch was a 42lb Striped bass while Michael's was Heather.
Heathers career spanned over two decades across four medical institutions. She met a host of wonderful people and none more special than those in her final stop at Backus Pre-admission Testing.
Of all the photos taken of Heather over the years, there were only three of her that didn't have a dog in it. Heather's love of animals meant she never took a walk without stopping to say hello to every dog along the way, hence she never made it very far. An evening never went by where there wasn't a dog in her lap while reading or watching tv.
She now joins her Grandparents Phil and Clara Hopkins, Carl Soderberg, Jack and June Schroeder, and her brother Matty Schroeder, her dogs, Bodie, Chula, Sonny, Diesel, Rosie, and Schultzy, who all predeceased her. I'm sure there was a hell of a party, with ice cream and pup cups all around. She leaves behind her loving husband Michael Gerl, her parents Matthew and Lois Schroeder, her father in-law Jacques Adcock, her Grandmother Glenna Soderberg, her father Mark Soderberg, sister and brother in-law Hillary and Chiparoony Rourke, her brother William Soderberg, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held on February 15th 11am at Preston City Congregational Church 321 Route 164, in Preston CT. Refreshments will be served at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Kidney Fund. Link