Obituary of Mary Goehrke

Mary Goehrke, of Brookfield, beloved wife of the late John Goehrke, passed away peacefully at Regional Hospice and Homecare Center, July 4, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 84. Mary was born in January, 1932 in Manhattan, New York to Sicilian immigrant parents, the late Tony and Maria Lumia. Living in an Italian neighborhood, she only learned English upon entering kindergarten. Always a top student, Mary graduated from Washington Irving High School in Manhattan. As a young lady, Mary worked for the prestigious Lucy Spilo dressmaking shop in Manhattan. In 1950, she attended a dance in Brooklyn and met her soul mate for the next 60 years. John Goehrke was a German immigrant and the couple was married within the year, in December, 1951. Desiring to raise their three boys in the country, John and Mary moved from Queens to Brookfield in 1964 and lived there since. Both Mary and John shared a love of family and instilled that philosophy into their children and, eventually, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With her cheerful spirit and amazing cooking skills, Mary created an idyllic and welcoming household for all who came to visit and share a meal. Mary believed the worse sin a host could ever commit was to run out of food! And that never happened! As her three sons were starting to leave for college, Mary fulfilled a lifelong dream of going back to school to earn a nursing degree, graduating from the Henry Abbott Technical School program for Licensed Practical Nursing. Mary had a wonderful career at Danbury Hospital, serving for over 20 years, primarily on the Oncology floor. As Mary became ill, she was grateful to see many of the nurses and doctors she worked with years ago. They all gave her such tremendous care and emotional support. Mary believed that Danbury Hospital was a truly special institution and it was a privilege to work there. In later years, Mary was very active in the Brookfield Senior Citizens’ Center and attended a twice-weekly bridge game. The friends Mary made there, especially after her husband died, in 2009, were invaluable. Above all, Mary was the best mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother anyone could ask for. She was loving, caring and supportive. Mary was quick with a smile and a hug, usually followed by a hot meal! She will be missed more than she could ever imagine. Mary leaves behind her three sons, and daughter-in-laws who treated Mary like their own mother. Mary never felt she missed out by not having daughters given the wonderful relationships she had with her daughter-in-laws. Mary was so proud of all her eleven grandchildren and their spouses and was overjoyed to see her three great-grandsons be born. Mary’s three sons are Gary (and Sheila) Goehrke; Robert Goehrke (and Tish Poling); and John (and Jacquelyn) Goehrke. Her grandchildren are Steven (and Caroline) Goehrke, April Goehrke, John (and Risa) Goehrke, Paul (and Sarah) Goehrke, Robbie (and Jess) Goehrke, Laura Goehrke, Marcus Poling, Megan Poling, Brynn Goehrke, Peter Goehrke, and Jane Goehrke (and fiancé, Ryan Curto). Mary’s great-grandchildren are Anthony and John Goehrke, and Logan Goehrke. She also leaves behind her loving younger brother, Salvatore and his wife, Marie; nephew Michael (Lora Ann) Lumia; nieces Dianne (John) Lundgren, and Dagmar Goehrke; and godson, Simone Palazzolo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 9th at 10:30am at St. Joseph Church, Brookfield. Interment will follow in the Mausoleum at Wooster Cemetery, Danbury. The family will receive friends at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Road, Brookfield, on Friday, July 8th between the hours of 5:00 and 8:00pm. The family would like express their appreciation for wonderful care and support given by the staff of 11East at Danbury Hospital and the staff at Regional Hospice. Memorial Contributions in Mary’s memory may be made to Regional Hospice and Homecare Center at www.regionalhospicect.org.