Edna Marie Plescher DeGennaro, wife of the late Frank DeGennaro passed away peacefully with her family by her side on November 19, 2018. She was 89 years young. Edna was born January 27, 1929 in Fort Wayne Indiana, the daughter of Joseph and Irene (Savage) Plescher.
After graduating from Purdue University in Dietetics she was ready to embrace life’s new experiences. She began an internship at the Veterans Administration Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Edna loved living in New York and took in all the city had to offer.
Once she completed her internship she accepted a position at the VA in West Haven, Connecticut in 1954. Edna was “adopted” by her loving Italian landlords, the Carangelos, who introduced her to the rich world of Italian culture and delicious food. Edna met Frank DeGennaro, a farmer in Woodbridge and they married in 1956.
Again, she embraced a new world of agriculture and truck farming in the DeGennaro family. In addition to raising a growing family, Edna mastered many roles including bookkeeping, managing A&P orders, billing snow plowing hours and taking good care of the farm market responsibilities. When her husband Frank died unexpectedly in 1976, Edna rose to the challenge of raising six children alone with great strength and love.
Edna returned to working full time as a Dietitian and provided nutritional guidance and care to many patients across Southern Connecticut hospitals and nursing homes over nearly 20 years. Edna was deeply loved by all who were fortunate to know her. She had a unique gift for listening and responding with heartfelt concern to everyone she met.
Edna’s direct, disciplined and tough-minded approach won her the respect of her many colleagues over her career. Her optimistic, can-do attitude and natural wisdom allowed her to successfully navigate the many challenges she faced throughout her life. She was a lifelong sports fan and inspired her family to follow their beloved sports teams.
She rooted faithfully for her Boilermakers until the very end. She selflessly dedicated herself to raising a close, happy, faith-filled and loving family. Her 14 beautiful grandchildren and one great grandchild are a legacy of her endless support and love.
She is survived by her six children, Frank (Alyce) DeGennaro of Hockessin, DE, Dan (Cindy) DeGennaro of Vero Beach, FL , Elizabeth (Tony) Ianniello of Orange, CT, Buddy (Mary) DeGennaro of Woodbridge, CT, Maria DeGennaro of Bohemia, NY and Nick (Ann) DeGennaro of Orange, CT. , her 14 grandchildren, 1 great grandson, her sisters, Irene Bahnmaier and Sister Mark Plescher and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters Marcelline Kerrigan and Catherine Schweitzer.
Special thanks to the staff at Maplewood at Orange who took exceptional care of Edna and provided her with an amazing ride during the final 3 years of her life. Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation at Celentano Funeral Home from 4-8 pm on Friday November, 23, 2018. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday November 24 at 10 am at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Woodbridge, Connecticut.
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