Cynthia “Cindy” A. Gezella, 86, of Green Bay, Wisconsin was welcomed into the Lord’s loving arms in the early hours of February 12, 2024.
Cindy was born in Green Bay, WI on July 2, 1937, to the late Leo and Lillian Bettine. Being the eldest of six children, Cindy quickly learned one of her God-given gifts was her ability to selflessly love and care for others, often providing friendship to the least suspecting individuals, and even strangers. As a child, Cindy loved spending time on her grandparent’s farm in Duvall, WI. She attended SS. Peter & Paul grade school, and was a proud high school graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy.
While attending a kermis in Duvall, Cindy met the love of her life, Ken, and they married on September 14, 1957, at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Cindy devoted her life to Ken, raising their six children, and helping care for many of their grandchildren. When she wasn’t caring for her own family, Cindy found time to volunteer as a religion instructor, be a member of the altar society, was a member of the first Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) in the Denmark, WI school district, and raised money for the school’s first computer! She loved to bake and cook, and had countless notebooks filled with hand written recipes. She was always smiling, often from one of Ken’s frequent one-liner jokes, and loved living life to the fullest whether by attending a Red Hat Society event, or having lunch with friends from SS. Peter & Paul grade school whom she remained close with.
Cindy is survived by her six children, Terri (Peg Phillips) Lemmens, Lori (Dave) Malm, Lynn (Tim) McGuire, Mary (Scott) Woelfel, Bart (Lori) Gezella, and Greg (Amy) Gezella; 15 grandchildren, Nikki, Kyle (Kristen), Stephanie (Matt), Andy, Samantha (Tyler), Eric (Kara), Abbie (Ben), Mallory (Cole), Morgan (Sam), Meg (fiancé Kyle), Jacob (special friend Gabrielle), Zachary, Alexa (Andrew), Trevor, and Kennedy. Also, 18 great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her siblings, Phyllis Landry, Lois (Lee) Hansen, Mary (Terry) Kane, Debbie (Bob) Krausert, and Paul (Sally) Bettine; also Ken’s siblings, John (Donna) Gezella, Tom (Diane) Gezella, and brother-in-law, Cyril Van Pay; additionally numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to Ken and her parents, she was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jack and Emily Gezella; brother-in-law, Ed Landry, and sisters-in-law, Barbara Gezella, and Janet Van Pay.
Friends and family are welcome for visitation at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 3425 Willow Rd., on Saturday February 17, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. A Memorial Mass will take place at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Saturday at the church with Very Rev. Dennis Ryan officiating, assisted by Deacon Jeff Prickette. A private burial will take place at SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Cemetery. Proko-Wall Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.prokowall.com. To view the livestream of the Mass, please visit the Prince of Peace Catholic Community Facebook page (popgb54311) at 12:00 noon on Saturday.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, the family would like to collect donations for the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Denmark, WI. The Gezella family has made it their mission for over 26 years to provide all necessities for the nuns they otherwise would go without. To make a donation, checks can be made out to Terri Lemmens.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the caring staff at Rennes Rehabilitation Center who showed Cindy kindness and compassion in her final days.
Alex Bahrke is serving the family.