Catharina Ghering

Southbury, Conn – Catharina (Ineke) de Vries Ghering, 89, died peacefully at home on September 6, 2024.

Ineke was born on July 19, 1935, in Tilburg, the Netherlands, to parents Cornelis de Vries and Allegonda van Gerwen. After turning 18, she took a job at a wool shop, AaBe Wollenstoffen, where she worked for five years before marrying Joseph Ghering on July 5, 1958.

The newlyweds soon settled in New York, where they welcomed three children before moving to Washington, Connecticut in 1965. There, Ineke began teaching at the Washington Montessori School, which at the time was located in the bottom of St. John’s church with only two teachers.

Over a 30-year career, she supported WMS through an explosion of growth and two moves to larger locations, while touching the lives of hundreds of young students along the way. She retired in 1996, a few years before the school moved to its present location, which supports enrollment of more than 250 students per year.  

In retirement, Ineke had more time to delve into her passion for gardening, maintaining a sprawling fruit, vegetable, and flower garden at her and Joseph’s home in Bethlehem. She spent her final decade at Heritage Village, where she immersed herself in all the community had to offer. She delighted in socializing with friends, taking pottery classes, and swimming in the pool.

In 2018, Ineke and Joseph celebrated their 60th anniversary in the company of loved ones at the Hopkins Inn, one year prior to her husband’s passing. In the final three years of Ineke’s life, she treasured spending time with her dear companion, James Uberti. She passed away with a crossword puzzle in her lap, engaged in one of her favorite pastimes until the very end.

Ineke is survived by daughter Anke Franklin and her partner Todd Roze; son John Ghering; daughter Carol Lagatta and husband Richie; and in the Netherlands, sister Ans van Neer and many nieces and nephews.

She also leaves behind grandchildren Katie Franklin and wife Sarah; Kelly Franklin and husband Peter Roushdy; Kylie Faulkner and husband Clay; Sara Ghering; Mathew Ghering and fiancée McKenna Moore, Austin Lagatta and wife Morgan; Nicole Fogarty and husband Ryan; as well as seven great-grandchildren and countless former students.

A memorial service will be held by her family on September 21 at 11:00am at Church of the Nativity, 48 East Street in Bethlehem, with a reception to follow. Please contact the family directly for further information.

Donations in Ineke’s memory can be made to the Washington Montessori School, located at 240 Litchfield Turnpike in New Preston, CT 06777.

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