PODERMANSKI, LARISSA

Larissa Ellen Gionfriddo Podermanski, 32, passed on May 10, 2018. God took you into his loving hands, away in the sunshine, knowing how much you accomplished since you were brought into this earthly existence on January 19, 1986.

You had just recently returned from Barbados, where you enjoyed your second anniversary with your wonderful husband, Martin Podermanski, of Kensington. You died in the presence of your mom, Linda Rammler, of Middlefield; your step-mom and dad, Pam and Paul Gionfriddo, of Lake Worth FL and Alexandria, VA; your sister, Elizabeth Gionfriddo, of Middlefield, and your brother, Benjamin Gionfriddo, of Middletown. Your step-dad, Mark Partin, of Middlefield; your brother, Timothy, of San Francisco CA, and your step-sister, Verena Wylie, of Lake Worth FL, also held you tightly in their thoughts. You died holding the hands of your father and your husband with your mom sitting on your bed with her hand on your knee.

You died knowing how much love and kindness, beauty and perseverance, courage and brilliance, feistiness and passion, you left us with. So, even though you now fly with the angels in Heaven, you died with all of us knowing how much of an angel you have always been on earth.

Your memory and legacy will always live on in your niece Haley Gionfriddo and your nephew Noah Wylie, with your newly found Uncle Todd and Aunt Carole Crawford, of NY, and in cousins, aunts, uncles, and family members, friends and colleagues too numerous to mention, numerous bipeds and quadrupeds who shared your space over your life, and all those you touched in the disability and MBC community through your work leading Community Navigators, your efforts on behalf of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Pink Agenda, and more. You will never be forgotten.

Your life will be celebrated at your wake at Brooklawn Funeral Home (511 Brook Street, Rocky Hill, CT) on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 6 to 8 p.m. Your funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Pius X R.C. Church (310 Westfield St., Middletown, CT) on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 10 a.m. Your memorial tree you let everyone know you wanted will be planted on the grounds of the Wadsworth Estate later on.

As you wished, contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to Community Navigators, Inc., the non-profit you started and loved so well, 462 Farmington Ave., Kensington, CT 06037, or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in your name, because you were a spokesperson for it, 28 West 44th St., Suite 609, New York, NY 10036. Both non-profits can also be found on line for those who wish to contribute electronically. Larissa, our beloved, be at peace. You will forever be in our hearts. Goodbye for now until we see you again…