Obituaries
Obituary: Renate Lubbering-Gross, 81, of Branford
Born in Germany, she earned a degree at the University of Paris Sorbonne College of Commerce and worked for the European Union.
Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:
Renate Lubbering-Gross of Branford passed away Wednesday June 30th, 2021 in her home at Artis Senior Living Community. She was the beloved wife of her late husband Howard Gross for 38 years.
Renate was born October 14th, 1939 in Dortmund, Germany, daughter of the late Josef and Johanna Lubbering. After growing up in Dortmund and attending high school there, she acquired her college degree at the University of Paris Sorbonne College of Commerce. For the majority of her career, she worked for the European Union as a protocal officer. It was while working at the EU and living in Brussels, Belgium that she met Howard Gross. Eventually, they moved to New Jersey where they were married in 1982.
After residing in New Jersey, they lived in Villanova, Pennsylvania and then the West Palm Beach area of Florida where they enjoyed the majority of their retirement years.
Renate is survived by her step-children Sherri Robertson (Cleo) of Louisville, Colorado, Alan Gross (Nancy) of Guilford, Connecticut and Richard Gross (Cyndi) of Branford, Connecticut; five grandchildren, Adam Daily (Tiffany), Taylor Wand, Kamryn Novella (Steven), Austin Wand and Nina Gross; her great-grandchildren, Rylan, Joseph and Jackson Novella; and her sister Edith and many other beloved family members in Germany and the United States.
Renate was fluent in German, her native language, French and English. She was an art enthusiast, studied art history and became a docent. Upon retirement, she provided tours and lectures at the Flagler Museum and Norton Museum in West Palm Beach, FL. She was athletic and enjoyed playing tennis and was an avid golfer. She spent many wonderful years traveling the globe with her husband for both business and pleasure where they shared many adventures and wonderful experiences together.
The entire family is at peace knowing that Renate and Howard are reunited once again and memories of them will live forever in our minds and hearts.
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