Grace (Denninger) Kaehler

Grace (Denninger) Kaehler, age 87, of Fairfield, loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully on May 6, 2021 after a heroic battle with cancer under home hospice care of her two daughters. Grace was born on August 5, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY to Joseph and Georgina (Burgess) Denninger.

After graduating from high school, Grace headed for Manhattan, where she worked as the legal secretary to Charles Haight, senior partner at the law firm of Haight Gardner. Grace delighted in the excitement of working at an established firm that litigated many high profile nautical and aviation cases, which included representing the Swedish passenger ship, Stockholm, after its collision with the Andrea Doria in 1956.

During this period, Grace met the love of her life, Herb Kaehler, (who also saw Grace as the love of his life) and they were married. However, as her new husband pursued his advanced degrees in engineering at Lehigh and Yale Universities, Grace supported his professional development by frequently moving with him. During the next decade, Grace, Herb, and their growing family moved frequently living in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Huntington, Long Island and Springfield Virginia- until finely settling in Fairfield, Connecticut.

After raising their three daughters, Grace returned to work as a sales associate at The Fairfield Store, where customers recognized and valued her sense of style and fashion. After 13 years, she retired to take on the role of “Grammy” to her two granddaughters, Charlotte and Claire; she loved every minute!

Grace also loved traveling with Herb, watching classic and foreign films, spending time in her garden and in her kitchen; she was a great cook and an accomplished baker.  

Grace was predeceased by Herb, her husband of 61 years, who she missed dearly. She leaves behind three daughters; Laura Kaehler (John Motay) of Riverside, Bonnie Kaehler of Fairfield and Carol Millerick (Michael) of Ridgefield, and two granddaughters, Charlotte Whatley (Bobby) of North Charleston, SC and Claire Millerick of Norwalk. Grace’s family will remember her for her warm and loving nature, her ready smile, her kindness and generosity and her immense love for her family and country. She will be greatly missed.

Interment will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Heritage Foundation or Wounded Warriors. For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit, www.SpearFuneralHome.com

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