Doris Ruth Gentile

Doris Ruth Gentile, age 91, longtime resident of Hamden, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2023 at Elim Park, Cheshire with her son by her side. Born in Philadelphia, PA April 8, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Eleanor (Sirken) Massaro. Doris was the widow of Richard D. Gentile. She is survived by her children, Ricky Gentile & his wife Dr. Lynne Whitney of Southington and Debra Zavarella & her husband Robert of North Haven; granddaughter Rachel Zavarella (Carl) of Davis, CA: great-granddaughter Lucia Campos; step-grandchildren Adriana, Tiffany & Jordan and step-great grandchildren Donovan, Augustus, Avielle & Guinevere. She was predeceased by her brother Thomas Massaro. Doris first worked as a private secretary at an insurance agency. She then was employed at WCAU, Philadelphia’s CBS television station, where she was responsible for the airtime schedule. After relocating to Hamden in 1967, where she would remain for most of her life, she worked at and eventually managed the local Dress Barn store. She was also a fixture in the Hamden community, working for the Parks & Recreation Department, where she was an attendant at the Hamden Rink for many years. Doris was an avid sports fan, especially enjoying watching the Mets, Giants, Knicks, UCONN basketball and golf.
Friends may attend her funeral at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 22nd at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, with her Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 am in St. Paul VI Parish/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 2819 Whitney Ave. All may visit with her family from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamden. In lieu of flowers contributions in Doris’s memory may be made to the Hamden CT Food Share at: www.ctfoodshare.org to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research at: www.michaeljfox.org.