Obituary of Gisela Werner

With great sorrow, we announce the passing of Gisela Werner, beloved mother and friend, on March 3, 2023. Gisela, a long-time resident of Reston, VA, passed away at the age of 92 after a short battle with illness. She is proceeded by her daughter-in-law, Suellen Ring and survived by her son, Steve J. Ring of Santa Rosa, CA and son William Ring and daughter-in-law Rhonda Ring of Peoria, AZ. She is the daughter of Wilhelm Werner and Henrietta Moews von Kujawa.

Born in 1930 in the German town of Breslau (now Wrocław in western Poland), Gisela always remembered fondly her childhood at her family home, Falkenau, and shared her beautiful memories of growing up on the estate as well as difficult experiences of losing her father at a young age and fleeing to Bavaria on foot at the end of WW2. She embraced her new life in Bavaria and was eager to come to the United States after she met her late husband, James John Ring,  while he was posted to Germany. She loved teaching German language at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, CA and with the federal government, at CIA,  instilling the love for German culture and language in her students.  She was a true American patriot. 

Gisela was a ray of sunshine in the lives of those who knew her and always had a positive outlook on life and her friends, no matter what challenges came her way. Gisela was engaging, cultured, and witty and could hold a conversation on any subject. She regularly engaged her students on German and world politics, history, and arts and doled out honest and invaluable life advice. A free spirit, she enjoyed traveling including a brief visit to Iran before the revolution; visiting museums with her friends, including her favorite Hirshhorn Museum of Art; and always found time to share her favorite espresso macchiato with friends.

Family and friends are welcome to attend the Memorial Service and celebration of life, which will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 11:00am at the Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St, Herndon VA, 20170.