Mutti (Mother)

Ursel Emma Herold nee Biedrich
born on the 23rd of August 1922  --- died on the 5th of July 2011 --- at age 88

Sometimes she was called Ulla and sometimes Uschi. I called her Mutti and so did my husband. Our children called her Omi.












Because of the time difference between Germany and us we received the message when we were watching the fireworks on the 4th of July. I have mourned my mother already for some time (Dementia? Alzheimers?) but still, you are never prepared. I was so blessed with wonderful parents. She was a wonderful mother, gifted with her sewing of clothes and fur, and she made the most delicious meals. She loved her family!!! Her family loved her!!!


Born and raised in Danzig on the Baltic Sea, she loved the ocean and the beach. That's where she met Heinz Herold (her future husband and my father) when he was stationed there as a soldier ... on her day off near "dune #17" (that's what the family teasingly called it).

The wedding in Danzig was on the 23rd of May 1942.

The young couple with my sister Gudrun-Ute (older by 5 1/2 years) .










Omi with her "American grandchildren" Helen and Sarah. She loved visiting us. On this visit we went on vacation to Florida.

My wonderful parents in their garden in Dorsten, Germany.

1992 --- celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary

50 happy years!

2002  --- celebrating the Diamond Wedding Anniversary

60 happy years!

My father died in 2003, but my mother was able to celebrate with us  Helen and Ben's wedding in Paducah, Kentucky, in 2006.








We have many, many wonderful memories of times spend together. Those memories will comfort us. I am happy that just a few weeks ago I could tell my mother in person how much I loved her.