Hildegard S Frei

Hildegard S. Frei, 91, formerly of West Lawn, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 20, 2025, in the care of Laureldale Nursing and Rehabilitation. She was the widow of Stefan Frei, who passed away in 1976.

Born in Haibach, Germany, to the late Josef Schwartz and Agnes Sattler, Hildegard traveled to America in 1951 to pursue an opportunity to work in her uncle's hotel and bar in Reading. Those plans changed when she met her future husband at the Liederkranz. For several years she worked at the Berkshire Knitting Mills. The skills she learned there transformed into a favorite pastime, quilting. She was especially known for her beautiful pillows, and she enjoyed selling her meticulously stitched crafts at many craft shows. Later in her career, she worked for Reading Hospital in the dietary department until her retirement in 1981.

Hildegard was a founding member of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish.

Her memory will be treasured by her children, Maureen Frei of Womelsdorf and Stefan J. Frei and wife Deborah of Sinking Spring; her grandchildren, Angela Stamm and husband James and Christopher Frei and wife Emily; and great grandson, Henry Frei. Hildegard is also survived by her brothers, Horst, Alfons and wife Marianne, and Gerhard Buhl. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her daughter, Rita Zimmerman and husband David; her son, Edward Frei; and her brothers, Siegfried and Maximilian Buhl.

In honor of her love for her cats and dogs, please consider contributions in her memory to the Animal Rescue League, 58 Kennel Rd, Birdsboro, PA 19508.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in Gethsemane Mausoleum's Chapel of Resurrection, 3139 Kutztown Rd, Reading, PA 19605. Visitation and viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc, 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading PA 19611. Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.