Hildegarde E. Dreist (1931-2014)
Dreist, Hildegarde E. (Fickeisen) Age 83 of West Roxbury originally from Jamaica Plain, died peacefully on July 16 , 2014 surrounded by her family after a period of declining health. Born on April 12, 1931 she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Anna Fickeisen. Wife of the late Robert Dreist, mother of Eric Dreist, West Roxbury and Gail Colella and her husband Vincenzo Colella, Norfolk. She was the much loved Oma to Massimiliano Colella, Troy NY, Michael and Tyler Colella, Norfolk. Dear sister of Theodora and her husband Francis Hunkeler, Duxbury, Marianna and the late George Marshall, Reading, Erika and the late Alfred Barnet, Hingham, Elsa and her husband Robert Johnson, Bristol NH, and Peter Fickeisen, Quincy. She is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and family friends.
She graduated from Holy Trinity High School in 1949 and Boston Teachers College in 1953, retiring in 1995 after 40 years of teaching kindergarten in the Boston Public Schools. Hilde was the recipient of the prestigious “Golden Apple Award” which was one of her many great achievements. She was a treasured kindergarten teacher to thousands of Boston school children. She loved being known as the “teacher that played the piano in the classroom.”
She was proud of her German heritage participating in many events at the BSV Club in Walpole and at the Deutsches Altenheim in West Roxbury. Fluent in German, she gave many readings at her cherished Holy Trinity German Church, in Boston. She was an avid reader and an admirer of all kinds of music. Her passion however was playing the piano. Over the years she entertained family and friends to share her wonderful talent. As a young women she played in concert halls, in her later years she played at the Deutsches Altenheim and the BSV Club for holiday events.
Visiting hours on Sunday July 20, 2014 at Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home at 1803 Centre St. West Roxbury are 1:00-4:00pm followed by a service at 4:00pm. Friends and family are invited after the service at the Colella home at 15 Old Mill Road Norfolk.
Contributions can be made to American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or by mail to
ACS 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 in memory of Hilde.