Herma Hedwig Riechel

Herma was born on March 19, 1936 in Orange, New Jersey. Her parents, Irma and Herman Hoyer, immigrated to the US from Germany in the 1920s. Herma grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey and graduated from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey with a BA degree in German literature, language and liberal arts. Herma’s studies took her abroad to Munich, Germany when she enrolled in Wayne State University’s Junior Year Abroad Program, which is one of the oldest programs of this kind. She returned to Drew for her Senior Year and graduation.

While in Munich, Herma met her loving husband Gerhard of 62 years, who was also a student there. They married in New Jersey on August 27, 1960.

Upon graduation, Herma taught German and English classes at Junior High and High Schools in New Jersey and accepted a grant to study at the University of Cincinnati.

Herma and Gerhard spent their first 24 years of marriage in Maplewood and Harrington Park, New Jersey, where they raised their two children, David and Diana. She served as one of the “art ladies” at the elementary school attended by their children. She enjoyed sharing her love of New York City with her children, frequently taking them into the city. She enjoyed their family vacations at Sanibel Island in Florida, where her children spent their summers with many fond memories of Sanibel.

Herma was an avid supporter of the New York City Ballet and an enthusiastic traveller, meeting people and developing lifelong friendships.

Herma and Gerhard moved to West Bloomfield, Michigan in 1984 for her husband’s career. She briefly taught German to Chrysler executives scheduled for a tour of duty in Europe.

In 1996, Herma and Gerhard moved to Boca Raton, FL. Herma became a loving grandmother in 2001 and 2003 when her son and daughter-in-law adopted a son (Stephen) and a daughter (Caroline) from India, and again in 2005 with the birth of her third grandchild Russell Jr. Herma was appreciated by the staff of the memory care home where she stayed for the last 5½ years as being “such a sweet and kind lady”. She will be remembered with much love.

Herma was preceded in death by her father and mother. She is survived by her husband Gerhard, her daughter Diana in San Antonio, her son David and his wife Heidi in Atlanta, GA and her three grandchildren Stephen, Caroline and Russell Jr.

Herma battled Alzheimer’s for the last 10 years of her life. The family would like to thank Herma’s caregivers at her memory care home and others providing help and comfort, for the compassion they showed her throughout her stay and especially in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.