Elisabeth "Lilo" Marie Winterfeld

Elisabeth Marie "Lilo" Winterfeld of Hurley passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 after a long illness from Lyme Disease and Alzheimers. Survived by her husband Charles, daughter Waltraud and her life companion Susan, a son Gustav and his wife Satchiko, two granddaughters, two great-granddaughters, three great-gandsons and one great-great granddughter. A sister Traude in Germany and sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law and nieces and nephews also survive. Born in Zwittau, Sudetenland, now called Svavy Cz Republic to Franz and Theresia Rohatsch Jesch (je'z). Lilo and her family were among millions of ethnic Germans who were ejected from their homeland. Little history was written or taught about ethnic cleansing of the German speaking people after World War II. A Terrible Revenge and the March of Millions are some of the few stories written about this history. This left these people with little belongings and no homeland to return to and so were transported to Germany where they were treated like refugees. Her life during this time was incredibly hard, which made her an even stronger person. She became a United States Citizen on June 5, 1959. Lilo worked many years in the Kingston Hospital Operating room, a job she truly loved. She baby sat, volunteered at the Hurley museum and the Hurley service club. There wasn't anything she could not do. She helped her husband build their home, sewed her children's clothes, knitted, corcheted, quilted, painted and upholstered furnitured. She loved fishing and camping. She took great joy caring for her perennial gardens and made the best apple strudle. She will be greatly missed by all who have known her. Special thanks to Dr. Bernadette O'Hara, Susan Miller, Rose Crawley, LPN and personal care aides from Willcare. There will be no service. Cremation was private. Her organs were donated to Columbia University Lyme & Tick Disease Research Center.