Hedwig A.E. Dieterich

Hedwig A. E. Dieterich, 94, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Masonicare in Wallingford, CT.

Hedy, as she was known, was born in Mainz, Germany on September 15, 1928 to Robert Becher and Hedwig Moser Becher. As a teenager during World War II, she lived with family in Weinsberg, Germany, where she met her husband of over 60 years, Heinz K. Dieterich, who predeceased her in 2018. In 1951, after finishing her studies at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, she and her mother travelled by boat to the United States through the sponsorship of a great aunt from the Roessler Family (of New Haven hot dog fame).  They settled in New Haven and Hedy began working in the lab at the Hospital of St. Raphael as a medical technologist. Heinz, with whom she had kept in touch for over ten years, decided on a lark to join her in New Haven, and they married in 1954.

In 1959, Hedy and Heinz, homesick and uncertain about staying in the US, decided to return to Germany to start fresh. After quitting their jobs, selling all of their belongings, and going on a six-week road trip across the US, they settled back in Weinsberg, Heinz’s hometown. However, after only five months in Germany, they again changed their minds, returning to New Haven in the winter of 1960. Now committed to life in America and determined to become US citizens, they took back their previous jobs, bought a house in Hamden, CT, and started a family, having two children, Mark in 1963 and Kirsten in 1965. Finally, in 1970, both Hedy and Heinz achieved US citizenship.

Hedy remained a medical technologist at St. Raphael’s for twenty-five years, proudly retiring after adapting to new technologies and contributing to decades of hospital services. She enjoyed travelling, mastering Tai Chi, volunteer teaching ESL, and gathering with friends and family. After 44 years in the same house in Hamden, in 2006 Hedy and Heinz moved to Ashlar Village Senior Community in Wallingford, CT and resided there for a wonderful 14 years. After Heinz’s death, Hedy, experiencing the effects of dementia, lived at Masonicare in Wallingford, CT for the last 3 years of her life.

Hedy is survived by her children, Mark Dieterich and wife Julianne (Stephens) of Evanston, IL; Kirsten (Dieterich) Pitts and husband Andrew of Greenwich, CT; and grandchildren, Martin and Carl Dieterich and Lindsey and Laurel Pitts. She was also predeceased by her sister Paula of Mainz, Germany.

A private family burial will take place on Friday, June 23, 2023. Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT was in care of arrangements.