- Date Of Birth: 1924
- Date Of Death: 2018
- State: New York
Ilse Gertrude Hochroth (known to all as “Oma”), 93, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2018, at Skyview Nursing Home in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
Oma was born April 19, 1924, in Beuthen, Germany. She married Elias Hochroth in 1947, immigrated to the United States with their two daughters in 1959, and first settled in Tarrytown, NY. The family moved to Peekskill in 1961 and then to Cortlandt Manor, NY in 1964. Oma resided in her home on Eton Downs in Cortlandt Manor until April 2017.
Oma, with her independent spirit, loved dancing and the performing arts – she was a professional soloist ballerina in Poland and Germany prior to moving to the U.S. She loved to travel, sunbathing, and always wished everyone a beautiful day… and “be happy”! Her other interests included gardening, sewing (any craft was her gift), tennis, reading, and exercise routines fit for those 30 years her junior. Oma worked at the former Standard Brands Company in Peekskill and after the company moved out of Peekskill, she worked for several years as a lab technician in Valhalla, NY. Oma decided to retire in 1983 to dedicate and devote her time to childcare for her grandchildren and many other children from the neighborhood. Her strength, personality, generosity, love, and dedication to family shaped all who were close to her.
Oma is survived by her two daughters, Monika Ryan-Hsu (with husband Peter Hsu) and Emilia Sellick, 5 grandsons: Jason Ryan (with Alyson Barrett-Ryan), Erik Ryan (with wife Susan Bippus, and their daughter Adelaide), Kelvin Hsu (with Jennierose Rizzo), Brian Sellick (with Jillian Camarata) and Shawn Sellick (with Caryl Tamoro); and her extended family in Germany (Cousins Ulli, Lilo, Albrecht, Manuella and family, and Yvonne). With her family, Oma was affiliated with the Holy Spirit Church in Cortlandt Manor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elias in 1983.
