Hildegarde Gretchen Hammond

Hildegarde Gretchen Hammond, 98, passed away peacefully at her home in The Chelsea at Brookfield in Belvidere, NJ on Monday November 9, 2020.  

Services will be held at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.  Visitation with the family present will be from 1:00-2:30 P.M. at the funeral home.  Hildegarde will return to Le Mars, Iowa where she will rest in peace with her husband and family in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery.  Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Hildegarde was born March 2, 1922 in Zetel, Germany to George and Gesina (Braams) Bunjes.  She came to the United States in 1930 when she was 8 years old with her family of 7.  After processing through Ellis Island they moved to Le Mars, Iowa to be near family.  She grew up in Le Mars and graduated from Central High School there.  She graduated from the Business Institute of Milwaukee and worked as a secretary in Wisconsin.  “Hilde” returned to Iowa and married Arnold Hammond on June 19, 1947 in Le Mars. After 20 years in Alta, IA they moved to Sioux City where they resided until Arnold passed away in 2008.  Hildegarde moved to New Jersey in 2019 to finish her stay on earth near her daughter and family.  She loved nature and enjoyed walking, swimming and golf.  She will be remembered for her soft-spoken, friendly and genuine personality.

Hildegarde’s survivors include her son Curtis of Las Vegas, NV; her daughter Vanessa Gibbs and husband Gilbert and their family, son Gilbert of Austin, TX and daughter Christine Castelluzzo and husband Philip and their children Mikayla, Nova and Phoenix of Sparta.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two brothers and wives, two sisters and husbands, and too many friends and family to list!

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey to fight dementias, 425 Eagle Rock Ave., Ste.203, Roseland, NJ  07068.