Hilde Barthelmes

Hilde Louise Barthelmes, Nee Reutlinger, of Ewing, New Jersey, formerly of Martinsville, New Jersey for 51 years, passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the age of 88 from dementia. Hilde was the beloved wife of the late Stephen N. Barthelmes, for almost 64 years. Stephen passed away June 6, 2025. Born in Irvington, New Jersey, on November 18, 1937, Hilde, a first-generation German American was the daughter of Herman and Louise, “Liesel”, Nee Mitschele, Reutlinger. After Hilde’s father lost his job he returned with his wife and infant Hilde, to the Black Forest region of Germany. While there, Hilde’s father, Herman, a tool and die maker, was briefly imprisoned by the rising Nazi party, for refusing to watch a Jewish co-worker be beaten. Not wanting any part of the war effort, Herman arranged for the three of them to sail back to the United States. On January 19, 1938, Liesel’s birthday, upon checking in at the S.S. Deutschland, Herman and Liesel were told, that due to his profession, Herman was needed for the war effort and could not leave Germany. A fortuitous phone call caused the staff member to leave his desk. Herman, Liesel and two-month old Hilde boarded the ship and stowed away in the boiler room until the ship was out of German waters. Herman then sent a telegram to their family in Germany, telling them of their escape. Hilde graduated from Union High School, Union, NJ and earned her Registered Nurse Degree from East Orange General Hospital School of Nursing in 1958, graduating first in her class. Hilde’s nursing school classmates remained lifelong friends. Early in her nursing career Hilde was head nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. After the birth of her children, Hilde worked evenings at a doctor’s office and later part-time on weekends at Kennedy Hospital in Iselin, NJ. Later, Hilde worked as a Nurse Recruiter for East Orange General Hospital and The Medical Center at Princeton. The next stage of her nursing career involved traveling to perform home insurance physicals for Prudential Insurance Company and then finally working in the dermatology practice of Drs. Gerald Wachs and Harry McCarthy in Millburn, NJ. While at that practice, Hilde had the privilege of answering a phone call from actress Katharine Hepburn.

Hilde was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining, especially as a member of the Martinsville Community Center Gourmet Club. Baking German Christmas cookies such as Zimt Sterne (cinnamon stars) and Springele were always a favorite family activity. She was also a member of the Community Center’s Drug Awareness Committee. Hilde served as Republican Committee Woman for Martinsville in the late 1970’s. While in Martinsville, Hilde and her family were members of Blessed Sacrament Church. Of late she was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Titusville, NJ.

At the age of 18, Hilde joined the German chorus, Der Schwaebischer Saengerbund, based first in Union, NJ and now in Clark, NJ. Hilde an alto, sang with her father, who had been a member for several decades. Six years later Hilde’s dear younger sister, Evelyn joined the chorus and after their marriage Stephen joined as well. Hilde continued to sing with the chorus until 2020.

In addition to her parents, sister Evelyn Hermann and husband Stephen, Hilde was predeceased by her infant granddaughter Caroline Louise Granzow. Hilde is survived by her daughter Catherine A. Granzow and son-in-law Russell T. Granzow of Titusville, NJ, son Stephen N. Barthelmes, Jr. and daughter-in-law Cheryl A. Barthelmes of Millstone Township, NJ, grandchildren Benjamin Granzow and his spouse Evan Morrison of San Diego, CA, Sabrina Barthelmes of NYC, Grant Barthelmes of Boston, MA, Timothy Granzow of Lawrenceville, NJ and Elise Granzow of Titusville, NJ. Hilde is also survived by her brother-in-law Adolf “Adi” Hermann, niece Diana Hermann, nephew Bryan Hermann and his wife Carin Hermann and cousins Eleanor Strasser of New Jersey and Carole Mueller of Connecticut and their children and aunt Hilde Mitschele and cousins including Evelyn Kasper and Martin Mitschele of Germany. For many, many years the New Jersey and Connecticut family members had a wonderful family picnic the first Saturday of August.