Obituary of Hildegarde "Hilda" Hatke
It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Hildegarde Hatke, affectionately known as Hilda. A long-time resident of Green Pond and a friend to all, Hilda is someone who will be deeply missed by so many.
Hilda was born to William and Rosina Mager on November 19, 1929 in Hoboken, New Jersey. She was raised alongside her brother, Albert, and went on to earn her diploma at Bergenfield High School. On her birthday in 1950, Hilda married her husband, Bernard G. Hatke. The pair lived in Wyckoff for fourteen years while spending their summers with Bernard’s parents in Belvidere. They made the move to Green Pond in 1965 for the summer and began living in Green Pond year-round in 1971. They both loved Green Pond and found much joy in raising their family amongst the tight-knit community there.
Hilda would make her way down to Big Beach every summer to spend time with her friends and visit with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed watching all four of her grandchildren “guard” her at the beach while on the Lifeguard stand. In her free time, Hilda loved to ride her bike around the village, do puzzles and crafts with the other ladies, and even tried her hand at ceramics.
Hilda worked as a Customer Service Agent at the Sears department store in Rockaway and was there for the grand opening of the Rockaway Townsquare Mall in 1977. Her sons, Bob and John also raised their families in Green Pond, so Hilda was never far from her beloved grandchildren and was even blessed with great grandchildren. She was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother and the memories she made with her family are now priceless. They will always remember Hilda as a shining light in their life; a woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and had a generous heart, so full of love.
With those memories in mind, we are saddened by her passing, but we take comfort in knowing that she is at peace. She is reunited once more with those who passed before her; her husband, Bernard Hatke, Her parents and her Daughter-in-Law, Janet Hatke. We look now to the loved ones she leaves behind to carry on her legacy of kindness and compassion. Hilda’s survivors include her sons, Robert Hatke (his former wife, Doreen White-Hatke), John Hatke (Nancy), her grandchildren, Britta Eresman (Nicholas), Benjamin Hatke (Oz), Christopher Hatke, David Hatke (Amanda), her great grandchildren, Mason and Carter Eresman, Willow and Hazel Hatke, Evelyn Hatke, her brother, Albert Mager, as well as a wealth of friends and neighbors.
If you would like to contribute to Hilda’s memory in your own way, please consider making a charitable contribution to continue the protection and support of the community she loved so deeply. Donations are being accepted to the both the Green Pond First Aid Squad as well as the Green Pond Fire Department.
A Memorial Visitation for Hilda is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2024, from 3 to 6 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services. Please join us to celebrate the life of this incredible woman and please use this page to leave a condolence, share a memory, or light a candle to continue to let Hilda’s light shine!
