Dover Plains – Emily W. Laudon, a resident of Dover Plains, entered into rest Friday, April 14, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. She was 87.
Daughter of the late Gottfried and Margareta Rosalie Rumpel Weissenberger, she was born January 31, 1930 in Ruppertzaint, Germany. The youngest daughter of a farmer, she went on to attend “Household School” in Germany supporting her great organizational skills. She left Germany in September of 1950 for the United States. She became an American citizen on April 25, 1958. She was very proud to become a citizen but still held her German heritage close at heart.
Upon her arrival she worked in a factory and later became a nanny/cook for a prestigious family in Connecticut. She said being a nanny was her favorite job. She worked at the family’s restaurant while raising her children. Later in life she was a cafeteria supervisor at Jordan Marsh Department Store in Danbury, CT.
In her younger years, she was involved in a German Club in Danbury, CT. Here she met and married Gerhardt William Heinecke on July 25, 1953 and had two children. She had a love of singing and dancing which continued throughout most of her life. Later she was fortunate to find love again with Erich Laudon and was married September 4, 1982.
They also enjoyed traveling together. Unfortunately Erich preceded her in death in 1984.
She was also active in Senior Groups in Dover Plains. There she enjoyed traveling, friendship, and yoga. She swam at the local pool, enjoyed ‘coffee clutch’, and long walks with her friends. She took great pride in being a loving grandmother. All of her grandchildren benefitted from her love of gardening, geography and history, board games (Chinese checkers, scrabble and chess), exercise, wholesome eating, and the value of living a simple yet kind and loving spiritual life.
She is survived by her children, Eric (Debbie) Heinecke of Brewster and Roz Croswell (Brian) of Wappingers Falls; her grandchildren, Louie Marven and his partner, Shaun Espenshade, Rene Marven and her fiancé Armando Garcia, Tom Marven, Hannah Heinecke, and Alex Croswell Kelly (Patrick); her great-granddaughter, Kaitlin Kelly; her German brothers Ernst Weissenberger and Erwin (Edelgard) Weissenberger; and many German nieces and nephews and their families
In addition to her husbands, she was recently predeceased by her German sister, Frieda Hofmann.
The family would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the hospital staff, clergy and friends that cared for Emily during the past three weeks.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
