Hilda Hendler

Hilda was born on August 19, 1929 to Ignaz and Maria Doerfler in the beautiful city of Vienna. Hilda grew up during World War II. As relayed by Hilda, she did not return to school when they reopened after the war but took a job with a dance company, taking classes on the side. Lilly Brauneis, the owner of a small dance company observed Hilda in dance class and offered her a position as member and soloist with her company. Lilly had a reputation for high artistic standards. Hilda performed in many clubs and theaters. As conditions improved in Austria the dance company went on successful tours to Innsbruck and other cities throughout the Country. Hilda's best friend was Mady and she too evacuated from Vienna. After her return, Hilda, Mady and Mady's brother went to a club to dance. The time may have been early 1947. While there they met a group of Americans and one turned out to be Hilda's future husband. David and Hilda dated and eventually decided to get married. This was no easy fete. They had to fill out a four page request to marry, sit through interviews with the Commanding Officer and the battalion priest, and undergo an investigation of Hilda and her family by the CIC. It was only after four repeated attempts and denials that David and Hilda were married in a civil ceremony on February 6 followed by a religious ceremony at Vienna's famed St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church on February 11, 1948. On July 23, 1948 David received orders to return to the United States. David and Hilda were excited to begin their life together in America along with their first born Kathleen. In route to Bremerhafen, Germany to pick up the troop transport to America, Kathleen contracted measles and they were placed in quarantine for two weeks before they were allowed to set sail on the Hospital Ship Blanch F. Sigman. Until David's death on March 8, 1975, together they raised five children, Kathleen, Michael (deceased), Heide, Suzanne and Lisa. And Ilse upon her mother's death in 1956. Hilda went on to have a fulfilling life. Hilda's passion in life was dance and theater. She studied dance at the Rudi Fraunzl Studio, the Conservatory for Music and Dance, and the State Academy of Performing Arts Vienna, Austria. She also studied dance therapy, therapeutic movement, aerobic dance, modern dance and jazz at SUNY at New Paltz, Skidmore College, Russell Sage, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Louis Falco Company of NYC, College of St. Rose and Columbia-Greene Community College. Hilda loved sharing her love for dance with others. She founded and operated the Hudson Dance Studio. Hilda was an instructor in Dance and Movement Exploration for the Developmentally Disabled and Handicapped. Her teaching experience included designing and implementing dance programs for clients of Columbia Greene Community College Community Residence and Mental Health Center; designed and implemented courses in "Creative Expression" in the arts, music, dance and painting. She set up a creative movement program for 100 developmentally handicapped adults. In addition, Hilda taught dance and arts at St. Mary's Elementary School. One of her most enjoyable and proudest accomplishments was choreographing the "Red Lizard, " a play by Ian Douglas Mitchell presented at Columbia Greene Community College. In 1983 Hilda was awarded a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from SUNY, New Paltz, and in 1979 an AAS in Social Science from Columbia-Greene Community College. Following 16 years of dedicated service, Hilda retired in 2001 from the Columbia Greene Community College where she served as Assistant Director for Employability Development, Office of Employment and Training. During her life time, Hilda sat on the Board of Directors of Columbia Council on the Arts, American Cancer Society, Columbia County Chapter of the NYS Association for Retarded Children, Dance Educators of America, Columbia County Historical Society and chaired numerous local charity fundraisers. Hilda was fluent in German. She helped run her husband's successful political campaigns. Provided translation services to the United Nations and local attorneys. Hilda was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hudson, and at the time of her death a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, Council 248. In addition to her four surviving children and sister Ilse, Hilda leaves to carry on her legacy grandchildren: Rachael and Jennifer Harvender, David Hendler, Stefanie Moore; great-grandchildren Logan Pollard, Jacob Moore, Victoria and Alexander Hendler; niece Jacqueline Lindblad; son-in-laws Ronald Minor (Kathy), Ralph Tiano (Suzanne) and Greg Miller (Heide); granddaughter-in-law Hongchun Hendler. Wake Friday March 15, 4-7 pm, Bates & Anderson Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Funeral, Saturday March 16, 10 am, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Hudson.

Hilda Hendler

August 19, 1929 - March 8, 2019

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Hilda Hendler

August 19, 1929 - March 8, 2019

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365 Days of Grief Support