RETTIG, GUNTHILDE “Gundi”

RETTIG,
GUNTHILDE “GUNDI”
Gunthilde Erna Meta Rettig (née Stock) passed away peacefully on September 26, 2025. She is survived by her husband, Anton; their children Margret Courtney (Frank), Michael Rettig (Cathleen, Mabry), and Virginia Rettig; and her dearest cousin Monika Bremer. She is deeply missed and loved by all.
Gundi, as she preferred to be called, was born in Neuhaus, Germany (Silesia) on June 29, 1939. Her family fled the area in 1945 to go west as the influence of the Soviet Union rose at the end of World War II. The family settled in the village of Flechtorf near Wolfsburg and Braunschweig.
Gundi enjoyed school and returned to her village for many class reunions. She worked in her family's grocery store after she graduated the 8th grade. She met her future husband, Anton (Tony), at the Schützenfest in her village in 1955 when she was 16. A few years later, he moved to the United States, but after one year of residency, he was drafted to the U.S. Army and assigned to serve in… Germany! Gundi's friends encouraged her to write to Tony, and their correspondence resulted in marriage on March 1, 1961. Gundi immigrated to the United States on September 27, 1961, pregnant with their first child.
Gundi's children were her pride and joy, and she encouraged all to follow their dreams: Margret with her art, Michael with his music, and Virginia with her nature adventures. Gundi's love of cooking and baking ensured excellent home-cooked food was on the table every night. “What should we have for dinner?” was a regular conversation in the house. Gundi could whip up a gourmet meal with a few leftovers and everyone raved. She loved having people over and serving wonderful desserts on fine china. Her mastery of German cooking was unrivaled.
Over the years, Gundi visited her family in Germany many times and remained close to her parents, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, and school-time friends and teachers. It was important to her that her children were connected to her homeland, family, and traditions. Christmas was an especially important time in the home as gifts were opened after Christmas Eve dinner with extended family. Her favorite holiday was Easter, and she always ensured pussy willow and forsythia branches were placed in a vase and strewn with eggs and Easter decorations on a table with a nice tablecloth.
After raising the kids, she provided daycare for a loving family in Amherst for 10 years, whose 3 children she “helped raise.” She adored Joshua, Courtney, and Hillary and considered herself a mother of 6. She also worked at Omi's Market a popular lunch-time restaurant on the Erie Canal which allowed her to cook and meet new people.
As much as Gundi adored her home country, she loved living in the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 2009. She and Tony resided in Buffalo, NY for 13 years and in North Tonawanda, NY for 44 years before moving to Cape May, NJ in 2018.
Gundi was the love of Tony's life for 64 years. They enjoyed special trips taken to Nova Scotia and Brazil; travel to the various states their children lived in; and regular excursions to butcher shops in Canada for German delicacies. Her favorite daily ritual was having “Kaffee und Kuchen” with Tony. She loved being near the water, the Cape May sunshine, and the sound of returning Laughing Gulls on Delaware Bay each spring.
We love you deeply Gundi our wife, mother, Tante, friend and we will miss your beautiful soul forever.
A memorial service will be held at Radzieta Funeral Home (9 Hand Avenue, Cape May Court House, NJ) on Thursday, October 2. Visitation will begin at 10:30AM with a service at 11:00AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Gundi to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (https://conservewildlifenj.org/) because Gundi loved watching videos of nesting osprey and eagles every day; and also the Sjogren's Foundation (https://sjogrens.org/) because she was diagnosed with the disease over 40 years ago when very few doctors knew how to deal with its many varied symptoms. Yet, she persevered.
Condolences at
www.radzieta.com