Wini Dickescheid Lebitz (née Kraft)
My mother passed away on April 3, 2020. This is her obituary, which was published in the Asbury Park Press on April 12, but not the Staten Island Advance, because very few people would remember her on Staten Island. I will gradually add some early and late photos. She had a good life, passed quickly I think because she never used her Life Alert call button.
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Winifred Dickescheid Lebitz, a long time resident of Cedar Village, in Holmdel New Jersey, passed away at her home on April 3. She was 98 years old. Evergreen Memorial Funeral Home in Middletown NJ arranged the cremation, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.
She was born in Richmond Hill, Long Island on September 26, 1921 to August and Hazel Kraft. She had a sister Ruthie and a brother Allen, both now deceased. Her family moved to Lighthouse Hill on Edinboro Road in Staten Island. She taught piano as a young girl and was an accomplished piano player. She graduated from McKee High School. Early on she worked the mimeograph machine as a volunteer at St. John's Lutheran School, which led to a career in typesetting. A member of the New York Typographic Union, she commuted to Manhattan as a typesetter. For many years she attended the Metropolitan Opera with her now-deceased friend Margaret Robinson. She loved music, fine cooking, horse riding, sewing and skiing. Even at her advanced age, she was still sending email, paying bills on-line and making birthday cards on the computer.
She married Joseph Dickescheid of West Brighton after World War II at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He passed away at the age of 55. With her second husband (also deceased) she moved from Staten Island to New Jersey.
She is survived by her only child, Nancy Bentley, currently residing in North Carolina, several nieces and nephews, and a set of extraordinary neighbors who watched over her while she lived in New Jersey. Nancy and Wini travelled all over the world together, including Europe, and domestic and international cruises. Always positive, even until the end, she would always say “Well at least the grass is still green side up!”
Memorial gifts may be made in her memory to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105.
Mom plays her piano at 86 years old. It was gut-wrenching to sell her piano, but it went to a lovely family in Rumsen NJ with two small boys.
This was the first long dress my mother made, it is black taffeta with red bows, made for a Masonic ball.
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She loved horse back riding especially galloping.
My mother used to ski down Lighthouse Hill and hike back up. She brought these skis home on the New York Subway. Look at the length! There was a sharp curve and she was the only one who could make the turn without falling! For you Staten Islander's her home was at 238 Edinboro Road.
Mom with our cat Princess in Ohio.
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My mother with her mother, Hazel Gruner Kraft and her sister Ruthie. My mom was the oldest, but she lasted the longest.
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My mother's wonderful neighbors celebrated her 98-1/2 year birthday at Patricia's restaurant in Holmdel. Linda Gould always found spectacular fireworks for celebrating!
Mexico
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With Ron, the Vienna, Budapest, Czech Republic trip.
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A cruise with Nancy
Mom visits me while I lived in London, 1969.
With her father, August Kraft
Ladies' Room, World Trade Center, Sept. 88, $88 lunch from a friend.
With her husband, my father, Joseph Dickescheid. Her second husband was a horrible person and there will be no pictures of him here. I hope she has gotten together with my father in heaven, because I know the second husband is probably in hell.
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Mom on our tractor at Kinkead Ridge Vineyard
Mom playing the piano when she was 86 years old.