Gudrun (Dippel) Hess

Gudrun “Gudi” Hess (Dippel) of Norwood passed away on March 28, 2024 at the age of 85 after lengthy battle with cancer. Born in Kirn, Germany on June 14, 1938 to the late Wilhelm and Katarina (Esch) Dippel, she grew up in nearby Monzingen, a small town in the Nahe Valley known for its wines. Having lost her mother to cancer as a teenager, her grandfather enrolled her in a boarding school in England where she became fluent in English. Her English language skills later allowed her to work at the U.S. Army Air Force base in Frankfurt. At the base, she met her future husband, American G.I. Charles Hess from Needham, MA. They had two children, John and Katherina, while in Germany and moved to the United States in 1965. Charles and Gudrun bought a small ranch-style house in Norwood, MA where she lived for almost 60 years until shortly before her death. She became an American citizen in 1973. Gudrun embraced her German origins and was a longtime member of the Boylston Schul-Verein and was active in the GALS, or German-American Ladies’ Society. Her home was full of memorabilia from her native country. She had been employed by Norwood Hospital for over 20 years as an admissions representative. She also worked at Southwood Hospital and the office of Dr. Bruce Sullivan, DMD. Tenacious and headstrong, she was known for taking on roles and tasks when no one else would. Over the years, Gudrun had been a den mother for the Cub Scouts, and administrator for the Old Bay Boy Scout Council, and was involved in the local Girl Scouts as well. She was a fan of early rock and roll and movies featuring performers such as Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Jimmy Stewart. An animal lover, she supported various humane and wildlife conservation causes. Gudrun was the wife of the late Charles Balfe Hess. She is survived by a daughter, Katherina “Kathy” Riley of Norwood and a son, John Hess and his wife, Robin Umbley, of Beverly. She is also survived by a brother, Klaus Dippel and his wife, Karin, of Simmertal, Germany as well as six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by a sister, Margot Suzanne Geiger. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a service at 7:30 p.m. at the Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home at 1248 Washington St., Norwood. The burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Neponset Valley Humane Society at www.neponsethumane.org .