Hildegard was born in Munich, Germany, and came to the United States in 1956. She was a long time resident of Andover Township. Hildegard was a homemaker and was also employed as a secretary for various medical offices in Sussex and Warren Counties. She attended Our Lake of the Lake in Sparta, was a member of the Andover Seniors and active in the YMCA in Hamburg. She enjoyed swimming and being in her garden.

The daughter of the late Hans and Maria Ritter, Hildegard was also predeceased by her husband, Frank, in 1994. She is survived by her daughter, Brigitte Bandereck, of Hackettstown, NJ; two sons, Christopher Bandereck and his wife Mary, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, and Frank Bandereck, of Andover Township; her siblings Hanne Wirth, Ernst Ritter and Hans Ritter all of Germany; as well as three grandchildren, Christian, Damian and Julian.

Memorial donations may be made to Newton Medical Center Foundation, 175 High Street, Newton NJ 07860; Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860; or Andover Township Fire Department, 625 Limecrest Road, Newton, NJ 07860.

Services are private and under the direction of the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High Street, Newton, NJ. Interment in St. Thomas Cemetery will be held in the Spring.