Hedy Lion

Hedy (Hartsch-Newnham) Lion, 88, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Sunday, August 30, 2020 at Valley Hospital after suffering a stroke. Her family is tremendously grateful to the staff at Valley Hospital who helped make her last days comfortable and for the support of family and friends.

Hedy was the seventh child born to Anna and Theodore Hartsch on October 21st, 1931 in the small town of Wittenbach, Switzerland. She told the best stories about her ten siblings and the life they shared as they grew up on their beloved farm. Her sense of adventure brought her to Geneva, London, and later, Alpine, NJ, where she learned French and English and was employed as a nanny. Hedy later worked as a hairdresser in the Cresskill area, where she lived for 18 years with her first husband, Bill Newnham and daughter, Maureen. Their home was open to everyone and it was not unusual to hear a variety of accents spoken there. Accompanied by her daughter, Hedy became an American citizen at the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack. Widowed in 1977, she remarried two years later and moved to Park Ridge.

Hedy lived by her faith and was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church since moving to Park Ridge. She especially looked forward to Wednesday mornings, when the OLM Bowling Team, The Good Old Girls, met at Montvale Lanes. Upon retirement, Hedy spent many years volunteering at Holy Name Hospital, Our Thrift Shop across from Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, and with Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels. Hedy’s many dear and long time friends would describe her as a hard worker and classy lady with a competitive spirit, a quick-wit, and an infectious laugh. In the United States, Hedy stayed close to her Swiss roots and took every opportunity to play organized, social card games of Jass. She learned to enjoy fishing and spent many summer days boating with her husband, grandchildren and whomever was willing to come along.

Hedy was predeceased by two beloved husbands, Bill Newnham and Bill Lion. She was the devoted mother of Maureen Menakis and husband Michael, and loving grandmother of granddaughters Stephanie and Gabriele and late grandson, Michael. She is also survived by stepson, Robert Lion, wife Denise and grandchildren Danielle and Jillian and predeceased by stepson Kenneth Lion, survived by wife Michele and grandchildren Christine and Kimberly. Family in England include stepdaughters Elizabeth Reed and husband John, Pamela Newnham and late stepson John Newnham, survived by his wife Joan. Hedy is also survived by her sister, Agi Diener, and her many nieces and nephews living in Switzerland, as well as her nephew Andrew Roos, his wife Sandra and their children Madison, Dylan, Kristian and Winston, living in New Jersey. Family will receive guests at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood on Friday, September 4th from 4-8 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Mercy R.C. Church, 2 Fremont Avenue, Park Ridge on Saturday, September 5th at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities USA or Pascack Valley Meals on Wheels.

Becker-funeralhome.com