On Saturday March 4th, 2023, Ingeborg Kluge Hitchens peacefully passed away with her family by her side. She was born in Mount Kisco, New York on July 29th, 1932 to Adele and Reinhold Kluge. Her parents were immigrants from Germany. Mom-Mom Kluge immigrated to the US via Ellis Island to
work on the Reader’s Digest estate as a cook and caretaker. Pop-Pop Kluge illegally jumped ship to work
as a master painter. This included work at Andrews Air Force base painting buildings with camouflage
during World War II. Both became naturalized citizens with pride and never missed a chance to vote.
Mom spent her childhood in Mount Kisco. As a child, she traveled with her mother and siblings to
Germany so that her father could renovate the family home in NY. While there, her grandmother was
appalled that she didn’t know how to knit socks yet. This led to a lifetime of knitting. They spent over a
year there which ended when her father sent word that the house was finished. The truth was that they
had to leave as WWII was about to break out. They were fortunate to have made it out of Germany on
one of the last few ships.
Her favorite childhood memories were going to Yankees games for $1 a game with her father, attending
shows on Broadway, concerts at Carnegie Hall and learning how to drive a stick shift in a “Willys Jeep.”
She graduated from Horace Greeley High School in 1951 with a full scholarship to Cornell University.
Shortly after Mom graduated high school, the family decided to purchase a farm and move to Eden, MD
located on the Eastern Shore.
Mom worked for various companies in the fledgling chicken producing industry during this time, where
she met her future husband Casher Hitchens of Bishopville, MD. They were married on March 14, 1953.
They lived on a small farm in Selbyville, DE. While there, Anne, Ronald, Kathy, Buddy and Steve were
born. In 1968, Mom and Dad decided to take over her family’s farm in Eden. The following year, Timmy
was born.
Mom was known for her culinary skills including german potato salad, chicken and dumplings, german
chocolate cakes, sauerkraut and the list goes on. At the annual Hitchens hog killing, the men stepped
aside so Mom could season the sausage and scrapple to perfection. She had an overactive ceramic
hobby that turned into a business. The ceramic Christmas trees and piggy banks were her specialty. Her
lifetime mastery of knitting included blankets to size, hats, sock repairs and childrens stuffed animal toys.
She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, word searches and board games with her grandchildren.
Recent Mom Quote: “I have so many projects I want to finish.”
For our family, to say she will be missed is an understatement. She loomed large.
She is preceded in death by her husband Casher, her son Ronald and her siblings Delhen, Karl and
Anne.
She is survived by her sister Vera, her children Anne, Kathy, Buddy, Steve, Timmy, 12 grandchildren and
17 great-grandchildren plus one on the way!
Miss you and your great hugs, Mom
Love,
Anne, Ronald, Kathy, Buddy, Steve and Timmy
**As a family, we’re grateful for all the care and love provided by the nurses, therapists and aides that
made her passing peaceful.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation and support a few of the following:
MAC Center of Salisbury, MD
Coastal Hospice of Salisbury, MD
Blood Bank of Delmarva
The Joseph House of Salisbury, MD
A graveside service will be held Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 9am at Bishopville Cemetery.
Please post any anecdotes, funny encounters or stories about Mom and Dad to this thread.
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