Hildegard Griggs

Hildegard Griggs, 80, our butterfly, fluttered away Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Rochester General Hospital with her family and family friend, Carrie DeSanto Figliomeni by her side.

Friends and family are invited to attend calling hours Sunday, February 23, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Norton Funeral Home, 5925 New Hartford St., Wolcott, NY. A gathering to celebrate her life will be held at Riley’s Bar & Grill in North Rose from 4-6 PM.

Hildegard was born on August 28, 1944, in Poland, the daughter of the late Heinrich and Ida (Schachtschneider) Kriese. She immigrated from Europe to the US at the age of 5 years with her family after WWII. Hilde grew up on 3rd Street in St. James, Long Island, and graduated from Smithtown High School. Hilde attended the Oswego Teacher’s College (SUNY Oswego) and she received her Bachelor’s degree. She met her husband, Charles Griggs, at the infamous Buckland’s Bar & Grill thanks to an introduction via Johnny Morley (predeceased), Charlie’s cousin. Hilde and Charlie settled in Wolcott and raised their children, Michelle and Michael.

Hilde was a science teacher for the North Rose–Wolcott School District for over 30 years. Her many former students will remember her for her hands-on approach to science, exploring pond life through microscopes, mealworm evolution firsthand, and of course the “Frog Unit.” She encouraged a child’s intrinsic curiosity of the natural world and always encouraged one to reach their “excellence” or potential.

Hilde enjoyed the music of Joan Baez, Ann Murphy, Helen Reddy, and especially Neil Diamond. She threw some memorable end-of-school-year “slush” parties for her middle school colleagues. Hilde was a naturalist and was an avid gardener. She took pride in landscaping her flower gardens, just like her family in Germany. Hilde loved to travel, especially to Adendorf, Germany, where she got to meet townspeople and dream in German.

She is survived by her daughter, Michelle Griggs Patterson; her son, Michael (Suzanne) Griggs; grandchildren, Matthew, Eva, Rembrandt, Mea, and Norah; along with her loyal canine companion, “Teddy”; nieces, nephews, and cousins; siblings, Erika (James) Repetski and Ernie Kriese.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a scholarship fund set up in Hildegard’s honor to be given to a Senior Graduate student at NRWCSD for their excellence in science.