Gertrud Katharina (Blank) Birle died Tuesday, January 16th, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, surrounded by her loving family. She was 91. Born in Heidelberg, Germany, Mrs. Birle immigrated to the United States in 1964 and settled in Jamaica Plain, where she resided until 1984, when she moved to Plainville. She was the loving wife of the late Hans A. Birle, to whom she was married for 55 years. She and her husband made a family here in the United States with fellow German immigrants, who became lifelong friends and surrogate aunts and uncles to her children. She was especially close to the Lenz, Kosin, and Froese families, but she continuously welcomed new friends into her circle. Her friendly and joyful nature endeared her to all she met. She had an amazing memory and would entertain her grandchildren with stories of her childhood in Germany. Mrs. Birle was trained in the business of fine jewelry and worked as a salesperson both in Heidelberg and in Boston. She assisted her husband with the business he founded and owned, Cornell & Birle, Inc. in North Attleboro, which produced fine jewelry and commemorative coins and metalwork pieces. A communicant of Transfiguration of the Lord Parish, St. Mary's Church in North Attleboro, Mrs. Birle was a member of the German Aid Society and the Ladies Aid Society of Boston, the Boylston Schul-Verein in Walpole, and the BSV Sängerchor Boston. She enjoyed singing, traveling, and spending time with friends but above all she cherished her family. She was predeceased by her sister, Luise Mattes, and her parents, Katharina and Julius Blank. She is survived by her brother-in-law Willibald, her niece, Gabi Volker, and nephews Joachim Mattes and Martin Mattes. Mrs. Birle lived a long and full life. She often counted her blessings, beginning with her two sons, her daughters-in-law, and her six grandchildren, by whom she is also survived: Hans P. Birle and his wife Ann of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and Rudiger L. Birle and his wife Ann Lucas of Charlottesville, Virginia. She was a devoted Oma to her grandchildren, who were her pride and joy: Katarina Birle Pierre and her husband Jean-Dennis of Sharon, Elizabeth Birle of Roslindale, Ian Birle of Providence, Rhode Island, Eleanor Birle of New York, New York, Thomas Birle of Brooklyn, New York, and Susannah Birle of Washington, D.C. They will miss her beautiful blue eyes, her perfectly coiffed hair, her exceptional baking, her stylish nature, and most of all, her unconditional love. The family would like to thank the staff at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, HopeHealth Hospice, and the Deutsches Altenheim in West Roxbury. Visitation will be held privately.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish - St. Mary, Park Street, North Attleboro, MA.
Burial will follow in the New Westwood Cemetery, Westwood, MA.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Her Life will be held in the Spring at a location and time to be announced.
For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit
www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com
. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.