Hedwig Ogrodny Obituary

Hedwig (Hedy) Ogrodny, 83, escaped her earthly bounds peacefully and entered into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 15, 2016. She was born on April 9, 1933 in Granheim, Germany to August and Augusta (Denzl) Schneider. Her father was a forester and her mother raised their six children and tended to their farm animals.

Hedy worked various jobs in her youth, including picking potatoes and working as a hostess in the local gasthaus (guest house). It was there that she met an American Army soldier, her husband Chester Ogrodny. They married and moved to Security, Colorado in 1955 while Chester was stationed at Fort Carson. They would be stationed back and forth between Europe and Fort Carson several times before finally settling in Security for good in 1968 when Chester retired from active duty.

Hedy did not speak any English when she came to America, but taught herself the language by watching television shows and commercials. She started out as a homemaker raising their five children and taking cleaning jobs when the kids were at school. She would go on to work as a waitress at several different restaurants and then as a cashier for AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange Service). She earned a GED and eventually her Associate's Degree in Management by attending night school while working for AAFES. She worked her way up to fashion manager, then buyer and eventually store manager before deciding that she wanted something more. She went back to school at the age of 47 and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in 1982. She once took a class on 'Marriage and the Family' with three of her children and was extremely popular with her professors and younger classmates alike. After earning her degree, she went to work for K-Mart Corporation and served as the manager of several different stores before finally retiring in 1999.

Retirement didn't slow Hedy down much. Following the death of her husband Chester in 1992 she met Conrad Kauk in 1994 and they became fast friends and companions until her death. She and Conrad climbed Pikes Peak together in 1997 and logged thousands of miles together on their motorcycles with the Pikes Peak BMW Club. Conrad also introduced her to working out and they were regulars at the health club even into their 80's. Hedy was extremely active in her church (first Holy Family Catholic Church and then St Dominic Catholic Church), often volunteering to take Eucharistic offerings to the sick and elderly. As was the case seemingly everywhere she went, Hedy was beloved by the members of the parish as well as the ministry.

Hedy loved her family more than anything and took great joy in being around them. She also enjoyed skiing, hunting, gardening, reading, riding motorcycles and hiking at various stages of her life. She was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and loved reading religious literature.

Hedy was preceded in death by her husband Chester (1992) and daughter Pat (1997). She is survived by her companion Conrad Kauk, four children: Tom Ogrodny (Dianna), Mike Ogrodny (Kathi), Elizabeth McKenna (Tom) and Joe Ogrodny (Dawn), step children: Tamara Haney (Rick), Debra Harlow (Tom), 18 grandchildren; Heather, Lisa, Lauren, Thomas O, Elizabeth D (Cookie), Joe M, Thomas M, Mike M, Alex, Mark, Kate, Jake, Zach, Eric, Alena, Grady, Matthew and Brian, eleven greatgrandchildren; Devin, Avarie, Mikayla, Parker, Caleb, Taylor, Logan, Kyle, Montel, Laloni and J'El.

Services will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2016 with the Rosary at starting at 1:00pm and the Funeral Service to follow at 2:00pm at St Dominic Catholic Church - 5354 South Highway 85/87, Security, CO 80911. There will be a celebration of life reception directly after the service.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the St Dominic's Building fund for Carmody Hall.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Hedwig Ogrodny

11 Entries

Marlies & Rainer Kellmayer

November 1, 2016

Hedy was a wonderful aunt and a good friend for us. She had a good heart and was very generous. Thank you for all the beautiful time we could spend with her. We'll never forget her.

Barbara Jones and family.

October 31, 2016

I have wonderful memories of my times spent with Hedy and family. She was a giving, caring person and one of the hardest workers I knew. She never gave up. She accepted and shared all. I will miss her. Condolences to the entire O'Grodny family.

Trudie Lakus

October 27, 2016

Sorry for you and your families loss. I have heard so much good of Heddy. She will be missed by all that knew her. Peace Be With You All. Elizabeth Dolbeare is my step-sister.

Melissa Rodriguez

October 27, 2016

I am honored to say I know you and had the pleasure of helping take care of you over the years. You were like a mother figure. A blessing in my life. You encouraged and loved me always and I will miss you until we meet again my dearest Hedy...

Rose Zanzig/Forrest

October 27, 2016

You were a wonderful Mother an friend. I knew most of your children an was friends especially with snook. I am so sorry your lord took you. Fly high

Doris Cooper

October 25, 2016

Heddy, thank you so much for sharing Liz and the kids with me and my family. You were certainly a very special friend and we will miss you. May your memory live on with grace and laughter. I love you.

Debbi Harlow

October 24, 2016

Hedy was an incredible woman with a heart of gold. She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to cross her path. I am grateful to have been able to enjoy her enthusiasm, spirit, energy, sensitivity, enthusiasm and of course her love. Thank you Hedy for being a wonderful wife to my father and a loving step mom to myself and my sister and most of all thank you for being a big part of my childrens lives. You are now with our father in heaven and I am grateful you are no longer in physical pain. I love you and will miss you.

Elizabeth "Cookie" Dolbeare

October 24, 2016

My Oma was an extraordinary women in every sense of the word. She knew no stranger and was one of the most giving and kind people I knew. If there was someone in need and she was able to help she would always find a way to give even if it meant that she may go with out to help another. She had such a tremendous amount of love to give and she literally knew no stranger. When you were around her you were overtaken by her zest for life, contagious personality,vivacious laugh,spunky spirit and the tremendous feeling of love in her presence. If she had her mind made up about something there was no changing it and because of this she was able to accomplish a tremendous amount in her life without age ever getting in the way. I will miss you Oma. You hold a spot in my heart that will always be yours and is forever broken. You were the best Oma to myself and my children and a amazing second Mom to me when my Mom passed away. I will love you always!

Nancy Matthews

October 23, 2016

Hedy was a wonderful woman. She delighted all in the motorcycle club when (at an older age!) she decided that she could ride her own bike and proceeded to learn just that. She was a fastidious housekeeper and wonderful cook. We were privileged to have known her.

October 22, 2016

My mother was a very generous person. Our home was always open to friends and family. My mom loved to cook and entertain. You never left our house hungry or lonely. She was also a great Oma. My kids were very close to her. They loved when she would come visit. She made them breakfast, lunch, and dinner and told them stories at the dinner table. She always had a beer or glass of wine after dinner. She was the life of the party. I will miss you mom but I know you are close because you live in me.

Stephanie Aragon

October 20, 2016

Hedwig was a beautiful person, inside and out. Always so strong when it came to her health, and so kind when it came to others. She has touched my heart in so many ways, to lose her is such a heartbreak. Speaking with Hedde before about her thoughts on passing, she had such a peace in her and such a strong faith that I know for her that she is in a much better place, for those of us she left behind this is never going to be something that will be easy for us. She will live forever in our hearts and our times together will never be forgotten. she has been and always will be a light in my life and so many others.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results