Biography by Diana Druback
Florence "Hilda" Maud Blake was born on January 12, 1920 in the family home at 123 Duke Street in Kearny, New Jersey. She was the second of five children born to Thomas Blake (1886-1965) and Anna Evangeline Thomae Blake (1899-1990). Hilda was named after the following women: Florence Blake, Anna Hulda Riedel Thomae Morgan, and Maude Thomae Diecke. Hilda's baptism took place at Christ Episcopal Church in Harrison, New Jersey on April 16, 1922 and her confirmation took place at the same church on December 30, 1934. Hilda graduated from Kearny Washington Junior School on January 31, 1935 and from Kearny High School on January 31, 1939. Later, on May 17, 1980 at age 60, she graduated from Drew University, with a BA in English Literature and Art History. Hilda married Edward Julius Druback (1917-1986) on January 1, 1942 at the Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They had met at a roller skating rink when someone knocked Hilda down and Ed helped her up. Ed spent three years in England with the 8th Army Air Force during World War II and after his return Hilda and Ed had two children and built a house in Florham Park, New Jersey. In 1964, they moved to Madison, New Jersey, where they built a new house. Hilda was active in the Beechcrest Garden Club and the Garden Club of Florham Park. She became a flower show judge and taught flower arranging classes. In 1957, Hilda and Ed opened Druback Florist at 6 Green Village Road and later the flower shop moved to 80 Main Street both in Madison, New Jersey. Hilda designed at FTD conventions, both nationally and internationally. Hilda also worked diligently with local garden clubs and the Business and Professional Women's Association to protect one of New Jersey's great natural resources, the Great Swamp, from becoming New York City's fourth major airport. Hilda was active in the Chatham United Methodist Church, and for many years represented the church as a lay member at the Northern New Jersey annual conference. Other interests were a love of reading, roller skating and horseback riding when she was younger, gardening, sewing, quilting, and genealogy. Hilda was also a very dedicated caregiver to many family members and friends. In 2008, she moved to Hood River, Oregon where she passed away on October 31, 2011. Memorial services were held in Hood River at the Anderson's Tribute Center on November 12, 2011, the Chatham United Methodist Church on May 5, 2012 where half of her ashes were buried in the church's memorial garden, which Hilda had designed, and the other half of her ashes were buried with her beloved husband Ed in Restland Cemetery on May 4, 2012.
Florence "Hilda" Maud Blake was born on January 12, 1920 in the family home at 123 Duke Street in Kearny, New Jersey. She was the second of five children born to Thomas Blake (1886-1965) and Anna Evangeline Thomae Blake (1899-1990). Hilda was named after the following women: Florence Blake, Anna Hulda Riedel Thomae Morgan, and Maude Thomae Diecke. Hilda's baptism took place at Christ Episcopal Church in Harrison, New Jersey on April 16, 1922 and her confirmation took place at the same church on December 30, 1934. Hilda graduated from Kearny Washington Junior School on January 31, 1935 and from Kearny High School on January 31, 1939. Later, on May 17, 1980 at age 60, she graduated from Drew University, with a BA in English Literature and Art History. Hilda married Edward Julius Druback (1917-1986) on January 1, 1942 at the Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They had met at a roller skating rink when someone knocked Hilda down and Ed helped her up. Ed spent three years in England with the 8th Army Air Force during World War II and after his return Hilda and Ed had two children and built a house in Florham Park, New Jersey. In 1964, they moved to Madison, New Jersey, where they built a new house. Hilda was active in the Beechcrest Garden Club and the Garden Club of Florham Park. She became a flower show judge and taught flower arranging classes. In 1957, Hilda and Ed opened Druback Florist at 6 Green Village Road and later the flower shop moved to 80 Main Street both in Madison, New Jersey. Hilda designed at FTD conventions, both nationally and internationally. Hilda also worked diligently with local garden clubs and the Business and Professional Women's Association to protect one of New Jersey's great natural resources, the Great Swamp, from becoming New York City's fourth major airport. Hilda was active in the Chatham United Methodist Church, and for many years represented the church as a lay member at the Northern New Jersey annual conference. Other interests were a love of reading, roller skating and horseback riding when she was younger, gardening, sewing, quilting, and genealogy. Hilda was also a very dedicated caregiver to many family members and friends. In 2008, she moved to Hood River, Oregon where she passed away on October 31, 2011. Memorial services were held in Hood River at the Anderson's Tribute Center on November 12, 2011, the Chatham United Methodist Church on May 5, 2012 where half of her ashes were buried in the church's memorial garden, which Hilda had designed, and the other half of her ashes were buried with her beloved husband Ed in Restland Cemetery on May 4, 2012.
Biography by Diana Druback
Florence "Hilda" Maud Blake was born on January 12, 1920 in the family home at 123 Duke Street in Kearny, New Jersey. She was the second of five children born to Thomas Blake (1886-1965) and Anna Evangeline Thomae Blake (1899-1990). Hilda was named after the following women: Florence Blake, Anna Hulda Riedel Thomae Morgan, and Maude Thomae Diecke. Hilda's baptism took place at Christ Episcopal Church in Harrison, New Jersey on April 16, 1922 and her confirmation took place at the same church on December 30, 1934. Hilda graduated from Kearny Washington Junior School on January 31, 1935 and from Kearny High School on January 31, 1939. Later, on May 17, 1980 at age 60, she graduated from Drew University, with a BA in English Literature and Art History. Hilda married Edward Julius Druback (1917-1986) on January 1, 1942 at the Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They had met at a roller skating rink when someone knocked Hilda down and Ed helped her up. Ed spent three years in England with the 8th Army Air Force during World War II and after his return Hilda and Ed had two children and built a house in Florham Park, New Jersey. In 1964, they moved to Madison, New Jersey, where they built a new house. Hilda was active in the Beechcrest Garden Club and the Garden Club of Florham Park. She became a flower show judge and taught flower arranging classes. In 1957, Hilda and Ed opened Druback Florist at 6 Green Village Road and later the flower shop moved to 80 Main Street both in Madison, New Jersey. Hilda designed at FTD conventions, both nationally and internationally. Hilda also worked diligently with local garden clubs and the Business and Professional Women's Association to protect one of New Jersey's great natural resources, the Great Swamp, from becoming New York City's fourth major airport. Hilda was active in the Chatham United Methodist Church, and for many years represented the church as a lay member at the Northern New Jersey annual conference. Other interests were a love of reading, roller skating and horseback riding when she was younger, gardening, sewing, quilting, and genealogy. Hilda was also a very dedicated caregiver to many family members and friends. In 2008, she moved to Hood River, Oregon where she passed away on October 31, 2011. Memorial services were held in Hood River at the Anderson's Tribute Center on November 12, 2011, the Chatham United Methodist Church on May 5, 2012 where half of her ashes were buried in the church's memorial garden, which Hilda had designed, and the other half of her ashes were buried with her beloved husband Ed in Restland Cemetery on May 4, 2012.
Florence "Hilda" Maud Blake was born on January 12, 1920 in the family home at 123 Duke Street in Kearny, New Jersey. She was the second of five children born to Thomas Blake (1886-1965) and Anna Evangeline Thomae Blake (1899-1990). Hilda was named after the following women: Florence Blake, Anna Hulda Riedel Thomae Morgan, and Maude Thomae Diecke. Hilda's baptism took place at Christ Episcopal Church in Harrison, New Jersey on April 16, 1922 and her confirmation took place at the same church on December 30, 1934. Hilda graduated from Kearny Washington Junior School on January 31, 1935 and from Kearny High School on January 31, 1939. Later, on May 17, 1980 at age 60, she graduated from Drew University, with a BA in English Literature and Art History. Hilda married Edward Julius Druback (1917-1986) on January 1, 1942 at the Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They had met at a roller skating rink when someone knocked Hilda down and Ed helped her up. Ed spent three years in England with the 8th Army Air Force during World War II and after his return Hilda and Ed had two children and built a house in Florham Park, New Jersey. In 1964, they moved to Madison, New Jersey, where they built a new house. Hilda was active in the Beechcrest Garden Club and the Garden Club of Florham Park. She became a flower show judge and taught flower arranging classes. In 1957, Hilda and Ed opened Druback Florist at 6 Green Village Road and later the flower shop moved to 80 Main Street both in Madison, New Jersey. Hilda designed at FTD conventions, both nationally and internationally. Hilda also worked diligently with local garden clubs and the Business and Professional Women's Association to protect one of New Jersey's great natural resources, the Great Swamp, from becoming New York City's fourth major airport. Hilda was active in the Chatham United Methodist Church, and for many years represented the church as a lay member at the Northern New Jersey annual conference. Other interests were a love of reading, roller skating and horseback riding when she was younger, gardening, sewing, quilting, and genealogy. Hilda was also a very dedicated caregiver to many family members and friends. In 2008, she moved to Hood River, Oregon where she passed away on October 31, 2011. Memorial services were held in Hood River at the Anderson's Tribute Center on November 12, 2011, the Chatham United Methodist Church on May 5, 2012 where half of her ashes were buried in the church's memorial garden, which Hilda had designed, and the other half of her ashes were buried with her beloved husband Ed in Restland Cemetery on May 4, 2012.
