FROSTBURG — Luise Engelhardt, 69, died peacefully at her home in Frostburg on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 after a five month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt.

She was born in Altdorf, Germany.

She is survived by her husband, Hermann; son Michael, and wife Liz of Las Cruces, N.M.; daughter Katia Hilderbrand and husband Bob with grandchildren, Anna and Corinna of Mt Savage; and sister Eva Bullman and husband Franz of Berlin, Germany, with niece Franziska Langendoerfer and husband Bleickard of Heidelberg, Germany.

Luise was a talented musician, playing the cello and piano, and serving many years as music director, choir director and organist at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church of Altadena, Calif. She moved to Frostburg last June to be near her grandchildren. She was also an accomplished linguist and language teacher, fluent in four languages, and lived and studied at times in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, Columbia, and the USA. She was passionate about social justice and spent time in Central America as a Witness for Peace volunteer.

Funeral services will be conducted at Christ Lutheran Church, LaVale, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Chuck Erzkus presiding.

Interment will be in St. Michael's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations in Luise’s memory may be sent to Witness for Peace, 10432 Amigo Ave., Northridge, CA 91320.

The Upchurch Funeral Home, P.A., Cumberland, is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences to the family may be posted after Mrs. Engelhardt's obituary at upchurchfh.com .