On December 27, 2023, Else Annemarie Tuch, 87, passed away peacefully in her Andes home with her beloved husband Manfred (Freddy) by her side.
Else was born on August 20, 1936.
She shared her father’s love of horses, and at a young age frequently rode throughout the Queens neighborhood where she was born.
She was an exceptional student, with perfect attendance and excellent grades, even graduating early, at age 16.
In 1954, she met Fred, and they were married three weeks later. They moved from Queens to Long Island where their next chapter began. Always wanting a houseful of children, she gave birth to six.
She showed determination throughout her life, in whatever endeavor she was pursuing.
An avid music enthusiast, she was talented with the accordion and active in her church choir.
Similarly, her work ethic was remarkable, and she frequently held several jobs at once.
DIY was her thing before it was a thing. She was gifted at cooking, gardening, and sewing, evidenced by one Easter’s family wardrobe: Matching dresses & three-piece suits for her children, as well as a suit for Fred.
She loved the water, and besides teaching all her children to swim, it was her that shuttled the entire neighborhood to the beach. Bowling was one of her many passions, where she competed in regional tournaments, and scored 300 more than once.
We remember her awesome love for family and community.
Every visitor was greeted with an epic ‘bear hug,’ and her hospitality was genuine; a family of five from Norway was welcomed in and stayed an entire year.
Skills she learned from ‘flipping’ houses on Long Island were needed, after our first Andes home was destroyed by fire. It was her own design that the whole family helped to build, and the family that lives there today includes her granddaughter Jenna, whose loving care for Else allowed her to remain in her home until the end.
Else was predeceased by her parents, Carl and Johanne (Rickborn) Pape, her firstborn son Michael Carl Tuch, her only sibling Edna K. Griesser and brother-in-law Erich T. Griesser.
Else is survived by her husband, Manfred W. Tuch; five children, fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Michael’s children - son Nathan and wife Jen, daughters Rayna and husband Garrett, (their daughters, Hadley Noel and Margaret Ann), and Laressa; daughters Suzanne and husband George; Karoline and daughter Jessica, husband Jim (their son Nikhil Narayan), and Julianna; Christine and husband Rodney, their children Jacob, wife Mary, Joshua and daughter Cadence Michelle, Justin & partner Sage, Jenna and children Kiara Christine, Colton Rodney, Gracelyn Else, Jordan Joshua; son Carl and wife Sharon and their children Alex, wife Kylie (their son Tripp Michael), Leah and Luke; son Paul and children Maxwell and Anna.
Else is also survived by several nieces and nephews, her best friend Gisela, and many more extended family and friends throughout the U.S. and in Germany.
Else was our Matriarch; we will remain grateful to have been blessed with such a strong amazing woman to call Wife, Mom, and Oma.
