Lydia Gress

Our Beloved Lydia was called by the Lord to heaven on Tuesday, August 11, 2025 at 11:40pm at AngelsGrace Hospice while under the care of their wonderful staff. With profound sadness we mourn the passing of a woman who embodied strength, grace and unconditional love.

Lydia Gress was born November 21, 1935 in Wosnesensk, Ukraine to Markus and Emilie (Boehm) Fleck. Lydia emigrated to the United States with her parents and five siblings in 1952. Lydia held many jobs throughout her life. She ran a coffee shop in Waukesha for several years, then Alida's Alpine Inn in New Berlin. After selling the restaurant she started her home business of baking. She sold many of her famous Christmas cookies, breads and cakes until her illness made it impossible to continue. Lydia was a proud member of the Waukesha Eagles Auxiliary.

She left a foot print on the hearts of all who knew her…

She is survived by her three sons: Karl (Annette), Peter and John; and two grandchildren: Alexia Gress and Joseph Gress. Lydia is further survived by her sisters, Ida Kuechler and Hildegard (Carl) Hantke, brothers, Eugen Fleck and Wilhelm (Kathy Volz) Fleck, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Markus Fleck, Jr. and brother-in-law Roger Kuechler, Sisters -in-law Rebecca Fleck and Rosebella Fleck.

Lydia enjoyed bowling in her early years, gardening, feeding birds (especially hummingbirds) knitting, cooking, and baking. Above all, she enjoyed her children and grandchildren.

Visitation Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Wisconsin Memorial Park-Chapel of the Chimes from 10:00 AM until time of service at 11:00 AM.

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered, "Come to Me." With tearful eyes we watched you suffer, and slowly fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, he only takes the best.