Sigrid Helene Rudolph

February 26, 1935 - December 18, 2025

Sigrid loved life. She loved her family, she loved our Father in Heaven, our Savior, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sigrid was born of "goodly parents" in Chemnitz, Sachsen, Germany on February 26, 1935. Her parents, Alfred Otto and Leopoldina Rosalie Ottilie Leibner Cieslak, were guided by the Gospel of Jesus Christ through times of war and uncertainty. Because of bombings in Chemnitz, Sigrid moved to Riesa at 8 years old to live with her widowed grandmother. Her family later moved to Riesa as well. At age 14, she began vocational training to become a beautician, where she excelled. Her beauty training was a blessing, as it allowed her to earn money even during trying times. After escaping East Germany and obtaining immigration sponsorship, Sigrid and her family arrived in Utah on December 12, 1954. While it was not easy to be in a new country, they sacrificed everything to be in a land where they could worship and attend the temple of the Lord.

On October 14, 1960, Sigrid married her sweetheart George Kurt Rudolph. They initially dated in Germany before separately immigrating to the United States. George loved Sigrid, she never had to doubt. She would often playfully say, "There were days I could have sent him to the moon, but I would've gone after him to make sure he came back." Life was busy for Sigrid. She worked doing hair from her basement salon while raising five daughters and later a grandson. She also served in various church callings, attended the temple weekly, and vacationed in Lake Tahoe and Mazatlán with her family. As the matriarch of the Rudolph family, Sigrid played an active role in her daughters', grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren's lives. Everyone knew and loved Oma. Being with her was familiar and safe. When words or a listening ear were needed she offered them, and when they weren't, she'd offer a piece of chocolate.

Sigrid learned a few languages during her life, but was most fluent in the language of love. She would often say, "If you want to do something nice for someone, the best thing to do is just do it. Don't think about it, just do it." And she did. She focused outwards and was an instrument in God's hands time and time again-making dinner, cutting hair, sharing homemade raspberry jam, cooking signature German dishes, and living her testimony and faith.

Sigrid had a fervent testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was more than just a way of life, it was her everything. She would often recount the many ways she had seen evidence of God's hand. She recognized the influence of the Holy Ghost in both big and small aspects of her life. She lived in a way that reflected the Savior's goodness and light, which unfailingly seeped into every heart that was touched by her love.

We will miss our Mother, Oma, and Great Oma every day. We are grateful and at peace knowing she is reunited with her husband George, parents Alfred and Leopoldina, and siblings: Rahel, Lothar, Hyrum, and Harald. She is survived by her daughters Sylvia (David) Lloyd, Christine Rudolph, Evelyn (Bart) Dowdle, Marian (Edward) Larsen, Heidi (Brian) Markland, grandson Mickey Rudolph, brother Manfred (Diane) Cieslak, 23 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 9:00-10:45 am, followed by funeral services at 11:00 am. All services will be held in the Wasatch 2nd Ward Chapel, located at 1400 S 1900 E, Salt Lake City. The interment will be at South Jordan Memorial Park, 10630 S 1055 W, South Jordan.

Sigrid's family would like to thank all who loved her and made her life more rich. We are grateful and honored to have shared in our Mother and Oma's life and love.