Walburga (Wally) Tafel

July 20, 1912 - February 15, 2015

Walburga (“Wally”) Tafel, 102 years, passed away on Sunday February 15, 2015 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. Wally was born in Augsburg, Germany on July 20, 1912. She left Germany and came to America when she was 17 years old. Wally married her beloved Heinz Tafel in 1938, and they shared 39 wonderful years together in Springfield until his death in 1985. Wally was an extremely kind, caring and thoughtful lady. She was a communicant of St. James Church in Springfield for over 60 years, and a member of their Seniors Group. After raising her family, Wally worked in retail at Lord & Taylor in Millburn and at Muir’s in Summit. She continued to live in Springfield until 2008, when she moved to Tinton Falls. Wally was the perfect wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend and homemaker. She dearly loved her family and her faith, her home, classical music, sewing, gardening, German crossword puzzles, and the Mets. In 1937 Wally founded the Bayerische Volksbuhne, along with Heinz, Willi Nusser and Sepp Wimmer. The German theater group was devoted to preserving the Bavarian heritage and traditions through fellowship and humor, entertaining the German immigrant community for over 60 years. They performed at Montgomery Hall in Irvington, later moving to Evergreen Lodge in Springfield and Farcher’s Grove in Union. Wally is survived by her son, Robert Tafel, of East Hanover; her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Ron Baruzzi of Tinton Falls; 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandsons, and 2 very special nieces, all of whom she adored, and all who loved her dearly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint James the Apostle Church, 45 South Springfield Ave, Springfield, NJ at 11:00am on Thursday February 19, 2015. The family will receive friends and relatives from 10:30am until start of funeral mass. Interment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please say a prayer for Wally and for your loved ones in heaven.