Hiltrud Maria Lu

Hiltrud Maria Lu (née Reineke), 90, born on September 18, 1935 in Loeningen, Germany, passed away peacefully with her loving family at her side on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Boston, MA. Hiltrud was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and community member. She grew up in Germany and was the daughter of Heinrich Johann Alois Reineke and Maria Reineke. She graduated from a Realschule and then worked for a Japanese export firm in Germany. Hiltrud explored many parts of the world, including working in the cities of Duesseldorf, Geneva and London. In 1963, she married Milton Ming-Deh Lu, moved to Lancaster, PA and helped to run his medical practice. She warmly welcomed patients with her compassionate nature. In Lancaster, she enjoyed gardening and tending to her sheep. Generous in spirit, Hiltrud shared her delicious homemade raspberry jam with countless friends and neighbors. She played doubles tennis in the backyard with her family. Hiltrud was an avid stamp and coin collector. For many years, she returned to Germany during the summer months to visit her numerous childhood friends and her sister, Doris Henneman. A woman of deep faith, Hiltrud was a congregant of St. John Neumann's Church, where her kindness and generosity touched many. Throughout the years, she was an active member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Lancaster County affiliate, dedicating her time to providing support and advocacy for those affected by mental health challenges. Hiltrud was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Milton (Ming-Deh) Lu (2008), and her brothers, Hartwig (1938), Bodo (1942), and Heinz Reineke (1943). She leaves behind a close-knit family who will cherish her memory: her children, Barbara Ann and L. David Ricci Jr. of New York, NY; Winfred Lu of Lancaster, PA; Rita Doreen Lu and Kevin Cain of Brookline, MA; and Oliver Lu of Lancaster, PA; her sister, Doris Henneman of Amstelveen, The Netherlands; and her grandchildren, Charlotte Lu Cahill of Brookline, MA, Lucy Lu Cahill of New York, NY, Leonard David Ricci III of Cambridge, MA, and William Matteo Ricci of New York, NY. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Hiltrud Lu’s Memorial Mass at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 E. Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends at the Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be private at Landis Valley Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to NAMI Lancaster County PA, PO Box 8434, Lancaster, PA 17604 (payable to NAMI Lancaster County PA) or online at www.namilancopa.org