Josepha Nieberle Collins, 98, of Manchester, passed away Friday, December 22, at home surrounded by loved ones. Born in Obergunzburg, Germany on May 18, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Johann Hanseler and Amanda Fuhner Hanseler. She was one of seven children, including her twin brother, Heinrich.
After living through the frightening times of WWII Germany, she met and married her husband, Wilhelm Nieberle, with whom she shared 36 years of marriage before his passing. She often told the story of the day Willie came home from his job at the US Army Base and announced they were moving to America. Though neither spoke any English, they packed up their belongings and bravely took on a transatlantic crossing with their daughters, six-year-old Hedi and two-month-old Linda, to start a new life in Manchester by the Sea.
They worked long hours and saved every penny to provide a better life for their daughters. No matter what struggles they faced, Josepha (lovingly known to friends as Betti) met every challenge with strength, courage and optimism. She made friends everywhere she went and so many of those friends became family. She was kind and lovely and had a spirit of generosity like none other. She was a talented cook and baker and showed her love through her craft, baking coffee bread and cookies for family and friends and often delivering them.
Josepha had a deep connection to nature that began as a child growing up in the mountains of Germany and continued here in America where she spent countless hours creating beautiful perennial gardens. She was happiest with her hands in the dirt, working in the garden and tending her woods. She generously shared her perennials with many friends and family. Helping others start their own gardens brought her great joy and those gardens are a beautiful legacy she leaves behind. Each summer, hundreds of evening primrose, astilbe, wild geranium and more will bloom because of her and they will always serve as a reminder of her loving and generous spirit.
Josepha is survived by her two daughters, Hedi Kershaw and her partner Crow Black of Newbury and Linda Nieberle and her partner Barry Ramos of Manchester, granddaughter, Kristin Kershaw, grandson Jason Kershaw, wife Andrea, daughters Emma and Autumn, grandson Matthew Kershaw, wife Ilse and son Loren and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Wilhelm Nieberle, second husband Richard Collins, and son-in-law Ralph Kershaw.
Services for Josepha are private. A celebration of life for Josepha will take place at a future date. Contributions may be made in her memory to Generous Gardeners, www.generousgardeners.org.
