Ursula Zwickler Baldwin

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Ursula Zwickler Baldwin was born in Oberhausen, Germany on April 18, 1942, and died on February 25, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Lee Baldwin, daughter, Elizabeth Baldwin Gray, son in law, Patrick Gray, granddaughter, Zoe Gray, son, Joseph Baldwin, daughter in law, Katie Baldwin, grandson, Jakob Baldwin, and brother, Friedhelm Zwickler. She is preceded in death by her mother, Elisabeth Zwickler, father, Bernhard Zwickler, and brother, Reinhold Zwickler. When asked her first childhood memory, she said it was being taken into a bomb shelter during World War II. She graduated from the University of Munster and became a teacher in Germany and Switzerland. Later, she obtained a scholarship to pursue graduate studies in special education with an emphasis on speech therapy at the University of Marburg. She graduated in 1973. During this time, she met her future husband, Lee. After getting married, they came to Virginia, where Lee started a career in education and pursued graduate studies. After he obtained his Ph.D. they moved to Gainesville and then the Orlando area where they still reside. They had two children who have blessed Ursula with two grandchildren. Ursula was active at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. She also loved teaching German and did that throughout her life in America. She was a very accomplished piano player and was passionate about classical music. She and her husband, Lee, enjoyed traveling, especially to visit Germany. They also travelled extensively throughout the United States and greatly enjoyed exploring national and state parks and forests. At home they enjoyed an active lifestyle that included hiking and trips to the beaches of Florida. A wake will be held at the DeGusipe Funeral Home in Maitland on March 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on March 12 at 1:00 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park followed by a graveside service at the Queen of Angels Cemetery in Winter Park. A reception will be held following the graveside service at the St. Francis Hall, San Pedro Spiritual Development Center next to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are encouraged to Catholic Charities (catholiccharitiesusa.org) or Watoto-Wetu (http://watoto-wetu.org). Watoto Wetu, Swahili for Our Children ⇔ Our Gift. is a non-profit organization created to provide an education for poor, homeless children in the region of Njombe, Tanzania, Africa. Ursula was very involved with the development of this organization and has been very supportive of it. She made two mission trips to Tanzania and was instrumental in the building of an elementary school and a secondary school. The administration building is even named after her! This organization is a grass roots organization with no bureaucracy, government affiliation, or corruption, so all contributions go directly to supporting the mission of the organization. ************************************************************************************************************************** THE APOSTOLATE OF URSULA BALDWIN IN NJOMBE DIOCESE - TANZANIA Dear participants of this funeral mass, I first encountered Ursula in 2005 on the banks of the Rhine River in Germany during Pope Benedict XVI's visit. As the sun beat down relentlessly, Ursula and her close friend Sigrid kindly offered me shade under their umbrella while we awaited the passing of Pope Benedict by boat along the river. During our meeting, I shared with Ursula and Sigrid my vision of building schools in my Diocese - Njombe. Since that day, Ursula has been a stalwart and dependable supporter of my projects. Together with her dear friends Sigrid and Rudolf, she played a pivotal role in the construction of a primary school in Makambako, Njombe region. Additionally, Ursula and Father Walsh extended their generosity to build a dormitory for orphans in Makambako. In 2011, Ursula extended an invitation for me to visit the USA for the first time. During my stay, I had the pleasure of meeting Reinhild, Rud, and Father Walsh. At the conclusion of my visit in late November, Ursula spearheaded a collection for the construction of the roof at St. Bakhita Primary School at the cathedral. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Reinhild, Rud, Lee, and Father Walsh for their generous contributions. In 2012, Ursula encouraged me to apply for the Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) in the Diocese of Orlando. Thanks to her support, I was selected to participate in mission appeals. One notable parish I visited was Holy Cross, where I had the privilege of celebrating Holy Mass and connecting with cherished friends such as Danilo Paugh, his wife Ivette, Father Garcia Esau, Monica, Julius Romero, Joan, and others. The funds collected through MCP supported the construction of Roman Boys’ Secondary School. Ursula also graciously invited two priests from my Diocese, Father Camilo and Father Cuthbert, to visit the USA. Furthermore, she provided invaluable support to Father Cuthbert by supplying roofing materials for the synagogue at Nyamapinda in the Ludewa region. On behalf of the communities in Sigrid - Makambako, St. Bakhita - Njombe, Roman Boys Secondary School, and Ludewa (where Father Cuthbert serves), I express profound gratitude to God for the gift of Ursula. Her life has left an indelible mark on my Diocese, and her passing leaves a significant void. As we reflect on Ursula's life, let us draw strength from the words of Job 1:21-22, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Father Bruno Henjewele

Ursula Zwickler Baldwin

April 18, 1942 - February 25, 2024