Music wasn’t a stretch for Hilda Eichenberger – it was practically a requirement.
Eichenberger, whose life will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, was a singer, pianist and flutist; her husband and children are musicians; her brother is a choral director; and her parents sang. Her daughter, Rebecca Eichenberger, played Carlotta in the Broadway production of “Phantom of the Opera” for two years.
Eichenberger died May 8 after a two-month battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a degenerative brain disease which is incurable. She was 71.
Her service will be at Whatley Chapel on the Johnson & Wales University campus, East 18th Avenue and Olive Street. A massed choir, including singers from the Columbine Chorale and South High School Alumni Choir, will perform at the service. The Columbine Choir is led by her husband, Richard, and her son Brian.
“She didn’t push music on us, but we all grew up with it – it was genetic,” said Brian Eichenberger.
Hilda Eichenberger started on the flute and piano when she was a child and played in small ensembles. She sang with the Opera Colorado Chorus, Columbine Chorale and Classic Chorale.
She taught elementary school music at Graland Country Day School.
Her brother, James Erb, is a professor of music emeritus at the University of Richmond; her brother-in-law, Rod Eichenberger, is a choral clinician; and her sister, Janet Clithero of Longview, Wash., plays the viola.
Hilda Eichenberger often felt overshadowed with such talent, said Brian Eichenberger, “but she was the biggest star in the hearts and minds of her family.
“She was one of the funniest people I ever knew, pointing out humor in any situation,” he said. “I think she used humor as a social tool to diffuse tension. She was very charming and delightful. Everyone instantly liked her.”
When she was diagnosed, “there was no self pity,” he said. “I think her sadness was having to part from the family. She apologized to the family for being sick.”
Hilda Erb was born Jan. 25, 1934, in La Junta and moved to Denver as a child.
She graduated from South High and earned a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Denver.
She married Richard Eichenberger, who taught choir at South High School, on June 7, 1953.
In addition to her husband, son and daughter, and sister and brother, she also is survived by two more sons, David and Stephen Eichenberger, both of Denver; and eight grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at 303-820-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com.
