Annriette Stolte Memorial Service

Service at 11 am; Reception to follow in Community Room
Annriette Studor Stolte
May 7, 1935 – February 9, 2025
Annriette Stolte, a lifelong advocate for community, justice, and compassion, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2025, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, embraced in the arms of her children.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 7, 1935, to a family rooted in the farmlands of Ohio, Annriette grew up embracing education and independence as a woman to shape a better world. She studied English at Ohio Wesleyan University, where she cultivated a lifelong love of literature, music, and reflection. Her travels to postwar Germany began the day of her college graduation ceremony, which she chose to miss, at the dismay of her family to travel, on a steamship to Germany. Her travels introduced her to life long friends who lived through the Nazi regime and exposed her to the rebuilding of Europe – which gave her a profound awareness of human suffering and resilience—insights that shaped her lifelong dedication to social work and justice.
In 1961, Annriette earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago, where she met her future husband, William (Bill) Stolte. The day after graduation, the two were married, beginning a 62-year partnership grounded in love, intellect, and shared purpose. Together, they raised three children—Alesia, Margot, and Matthew—while living in West Virginia, New York, and finally Berea, Kentucky, where they built a home filled with music, books, and lively conversation.
Music was an essential part of Annriette’s life and the heart of her family. She possessed a beautiful voice and sang for many years in seasonal performances of Handel’s Messiah, her soprano rising joyfully in community choirs and orchestral productions. At home, her children remember her nightly lullabies that filled the house with warmth and comfort, her voice a constant reassurance at the end of each day. An accomplished pianist, Annriette was the family’s musician (she tried so hard to pass the love of classical music to her children, at no avail) —playing for gatherings, accompanying others, and turning music into an expression of love, creativity, and connection.
Professionally and personally, Annriette exemplified the balance of intellect, independence, and devotion. She worked as a social worker in Eastern Kentucky, co-directed the Berea Children’s Center, and served on the Madison County School Board. She and Bill were founding members of Berea Home Village, helping elders age in place, and long-time leaders at Union Church, where they were honored as Lifetime Deacons for their service. A woman of deep practicality as well as purpose, Annriette understood the meaning of frugality—using resources carefully and thoughtfully so they could be applied toward meaningful endeavors that strengthened her family and community-she often referred to her “personal social dowry”.
Her sense of justice and compassion extended far beyond her home. She opposed nerve gas incineration at the Blue Grass Army Depot, sheltered refugees seeking asylum, and joined peace and civil rights demonstrations throughout her life, including support for the Poor People’s Campaign in Kentucky.
After celebrating 60 years of marriage in 2020, Annriette and Bill moved to Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Bill passed away in 2023. Her children and grandchildren remember her “Annie dill pickles” and the model of grace, empathy, and song—someone who lived her values fully and inspired others to do the same. Her grandchildren especially remember her steadfast encouragement to explore the world on their own terms, her unwavering belief in their potential, and her delight in being the first to send a joyful, spirited birthday wish each year—always loud, loving, and unmistakably “Grandma.”
A memorial service will be held at Union Church in Berea, Kentucky, to celebrate a life devoted to love, learning, and harmony.