1935 ~ 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025: 9:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Monday Dec 29, 2025: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Monday Dec 29, 2025: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
February 26, 1935 - December 18, 2025
Sigrid loved life. She loved her family, she loved our Father in Heaven, our Savior, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sigrid was born of “goodly parents” in Chemnitz, Sachsen, Germany on February 26, 1935. Her parents, Alfred Otto and Leopoldina Rosalie Ottilie Leibner Cieslak, were guided by the Gospel of Jesus Christ through times of war and uncertainty. Because of bombings in Chemnitz, Sigrid moved to Riesa at 8 years old to live with her widowed grandmother. Her family later moved to Riesa as well. At age 14, she began vocational training to become a beautician, where she excelled. Her beauty training was a blessing, as it allowed her to earn money even during trying times. After escaping East Germany and obtaining immigration sponsorship, Sigrid and her family arrived in Utah on December 12, 1954. While it was not easy to be in a new country, they sacrificed everything to be in a land where they could worship and attend the temple of the Lord.
On October 14, 1960, Sigrid married her sweetheart George Kurt Rudolph. They initially dated in Germany before separately immigrating to the United States. George loved Sigrid, she never had to doubt. She would often playfully say, “There were days I could have sent him to the moon, but I would’ve gone after him to make sure he came back.” Life was busy for Sigrid. She worked doing hair from her basement salon while raising five daughters and later a grandson. She also served in various church callings, attended the temple weekly, and vacationed in Lake Tahoe and Mazatlán with her family. As the matriarch of the Rudolph family, Sigrid played an active role in her daughters’, grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren’s lives. Everyone knew and loved Oma. Being with her was familiar and safe. When words or a listening ear were needed she offered them, and when they weren’t, she’d offer a piece of chocolate.
Sigrid learned a few languages during her life, but was most fluent in the language of love. She would often say, “If you want to do something nice for someone, the best thing to do is just do it. Don’t think about it, just do it.” And she did. She focused outwards and was an instrument in God’s hands time and time again—making dinner, cutting hair, sharing homemade raspberry jam, cooking signature German dishes, and living her testimony and faith.
Sigrid had a fervent testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was more than just a way of life, it was her everything. She would often recount the many ways she had seen evidence of God’s hand. She recognized the influence of the Holy Ghost in both big and small aspects of her life. She lived in a way that reflected the Savior’s goodness and light, which unfailingly seeped into every heart that was touched by her love.
We will miss our Mother, Oma, and Great Oma every day. We are grateful and at peace knowing she is reunited with her husband George, parents Alfred and Leopoldina, and siblings: Rahel, Lothar, Hyrum, and Harald. She is survived by her daughters Sylvia (David) Lloyd, Christine Rudolph, Evelyn (Bart) Dowdle, Marian (Edward) Larsen, Heidi (Brian) Markland, grandson Mickey Rudolph, brother Manfred (Diane) Cieslak, 23 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 9:00-10:45 am, followed by funeral services at 11:00 am. All services will be held in the Wasatch 2nd Ward Chapel, located at 1400 S 1900 E, Salt Lake City. The interment will be at South Jordan Memorial Park, 10630 S 1055 W, South Jordan.
Sigrid’s family would like to thank all who loved her and made her life more rich. We are grateful and honored to have shared in our Mother and Oma’s life and love.
Brent and I are blessed and grateful to have known Sigrid for many years. She was unfailingly kind and cheerful. You always left cheered after any encounter with her. She was a beautiful example of service and her testimony of the gospel and her love of the Savior shone through all her doings. We love you, Sigrid❤️
Sigrid is leaving a large space that few people could cover with Charity as she had all her life.
She was most caring and thoughtful person any could have met. She loved her families and friends serving and helping however she could. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ and followed His teachings, which made her a great example to us all. She loved all wholesome music, nature and animals large and small. She was an excellent councilor for good a great supporter of family and individual progress. She loved peace and practiced it. She was a lovely daughter of Our Heavenly Father. She is a great sister, mother and grandmother - a lovely Oma.
I met Chris, her daughter, way back when she was in nursing school and I was a fairly new nurse at University of Utah Hospital. Chris shared with me multiple moments spent with her family and Mom. She always talked about her Mom with love and tenderness. I perceived her Mom was a very loving person that enriched Chris and her family's lives with her presence.
My condolences goes to Chris, son and whole family for this very challenging times of their lives. And that love & peace reside in their hearts.
Sincerely,
Laila
Sigrid is already missed. She was such a dear, sweet, caring, and lovely person. Condolences to her amazing family. May she rest in peace.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother. She was such a special person, and I know she’ll be remembered with deep affection by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. As my aunt, she held a very special place in my heart, and I always felt blessed to have been loved by her the way I was. When I was at school in Utah, she welcomed me into her home and treated me like a family —something I will never forget. Her kindness and warm spirit will stay with me always.
Sigrid was also a very important person to both my parents, Dieter and Wilma Rudolph.
She was also incredibly special to my mother, a connection that was unique. She also understood my father in a way very few people ever did— maybe because he was a Rudolph. I always admired that she just got that part of him. Those connections always meant so much to our family, and they say so much about the kind of person she was.
I will miss her greatly, and I hope you find comfort in the memories, the love she gave so freely, and the strength you have as a family. Sending you all my love and support during this difficult time.
I am so sorry for your loss! Sigrid truly was and is an elect lady as was mentioned at the funeral service. I am so grateful to her and those of you who joined her in serving my family these last 10 years! I will play some Mensch ärgere dich nicht in her honor. I am glad our paths crossed about 10 years ago. She is one of my heroines! Thank you for the beautiful funeral service, I am thankful for the technology that allowed me to watch it.
I have a few cherished memories of Sigrid, which I would like to share with you.
Having left my family in Germany to marry Harold, she became an important part of my new family. I had left an uncle Manfred and aunt Sigrid behind, and she filled that void by accepting and loving me from the start. There was never a doubt in my mind that she loved me and approved of me - and, oh, how I needed that in those early years.
She was so generous - cutting Harold's hair when he could not afford it, inviting us to her New Years open house, showing genuine interest in our lives and that of our children, giving beautiful gifts whenever we had a new baby, and remembering us at Christmas each year with a beautiful card.
When my parents came over for visits, she befriended them and they corresponded for many years. I am so happy to imagine them being together on the other side, catching up.
Each one of our children loved Sigrid, because she first loved them and showed interest in them and their lives. What a great example to follow !!!
We loved her food - we could always count on her bringing the best cakes to baby blessings and get togethers. We fought over the leftovers haha .
She left a legacy of love and grace and we are better people for having known her. We feel the same kindness and friendship from and for all of you, her family, and hope we will continue to keep in touch.
The funeral was lovely and very touching, as each daughter shared her special relationship with her mom. I can see parts of her in each one of you. May you feel her love and presence around you now and always. You are very special !!
With love, Carmen
I will miss kn̈owing that you are no longer in̈ our lives. Thanks for the gift of raspberry jam every year. You were an example of your faith and loving your family and neighbors.
I will miss kn̈owing that you are no longer in̈ our lives. Thanks for the gift of raspberry jam every year. You were an example of your faith and loving your family and neighbors.