Ulla Hennig Sifuentes

Ulla Hennig Sifuentes, 90, passed away on April 20th, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Born on December 12, 1935, in Berlin, Germany, Ulla lived through World War II and eventually made her way from East Berlin to West Berlin through the Berlin Wall, where she and her mother opened and ran a store together. It was there that she met her husband, Ricardo Sifuentes. Ulla was fluent in three languages — German, Spanish, and English. She briefly lived in Argentina, where she taught herself Spanish, which is how she and Ricardo communicated when they first met. In Germany, she completed her Ausbildung — a German vocational training program — in optics and worked in the field crafting lenses before starting her life with Ricardo. The two moved back and forth between America and Germany before eventually settling in Poquoson, Virginia, where Ulla focused on what mattered most to her: her family.

She was a talented seamstress, an avid gardener, and an exceptional cook. She carried her German roots with her throughout her life and was known for her strength and warmth.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ricardo Sifuentes; her daughters, Inga Mintz (Doug) and Janet Sifuentes (David); her grandchildren, Kara Bocklet, Marisa Bocklet, and Sasha Mintz; and her cousin Hans Arndt, who resides in Germany.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to be made to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home.

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com.

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