Heidi Brigitte Richardson, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Whiteford, Maryland, on September 26, 2026.

Born on November 20, 1949, in Germany, Heidi was the daughter of the late Horst and Gerda Motzkus. She grew up in the Ellicott City area of Maryland alongside her brother, Dirk.

Heidi went on to attend Frostburg State College, where she earned a degree in English and, more importantly, met the man who would become her husband, Stuart Richardson. Heidi and Stuart were married in 1972 and began a life together that would span more than five decades.

Heidi later earned her Master of Library Science degree from the University of Maryland and devoted approximately 40 years of her career to the Harford County Public Library. The majority of those years were spent at the Whiteford Branch, where she ultimately served as branch manager before retiring in December 2014.

During her years there, Heidi had the unique opportunity to watch the Whiteford library grow from a small trailer into the building the community knows today. She especially loved leading story time and being involved with the summer reading program. Retirement did not end her connection to the library. She continued returning for story time, this time with her granddaughter, Thula.

Heidi and Stuart settled in Whiteford, Maryland, in 1979, where they became active members of Highland Presbyterian Church and their surrounding community.

Those who knew Heidi knew her as a calm and steady presence with a genuine appreciation for life. She was a constant learner who never lost her curiosity or willingness to try something new. She enjoyed quilting and crafting, gardening, participating in multiple book clubs, traveling, and even taking piano lessons as an adult.

Some of Heidi's favorite moments were the simple ones: family gatherings spent playing cards and board games, beach vacations with extended family, trying a new restaurant, or heading off on another adventure.

And Heidi certainly had adventures.

She traveled to England with friends to visit the Globe Theatre and pay homage to Shakespeare. She took canoe trips through the Allagash and Adirondacks with Stuart, her daughter Emily, and Emily's Girl Scout troop. She traveled to Alaska with her husband and friends, cruised with Stuart to Nova Scotia and into the world of Anne of Green Gables, and traveled to Africa to visit her daughter Julia, where she had the opportunity to explore and see Victoria Falls.

Through all of those experiences, Heidi remained grounded in what mattered most: her family, her friends, her faith, and being there for others.

She was someone you could count on. Heidi was always willing to lend a hand and support someone in need. Her faith was unwavering yet unassuming, and her love for her family and friends was consistent and steadfast.

Heidi is survived by her devoted husband, Stuart Richardson; her children, Bradley Richardson and his wife, Heather, Julia Kasukusa and her husband, Vundukai, and Emily Richardson; and her grandchildren, Thula, Nakai, and Maita.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sylvia Motzkus; nieces and nephews, Christine Laurenti and her husband, Alec, Andrew Motzkus and his wife, Jen, Valerie Motzkus, and Janet McPhillips and her husband, John; as well as Ira, Harper, Liam, Becky, Katie, and Laura; and her sisters-in-law, Frances Scarcelli and Marion Richardson.

In addition to her parents, Horst and Gerda Motzkus, Heidi was preceded in death by her brother, Dirk Motzkus, and sister-in-law, April.

The family will receive friends on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Highland Presbyterian Church, 701 Highland Road, Street, Maryland 21154. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Reverend Jack Carlton. Interment will immediately follow in Highland Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to the Harford County Public Library Foundation, a fitting tribute to Heidi's lifelong love of libraries, learning, and her community.

Donations may be made online at:https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=renxt&formId=1d4a545c-51e7-4f08-99a7-06aa68fafcc3&envid=p-UYpg8nvqh06DOon4LL0D2Q&zone=usa

Wagner-Elfner and Harkins Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 600 Main Street, Delta, Pennsylvania 17314, is honored to be assisting the family with the arrangements.