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Mourning and hope: Pâtisserie in Hamburg as a legacy for Johanna
The Patisserie Johanna in Hamburg fulfills the dream of the late daughter Johanna Orth, who died in the Ahr Valley flood in 2021.
Mourning and hope: Pâtisserie in Hamburg as a legacy for Johanna
On September 6, 2025, many remembered the devastating flood disaster in July 2021, which also forever changed the life of Johanna Orth, a 22-year-old pastry chef. While the floods raged in the Ahr Valley, Johanna's ground floor apartment was flooded; Her parents, Inka and Ralph Orth, searched desperately for their child for days until she was found in an underground car park. During these terrible days, Johanna drowned, and with her death the Orths not only lost their daughter, but also a dream that they are now continuing to live on in the form of a patisserie.
In Hamburg, where the Orths opened the “Pâtisserie Johanna” at the beginning of 2024, they are making their daughter’s heartfelt wish come true. Johanna's idea was to start a small patisserie, and her parents embarked on this adventure with a lot of commitment. “It helps us deal with grief,” the two report. In the patisserie, it's not just her daughter's name that shines brightly in large letters on the facade; There are also numerous photos of Johanna hanging on the walls, which bring the tragedy and at the same time the hope of the story closer to every visitor.
A life full of dreams
Johanna completed her master's school for pastry chefs in April 2021 and had already impressed people with a well-thought-out business plan and a logo for her patisserie. The sudden loss of their daughter was a huge upheaval for Inka and Ralph. They speak of a life that is now divided into “the old life and the new life.” In this new chapter, they learn to transform their sadness into something positive, which also impresses many of the patisserie's guests. Many come not only for the sweet treats, but also to share their own stories of grief and loss.
The patisserie offers a variety of treats including puff pastries, tarts, chocolates and macarons. A special highlight is a special praline filled with cherry nougat and bearing a butterfly as a symbol of Johanna. Inka Orth took 15 courses at a patisserie school in Ulm in order to acquire the necessary knowledge to implement patisserie. They receive support from Marcel Reinhardt, an experienced pastry chef.
The day that changed everything
The flood disaster in the Ahr Valley was characterized by extreme weather conditions. The German Weather Service warned early on that day of rapidly rising water levels. At 2:30 p.m. the water level at the Altenahr gauge had already reached 1.38 meters and the district administration warned of local flooding. At the end of the day, a total of 135 people tragically died as a result of the devastating effects of nature. This day marked the lives of many people forever, and the Orths are part of this indescribable sadness.
The Patisserie Johanna is not only a place of sweet delights, but also becomes a symbol of the tireless fight for memories and coming to terms with loss. The parents regularly commute between Hamburg and their hometown of Bad Neuenahr, where a cast of a bronze statue of Johanna stands in the garden. There they visit the piece of home that connects them with their daughter.
Whatever the weather, Patisserie Johanna will continue baking – for her daughter and for everyone who wants to live out their dreams and memories. The Orths show that despite all the sadness, new hope can also be born.
For more information visit: Stuttgart News, RTL and WDR.