nugel retired in 1945 at the age of 61. her husband died of an illness in 1952. in 1955, she moved to bad godesberg in order to connect with her remaining family. in 1962, the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences at halle gave her a "golden doctoral diploma" award, on the 50th anniversary of her 1912 dissertation. she died on 6 november 1966 in the town of bad godesberg.