Obituary of Erika Eckhardt

ERIKA ECKHARDT. Erika (96) was born August 5, 1917 in Berlin, Germany, the daughter of Anna and Fred Richert and died May 1, 2014. The family arrived in Buffalo, July 4, 1925. Erika and her brothers Alfred and Fred attended Water Valley School and Hamburg High. Erika studied voice with Franco Autori and sang at the dedication of Kleinhans Music Hall. She was sought out and sang for decades at weddings, funerals and many church functions in Eden, Hamburg and greater Buffalo. She was the wife of the late Lawrence Eckhardt and the mother of four children. She was pre-deceased by her youngest daughter Christa Eckhardt and is survived by daughters, Carol Knight and Margaret Pedersen, and son Roger Eckhardt. Her service will be held at grave side in Prospect Lawn Cemetery for family, neighbors and friends, Tuesday, June 24, at 11 AM. Pastor Thomas Lutz, St. Paul's Lutheran Church will conduct the service. CHRISTA ECKHARDT. Captain Eckhardt died April 5, Fajardo, Puerto Rico (See Laingfuneralhome.com for full obituary and Hamburg Sun of May 30). Christa was the youngest daughter of Erika and Lawrence Eckhardt. The Rev. Shirley Chan will lead her grave side service in Prospect Lawn Cemetery at 2:15 PM, Tuesday, June 24. A luncheon will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Eden Valley between the two services. Arrangements entrusted to Laing Funeral Home Inc 2724 W. Church Street, Eden, NY 14057 Words of sympathy may be left on www.LaingFuneralHome.com