Erika G. Petersons

PETERSONS, Erika Grivins Erika Petersons, 100, died peacefully at the home of her son and daughter-in-law Ivars and Meredith Petersons, Columbia, CT, on March 9, 2010. Erika, the elder daughter of Janis and Zelma Grivins, was born in Riga, Latvia, on August 8, 1909. She attended the prestigious Darzins Academy and graduated in 1931 from The Institute of English, Riga, Latvia. She later taught English in German refugee camps after World War II. After immigration to the United States in 1950, the Petersons family settled in Naugatuck, CT, where Erika worked for the Bristol Company until her retirement. Subsequently she and her husband, Eduards, moved to Sebring, FL, where Erika spent the next 22 years, with summer residence at the Petersons' family retreat at Little Lake, Colborne, Ontario. After her husband's passing, Erika volunteered at an Adult Day Care facility in Sebring, FL, before moving back to Connecticut to be near her family. She resided at the Wrights Village, Storrs, CT until 2008. She spent winter vacations at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Biruta and Jean-Pierre Cap, in Naples, FL, where she made many friends and will be fondly remembered. In Naugatuck the Peterson family attended the Covenant Church which sponsored their immigration, for which the Peterson family remains ever grateful. Erika and Eduards also were members the Manchester, CT, Latvian Lutheran Church for many years. Erika was a life-long and active member of the Latvian sorority, Gaujmaliete. Erika will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a gracious loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and extraordinary hostess. Her love of family was paramount in her life. She felt their every sickness and hardship, followed their triumphs and tragedies, took pride in their accomplishments and genuine interest in their careers, interests and hobbies, from medical research to investment strategy, scuba diving to Ukrainian dance, and in the past few years enjoyed watching UConn women's basketball with family and friends. She always preferred to be outdoors instead of the kitchen, but her skill at traditional Latvian food was legendary. Erika loved flowers, and gardens and gardening was one of her many passions. She loved her native Latvia and was one of the first in her family and the Latvian community to return and visit family and friends when the travel restrictions of the Soviet Union began to relax. She also loved her adopted country and was grateful for the opportunities to raise and educate her children that were not available in post-war Latvia. Erika is survived by her son, Ivars Petersons and his wife, Meredith of Columbia, CT, her daughter Biruta and her husband Jean Pierre Cap of Naples, FL, and Silver Spring, MD; granddaughter Ingrid Wood of Boston, MA and Columbia, CT; granddaughter Kira Petersons of San Francisco, CA; and grandson Dr. Andrew Peter Cap and his wife, Becky of San Antonio, TX; great-granddaughters, Natalie and Anna Grace Cap; nephew Peter Peterson and family of Glen Ellyn, IL; and nephews Gunnars Cornelius and Ivars Cornelius of Germany. She was predeceased by her husband, Eduards, and a sister, Hildegarde. The family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street (Route 195), Willimantic CT 06226 ( www.potterfuneralhome.com ) on Monday, March 15, starting at 10:00 am. The funeral service will be at 11:00 am. Internment at the Columbia Burying Ground - Center Cemetery on Route 87 will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a contribution in Erika's honor to the American Latvian Association, Inc. 400 Hurley Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850-3121( www.alausa.org/ ) and their support of Museum of the Occupation of Riga, which commemorates the Petersons/Grivins family victims, among thousands of others who perished due to the Soviet occupation of Latvia; or to Hospice of Eastern CT/VNA East, 34 Ledgebrook Drive, Mansfield Ctr, CT 06250, who cared so lovingly for Erika and her family these past few weeks. Please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com for online memorial guest book.