Erica A. Gudas

On November 28, 2025 at the age of 88, Erica Gudas went home to be with the Lord.
She passed away peacefully at her farm, surrounded by her family's love, laughter, and gratitude.
Erica was born to Martin and Emma Austin on April 16th, 1937, in Taurage, Lithuania. Erica had four sisters: Ruth, Martha, Ann and Zelma. Zelma survives Erica.
Erica's life is one of courage and faith amidst hardship as well as the providence of God in her life. In 1940, when she was only three years old, the Austin family fled Lithuania after the Soviet invasion and lived in Germany for the duration of World War II and postwar in Displaced Persons camps. Erica fondly recalls wonderful memories of being picked up and tossed into the air by her smiling father. This smile was mirrored on her own face whenever she spoke of him. Martin died shortly after moving to Germany.
Due to the war, Erica's childhood was one of hunger, constant fleeing, and fear with
near-death bombings. She recalls being so thirsty she licked the condensation from
windows, and so hungry she ate black potatoes, yet those who knew Erica knew her as a
joyful woman, expressing unshakable faith and sincere gratitude rather than despair. She
recounted her past not as one who was bitter, but as one who had experienced the
world's cruelty and maintained the certainty that God the Father had walked with her
through it all. Her mother's abiding faith, patience, perseverance and deep love inspired
her view. She also told of visits from angels at the foot of her bed and held to her
beloved mother's advice to "Always keep your eyes on God."
Erica's faith was steadfast. She lived out "pure and faultless religion" as described in the
book of James and embodied the fruits of the Spirit as written in Paul's letter to the
Galatian Church; "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control." The Lutheran faith she was born into remained her
foundation throughout her life.
Though she had her share of difficulty, Erica experienced much joy as well. She often
recounted her journey from Germany to America with awe and delight. She recalled
dancing on the ship and seeing the Statue of Liberty, American Flag and knowing she
was free and safe. One of her proudest days is when she became an American citizen.
She held firmly to the values that are foundational of her new country, life, liberty, love
and the pursuit of happiness. She recalled the wonder of life in Chicago, the new joys she and her family experienced
there. And in 1954 Erica married the love of her life, Algird "Al" Gudas at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Winamac. This was the start of a new life, that of a wife, mother, grandmother, and eventually a great grandmother. She and Al worked well and
determinedly as a team and built a successful farm operation and fruitful family.
Psalm 127 says that "Children are a gift and a reward from the Lord," and in this way
Erica was greatly rewarded. She bore 16 children, three who proceeded her in death:
Paul, Sandra and Lesa.
Her surviving children include: Nancy (Bill) Schambers, Carol (Charles) Blink, Linda
(Todd) Oman, Kenneth (Louise) Gudas, Eric (Marci) Gudas, Mary (John) Burchfield,
Arthur (Margaret) Gudas, Albert (Cindy) Gudas, Pamela (Chad) Huber, Erica (Alberto)
Holguin, Lori (Mark) Pajeau, Susan (Deb) Gudas, Amy (Kyle) Burgess.
It is said that "Children are a blessing from the Lord that will produce a harvest." Her blessing and
harvest include her beloved and cherished 102 grand and great-grandchildren, with two
on the way. Proverbs 31:28 describes her legacy, "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praises her," as her children recall her being hard-working,
ceaselessly toiling for her children, whether in the kitchen, laundry room, or taking them
to church every Sunday. Her love as a mother is evident in that her children continued to
gather around her, even after they had grown up, married, and started their own families.
Every year they would get together for Christmas and a Summer cookout. Every year they would sit down at the kitchen table with her-the room fills with laughter, smiles leap from face to face, and the mother's heart is full. Her love had a pronounced effect
on those she interacted with, and it will live on for generations to come.
Just before leaving them, Christ told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place
for them. Before she was born, a place was prepared for Erica. She is there now, resting
in the Father's arms, reunited with her husband, three children and family that went on
before her. Her wrinkles have been replaced by laugh lines, her pain by delight, and her
age by eternal youth. She is more herself than she has ever been, for she is with the One
who made her.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law Mary (Jim) Perry, brother-in-law Edmund (Patti)
Gudas and many nieces and nephews.
The visitation will be from 4-8 PM EST on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Frain Mortuary and one hour prior to funeral services at the church on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
The funeral service will be held at 11 AM EST on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Winamac.
Erica's burial will take place in the Winamac Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to St. Luke Lutheran Church, Winamac, IN.
Online Tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary in Winamac.