Erika J. Kramer

Erika J. Kramer (nee Putre), age 85, of Bedford Heights, passed away peacefully Saturday, December 13, 2025.

Erika was born in 1940 in the Village of Durnbach, Gottschee in Slovenia to the late Heinrich and Maria (nee Lackner) Putre. Her family came from humble means, when food was scarce in Central Europe and the area was plagued with violence at the start of WWII. At the age of 9 Erika immigrated to the United States with her parents, brother Henry and sister Marlene.

As a new citizen of the United States Erika learned to speak English and learned the value of hard work. She graduated from Hoban Dominican High School, a Catholic high school which fostered and helped Erika grow in her faith. Erika was a devout Catholic whose love for God guided her throughout her life. After high school Erika worked as a data entry specialist and retired after many years from Demag Cranes & Components Corp in Solon.

Erika met her husband, Albin who was also from Gottschee, and their romance led to a beautiful marriage of 63 years. They were also blessed with 3 children, Thomas, Caroline (deceased) and Shirley.

Erika had many interests throughout her life. She enjoyed reading, music and dancing as well as cooking, travel and camping. She was a longtime member of the EOUV Club, which represented her Gottscheer heritage of which she was extremely proud. But most of all, Erika loved her family. She especially adored her 2 grandchildren, Zachary and Kylee.

Erika was a quiet, soft-spoken woman, but always eager to meet new people. The first thing people noticed about her was her radiant smile which would instantly warm peoples' hearts. Those who knew her best knew how kind-hearted she was and how her positve attitude always found her finding the good in people, even when that seemed hard to do.

Erika was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Caroline, her brothers Henry (Carol, surviving) Putre and infant brother Siegfried Putre as well as her sister Marlene (Erwin) Preiditsch. She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband, Albin, son Thomas (Toni), daughter Shirley (Ned), grandson Zachary (Audrey) and granddaughter Kylee (Jeff).

The family will receive friends 4-7PM Thursday, December 18, 2025 at Busch-Romito Funeral Home, 521 Broadway Ave., Bedford, OH. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10AM Friday, December 19, 2025 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 340 Union St., Bedford, OH. (Everyone please meet at church.) Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Brook Park, Ohio.