Erika Julianna Russell

1941 - 2026

Erika Julianna Russell

Erika Julianna (Bernath) Russell, age 84, of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Erika was born November 27, 1941, in Vienna, Austria, to Franz and Julianna (Nagy) Bernath. She and her family came to Toledo, Ohio, following the Hungarian Revolt of 1956, arriving on November 27, 1956 – Erika's fifteenth birthday.

Erika graduated from Libbey High School in 1961, where she met her lifelong friend, Gloria (Ruth) Kaucher. They remained good friends until Erika's death, staying connected through the triumphs and heartaches of life. Erika married Howard Russell on May 12, 1962, and together they raised three children. Erika was a stay-at-home mom for much of her children's childhoods. After attending Davis College, she pursued a career in medical assisting and office administration. She retired in 2003 and spent her early retirement years going between her Nettle Lake home and Florida golf course condo. She then returned to spend her final years in Sylvania, Ohio.

In 2012, Erika self-published a book about her life entitled "Emlek" (Remembrance) in order to leave a legacy for her grandchildren to know and understand her. The book details her life in Vienna and Hungary and her family's eventual immigration to America. The book shares her journey to learn English, adapt to living in America and build a life here.

Erika's life was centered around family. Some of her best memories were of the years when her parents and her brothers' families all lived next door and/or down the street. Her home was the gathering place; during the Blizzard of '78, the entire family spent days at her home unable to leave after what was intended to be an afternoon of snowmobiling. She loved that her children could enjoy time with their cousins, whether at her home or at the family's cottage. Erika adored her grandchildren and appreciated that she could be such an important presence in their lives. She was further blessed to have met all of her great-grandchildren, many of whom are old enough to have fond memories of "The Grammy".

Erika is survived by her children, Janette (Thomas) Gee and John Russell; grandchildren, Erika (David) Wojkiewicz, Stephen (Rachel) Gee, Jessica (Shawn) Pottker, Zachary Russell and Victoria Russell (Josh Parish); and, great-grandchildren, Thomas, Stella, Henry and Lucy Wojkiewicz; Alexander and Benjamin Gee; and Savannah, Olivia and Jacob Parish; brother, Frank; along with numerous nieces and nephews, who she loved as her own. She was preceded in death by her son, Robert; parents, Franz and Julianna; brother, Ernest; and Howard Russell, the father of her children, with whom she spent 50 years.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4100 Harvest Lane, Toledo Ohio. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private at Resurrection Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff of Kingston Care Center of Sylvania and Ohio Living Hospice who demonstrated great care and compassion in helping Erika navigate the transitions of care throughout the past year, and offered support to the family, as well. Special thanks to Kingston nurses Hayley and Miriam, as well as Clinical Manager, Alison.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or Ohio Living Foundation, in Erika's honor.

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