Erika E. Gora

Erika E. Gora (Buschmann), 87, of Providence, died peacefully in her home on Thursday, July 31, 2008. She was the beloved wife of the late Dr.Edwin Gora. Born in Munich, Germany in 1921, she was the daughter of the late Friedrich and Lily (Merkel) Buschmann. A graduate of the University of Munich, she married Dr Edwin Gora, a theoretical physicist, in 1945. They emigrated to Providence in 1948, where she took care of her growing family and later was employed for 20 years at the Providence Journal’s WEAN radio station while Edwin was head of the Physics Department at Providence College.

She served on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra for many years and was an active member of the International Institute. An outgoing, charming, witty and very sociable person, she loved to entertain and will be missed by her family and many friends.

Erika was the loving mother of five children: Michael J. Gora of Hayesville, North Carolina; Evelyn T. Gora of Munich, Germany; Monica M. Walzebock of Lohwinden, Germany; Angela E. Gora of Providence and Sonja A. Maroni of Bethesda, Maryland. She will be missed by them and by her eight grandchildren: Daniel Gora; Lina, Monali and Christel Walzebock; Gina Gora; William and Lily Maroni; and Katjana Qi Gora.

Her funeral will be held Tuesday at 9am, from the Maceroni Funeral Home, 1381 Smith St., North Providence, followed by a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Pius V Church, Eaton St., Providence. Visitation Monday 5-7pm. Burial will be in Swan Point Cemetery, Blackstone Blvd., Providence. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dr. Edwin K. Gora Scholarship Fund (in memory of Erika Gora), c/o Providence College, 549 River Ave., Providence, RI 02918.