Erika H. Wainwright

Erika Hedwig Wainwright of Westwood, passed away peacefully at the age 85 years old on November 19, 2024.  Loving wife to Henry Wainwright (deceased), devoted mother to her sons Mark Wainwright and his wife Christina of Holbrook, David Wainwright and his wife Lauren of North Andover, and Brent Wainwright and his wife Melissa of Norfolk. She leaves behind grandchildren that she loved and adored: Grace, Olivia, William, Benjamin, Caleb, Vera, Hudson, and Teddy.

Erika was born in Pommern, Germany on July 24, 1939 to Walter Kosin of Pommern, Germany and Erna Hilderbrand of Pommern, Germany.  Erika grew up during World War II in the middle of a war zone between Germany and the Soviet Union.  It is this lot in life that made Erika always look at the bright side of any issue.  Erika embodied the spirit of a warrior who was always on the move.  After the war and at the early age of six, she moved to West Germany.  From there at the age of eighteen, she moved to London, England, where she worked as a nanny.  At the age of twenty-one, she decided to join her brother Max, in America.  It was not long after where she met the love of her life, Hank, while living in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain.  They married on May 16, 1964.

Erika played a pivotal role in helping to build a family business that has now become transgenerational, all while raising three boys. She was very involved with the Trinity Lutheran Church of West Roxbury and made sure her boys were raised with a solid Christian foundation. In keeping close with her German roots, she was a member of the Boylston Schul-Verein (German Club) in Walpole. She always had the best interests of her husband and sons in mind. She was very active in her grandchildren’s lives. She was extremely grateful to God for all of the blessings bestowed upon her, especially bringing her to America.  Hence her signature morning greeting, “Good morning, America!” To quote her favorite song by Frank Sinatra “when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all and stood tall and I did it my way!” She will be sorely missed.

Friends and family are invited to pay their respects at Folsom Funeral Home located at 649 High St. in Westwood, MA on Friday, December 6, 2024 between the hours of 4-7pm.