Erika
Regina
Scroggins
September 7, 1922 - August 13, 2019
Born in Vienna, Austria
In 1922 Vienna, Eleanor lost her life giving birth to her only child, Erika. Until she was 17, Erika thought Hedwig was her mother, but in fact Hedwig was sister to Edward, Erika's father. By that time (1939) Hitler's Germany had annexed Austria, and Hedwig's husband, Hermann, had been commissioned to head up the University Hospital in Wuerzburg, Germany.
It was there during the American occupation that Erika met U.S. Army specialist/technician, Joseph Francis Scroggins. Her family agreed that her prospects were better as an American housewife than as an Xray technician in a country devastated by war. They married in June 1946, and sailed to the States in November.
Erika gave birth to Robert in 1947 and Claudia in 1948. She was a successful homemaker, active in her children's school lives, and as a member of the Ladies of the Assembly (LOTA with the Knights of Columbus). She returned to Germany with her children for the summers of 1955 and 1958. Then made shorter trips by herself about every 2 years. It was on the trip in 1970 that she got a trans-Atlantic phone call from her children informing her that her husband died of heart failure; he was 57.
She flew back to bury Joe. Then one more trip with her son and daughter to Germany for Christmas that year. By now her (adoptive) parents had retired to Bad Reichenhall, a spa town in the foothills of the Alps near Salzburg. In 1972 she returned there to care for Hedwig who had broken her hip.
Now Erika was making short trips to the States about every 2 years. She became quite active as a mountain hiking guide for "spa guests" who would vacation in Bad Reichenhall. She also helped form an "English conversation group" for friends who wanted to keep their (2nd) language skills sharp. This "3rd quarter" was perhaps the happiest period of her life.
In the "fourth quarter" of her life Erika made her way back to the U.S.A., recognizing that her final resting place would be next to "Joe" (or "Franz") at Holy Sepulchre. She bought a condominium in Birmingham, and became active in the Birmingham Area Senior Center ("BASC", now known as "Next"). She excelled in needle work of all kinds which served various charities, e.g. hats & blankets for new-borns.
In her life, Erika made many friends who admired her industrious spirit and kindness to those less fortunate than her. She prided herself on the power of "Viennese Charm."
She is survived by her loving children Robert Scroggins (Diane McCallum) and Claudia Scroggins (Allen Cohen).
Family will receive friends Monday 10:00 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile), 248-549-0500. Memorial tributes to the Habitat for Humanity.
~Lovingly submitted by the family~
It was there during the American occupation that Erika met U.S. Army specialist/technician, Joseph Francis Scroggins. Her family agreed that her prospects were better as an American housewife than as an Xray technician in a country devastated by war. They married in June 1946, and sailed to the States in November.
Erika gave birth to Robert in 1947 and Claudia in 1948. She was a successful homemaker, active in her children's school lives, and as a member of the Ladies of the Assembly (LOTA with the Knights of Columbus). She returned to Germany with her children for the summers of 1955 and 1958. Then made shorter trips by herself about every 2 years. It was on the trip in 1970 that she got a trans-Atlantic phone call from her children informing her that her husband died of heart failure; he was 57.
She flew back to bury Joe. Then one more trip with her son and daughter to Germany for Christmas that year. By now her (adoptive) parents had retired to Bad Reichenhall, a spa town in the foothills of the Alps near Salzburg. In 1972 she returned there to care for Hedwig who had broken her hip.
Now Erika was making short trips to the States about every 2 years. She became quite active as a mountain hiking guide for "spa guests" who would vacation in Bad Reichenhall. She also helped form an "English conversation group" for friends who wanted to keep their (2nd) language skills sharp. This "3rd quarter" was perhaps the happiest period of her life.
In the "fourth quarter" of her life Erika made her way back to the U.S.A., recognizing that her final resting place would be next to "Joe" (or "Franz") at Holy Sepulchre. She bought a condominium in Birmingham, and became active in the Birmingham Area Senior Center ("BASC", now known as "Next"). She excelled in needle work of all kinds which served various charities, e.g. hats & blankets for new-borns.
In her life, Erika made many friends who admired her industrious spirit and kindness to those less fortunate than her. She prided herself on the power of "Viennese Charm."
She is survived by her loving children Robert Scroggins (Diane McCallum) and Claudia Scroggins (Allen Cohen).
Family will receive friends Monday 10:00 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m. at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile), 248-549-0500. Memorial tributes to the Habitat for Humanity.
~Lovingly submitted by the family~
Visitation
A. J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel)
32515 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Service
A. J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel)
32515 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Habitat for Humanity
322 West Lamar Street
Americus, GA US 31709
Americus, GA US 31709
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
