Born into a well-to-do family in northern Germany, Erika Busing's early years were full of family gatherings, dancing parties with friends and holidays by the Baltic Sea. She seemed to have been headed for a carefree life, but political circumstances changed that.
As the daughter of a Christian father and Jewish mother, Erika found herself increasingly isolated by anti-Jewish laws. In 1933, she gave up her studies, knowing that her dream of becoming a teacher would never come true under a Nazi government. More discouraging were the obstacles to marrying the man she loved. She had met theology student Paul Busing at the University of Tübingen. But so-called "mixed marriages" were soon outlawed.
While Paul attended the underground seminary of the Confessing Church, the anti-Nazi branch of the Lutheran Church, Erika threw herself into activities to fight the system. Her infectious charm and talkative nature served her well.
In 1936 Erika and Paul fled to London, where they were finally able to marry. While Paul served as a Lutheran pastor and worked with refugees on behalf of the Church of England, Erika raised their growing family amid air raids, rationing and worsening news from Germany. Their tiny home became a gathering place for a wide circle of friends. Erika loved the constant stream of visitors, and she continued to reach out to others until the end of her life. She was interested in everyone she met, and she cherished time with her large family and diverse group of friends above all.
After the war Paul accepted a job as pastor to a bilingual German congregation in Eastern Ontario. Erika embraced another move with her typical adventurous spirit, but found that adapting to snowstorms and outhouses was one thing, while discovering masses of Nazi newspapers in the parsonage attic was quite another. She took delight in burning these in a bonfire, her sweet revenge for the Nazi burning of the books.
Though their start in Canada was challenging, the family eventually put down roots in Quebec and found a home within the Anglican Church. With her six children grown, Erika came into her own as a family life educator and founding volunteer of The Well, an Ottawa day centre for women.
The path Erika and Paul chose together was a complicated one, requiring great faith and courage. She always gave him credit for taking the journey with her when he could have chosen a simpler life. We're sure that he, and all who knew her, would agree that it was no sacrifice.
Hilary and Eleanor Busing are Erika's grandchildren.