Erika L. Sentementes

Born in Stuttgart, Germany on May 17, 1934 of parents Fritz and Klara Caspart, Erika was the oldest of three siblings. The family living in Bad Cannstatt, Germany, where the children grew up before, during and after World War II.

Erika recalled the challenges of life during the war, including having to chop wood when the delivery came to prevent theft and a bomb dropping in front of their apartment building. Luckily it did not go off.

Erika had dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but after the war she decided to come to America to work and send money home to her family. She obtained a Green Card and selected a job in Stamford, CT.

She connected with other Germans in Stamford and began attending soccer games and dances at the local German Club. This is where she met husband Perry, as he played for the Stamford United soccer team.

They married in June of 1962 and lived in Stamford until moving to the town of Darien in 1969. Erika became a stay-at-home mother and created a garden to grow fresh vegetables that she used to make meals. Erika became a naturalized American citizen on September 21, 1973.

When her daughter was old enough for school, Erika sought part-time employment with in the school system in the cafeteria. She advanced from the elementary school to junior high to the high school and eventually became assistant cook. Sales of lunches always increased when Erika had a hand in the meal.

She retired from the school system after many years and took a full-time job at Harrisonics in Stamford. When Erika fully retired, she dedicated her time to her garden and the many flower beds that gave her great joy. She spent many hours outside puttering with her plants and helping them grow. She truly had a “green thumb”.

Erika made platters of Christmas cookies for the doctor’s offices, neighbors and family. Their primary care doctor once offered to invest in a business if she opened a bakery. Her homemade Black Forest Cake and cookies were that good.

Erika always made holidays special with a home-cooked meal and special desserts. She loved taking care of her family and the house. She was a talented carpenter and built multiple shelving units from scratch with no plans. Erika could figure out in her head what it should look like and then build it. She learned woodworking from her father.

Since the fall of 2025 Erika suffered from the effects of the COVID shot, including Multiple Myeloma cancer and bladder cancer. The bladder cancer significantly impacted kidney function causing acute onset dementia and eventually the need for bi-lateral kidney tubes after divine intervention saved her life in April 2024 from a bladder artery bleed.

Due to these health issues as well as husband Perry’s health issues, they relocated to Harrisburg, PA near daughter Karen. Traditional cancer treatments were not an option, so Erika was treated at home using various holistic and alternative methods.

A second life-saving divine intervention occurred in January 2025 with a critical kidney urine infection that spread into the bloodstream. Afterward, Erika went to rehab in Lebanon, PA, but due to financial and medical needs, this turned into a longer-term situation. She fell into a cycle of UTIs and antibiotics that continued to compromise an already strained immune system.

Erika said many times she wanted to beat the medical issues, but it became too much. She decided to leave her physical body and return to spirit form on June 20, 2025.

Erika is survived by her husband Perry Sentementes and daughter Karen Sentementes along with niece Inga Moller of NY and several cousins and nephews still living in Germany.

Erika was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Klara Caspart, brother Werner Caspart, sister Helga Krieger and grand dog Moose.

Dispensation of ashes will occur at a later date.

Cards or flowers for the family may be sent to: Karen Sentementes, 7724 Althea Ave, Harrisburg, PA, 17112

Or in honor of Erika’s lifetime love of gardening, memorial contributions may be made to:

The Penn Cumberland Garden Club, PO Box 304, Camp Hill, PA 17011-0150.

Indicate on the memo line of the check that it is a donation in memory of Erika Sentementes.

Arrangements by Cremation & Burial Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.