Elaine Lambrides Eriksen

Indestructible until the Lord called her home, Elaine obediently answered His call, and stepped into eternity on December 30, 2025.

Born in Jamaica (Queens), New York, to Constantine George (Gus) & Martha Pappas Lambrides, Elaine spent her early years in the bucolic, Long Island suburb of Woodbury. She met the love of her life, Peter Allen Eriksen, and they became high school and youth group sweethearts. Both their families attended Bible Baptist Church, and Elaine & Pete graduated from Syosset High School in 1960 & 1961 respectively.

Elaine graduated from Houghton College in 1965 with her Bachelor of Arts in Education whilst having maintained a long-distance relationship with Pete as he served in the military and worked in NYC. On April 2,1966, Elaine & Pete were married in Syosset, New York. In 1969, they left their New York home and families to attend the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Elaine graduated with her Master of Education while teaching elementary school in Alabama. In 1970, Elaine & Pete welcomed their daughter, Kristy Lynn.

After graduating from Alabama, Pete’s career whisked their small family on a tour of the south, residing in Florida, Georgia, and eventually San Antonio, Texas, where they welcomed their son, Jonathan Marcus, in 1974. In 1976, the Midwest beckoned, and the Eriksens spent six years in Columbus, Ohio, before Pete’s developing manufacturing career landed him a position in Indianapolis, where they settled into life in the suburb of Carmel the last 42+ years.

Despite her background in education, Elaine never returned to the classroom once life led them to Indy. Instead, in the mid 80’s Elaine developed her own business, KEY Interiors. Tapping her meticulous skills as a wallpaper technician, she spent the next 20+ years installing wallpaper in countless homes all over the suburbs of Indianapolis.

As she approached her retirement years, the physical toll of installing wallpaper led Elaine to hang up her ladder for the last time. And in 2004, she joined her son, Jonathan, entering the world of residential real estate. For another 20+ years, Elaine served as a Buyer’s Consultant under the umbrellas of Keller Williams Realty, Encore Sotheby’s International Realty, and Circle Real Estate. Her passion for her clients was evident every day of her career as a Realtor®.

She loved making connections. She had a strong passion for her international clientele and establishing cultural connections, sensitivity, and awareness. She developed seminars to come alongside everyone, from first-time buyers to empty-nesters. She led scripts and dialogue training for fellow brokers. She loved learning and growing in her craft and passing that knowledge on to her clients. If you met her in line at the grocery store, you left with her card. If she smiled at you at church, you were her client. If you served her at a restaurant, she made sure you knew she was a broker. When she closed out a deal with a buyer, she loved telling friends that she had a new vacancy in the front seat of her car if anyone was looking for a home. She was magnetic and passionate about the career that was only intended to be a fun time-filler during her retirement years. In the weeks leading up to her passing, she referred two more potential clients to Jonathan and was incredibly disappointed to miss her annual continuing education training.

Running parallel to her successful career in real estate was Elaine’s successful career as a grandmother to Natalie Ruth and Henry Gus. She got to hold each on the days they were born, and they got to hold her as she approached eternity. Elaine relished the role of being a grandma.

The backdrop of her entire life was a strongly rooted, simple faith as a Believer in Jesus Christ. Elaine spent her entire life sharing her faith. There was no lack of clarity regarding where she stood on her love for the Lord and her hope for eternity. She wove her faith into her marriage, her family, her career, and her relationships. Elaine & Pete spent the last 30 years as members of College Park Church. She was involved in Bible studies, women’s ministries, small groups, and served in leadership roles including Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and Christian Women’s Club.

Elaine leaves behind (temporarily): her beloved husband of 60 years, Pete, of Carmel, her children, Kristy Eriksen of Chicago, IL, and Jonathan (& Stephanie) Eriksen of Indianapolis, her grandchildren, Natalie Eriksen and Henry (& Emma Deters) Eriksen, her sister Athena Siddiqui and her brother, George (& Linda) Lambrides, her step-sisters, Peggy (& Norm) Mindrebo, Sally (& Mark) John, Kathy (& Ray) Albrektson, and Karen Berns. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gus & Martha Lambrides, as well as her stepmother, Marty Berns Lambrides, and her stepbrother, Don Berns.

Elaine’s visitation will be at 4pm on January 15, 2026. The funeral will be at 11am on January 16, 2026. BOTH will be at College Park Church 2606 W. 96th Street, Indianapolis, 46268. Elaine’s ashes will be interned at Crown Hill National. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Won-By-One an organization developed, in part, by her children and grandchildren to provide educational opportunities to children in Liberia, West Africa: https://wonbyonecontact.wixsite.com/won-by-one