August 12, 1933 - January 9, 2019 ~
Luzia Hildegard Berger-Sikorsky was born August 12, 1933 in Dittersbach Waldenburg, Germany to parents Emille Anders and Hermann Berger. Luzia was the third child of six; Regina, Ehrhardt, Hubert, Rita and Alexander. The Berger family are survivors of WW II from the Eastern Germany. Luzia’s father, Hermann was drafted into the German army on the Eastern front in 1945. In 1947, the family was expelled from eastern Germany by freight train to western Germany, Osnabruck and resettled as displaced persons. The family was reunited one year later at the end of the war when their father returned. It was in Osnabruck, Germany where the family would remain. For Dittersbach Kreis Waldenburg would no longer exist as it then became a part of Austria.
Hermann and Emille raised their six children with understanding how important education was but also hard work. As young as the children were during the time of the war, their individual experiences
and recollections have remained etched within their hearts, and perhaps even too difficult to openly share at times. However, each grew up with an understanding of what it means to sacrifice, do without and be
strong. They understood fully what family meant and the importance of their family history, which would be passed along in generations to follow.
In 1955, Luzia traveled to Hamburg, Germany to become a nurse. She worked in a hospital for children with whom she always had an admiration for. She had an opportunity shortly thereafter to travel to the USA and work as a nanny for the Schaffer family in Philadelphia, Pa. (never realizing they’d become life long friends). She was the only member of her family to pick up and leave the homeland in search for the American dream. One year later, Luzia was offered another nanny position in NYC which provided grander opportunities. It was there her life would truly change as a young immigrant.
Luzia met her future husband, George K. Sikorsky at a German dance in the Lora Lei Dance Hall. They were married August 8, 1960 and lived in NYC for 3 years . During this time, Luzia became an American citizen on February 4, 1963. Something she never took for granted and held near & dear to her heart. George and Luzia moved out of the city and up to Spring Valley, NY. where they raised four sons, George, Kenneth, Gregory and Perry. Luzia also began to study the field of Nursing at Rockland Community College part time while raising their four sons. After graduating nursing school in the late 1970’s, she worked the next 20 years as a Psychiatric Nurse at Rockland Psychiatric Hospital before retiring in 1998.
Luzia is per-deceased by her parents Hermann & Emille Berger, brother Ehrhardt, sister, Regina and son, Gregory (FDNY Squad 41, Sept. 11, 2001). She is survived by her loving husband, George of 59 yrs, sons; George, Kenneth and Perry, daughter in-laws; Barbara, Marie and Maria and her six adoring grandchildren; Daniel, Kasey, Steven, Marisa, Kathryn and Amanda. Sister, Rita, brothers; Hubert and Alexander and many nieces and nephews of Germany which all remain very close to the Sikorsky family.
Luzia had many close friends within her community, and was very active in her church, St. Boniface and various German clubs such as the Eastern Star, of NYC. She will be truly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
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