WIMMER (nee Novak), ERIKA BRIGITTE TAMARA - March 16, 1932 –March 16, 2023. Erika, loving mother and mother-in-law to Monique and Arik and Gerald (Gerry) and Lori. Adored by her grandchildren Maia, Julian and Oren Auerbach and Jake and Kyle Wimmer. Daughter to the late Ernest and Siglinde (nee Kasper) Novak. Loving sister to Benno Novak and aunt to Stephane and Marc.

Born in Maribor, Slovenia, Erika grew up in Dubrovnik, Croatia and then Leibnitz and Graz, Austria before emigrating to Montreal, Canada in 1951, shortly thereafter moving to Toronto.

Erika was a very loving and supportive mother who always put her children’s well-being first. She was also a dedicated nurse and, for over 40 years, worked shifts around the clock at Toronto’s Women’s College Hospital, first in the maternity ward and later in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Erika was elegant, but also a very kind soul who befriended anyone. She consistently donated to charities for both human and animal causes. While she was grateful to be living in Canada, Erika was a European at heart. True to her European upbringing, she was a patron of the Arts. While her study of ballet was curtailed due to World War II, her passion was not. Erika was a supporter of The National Ballet of Canada and The Canadian Opera Company, as well as an avid reader. However, her first love remained the music of the Waltz, which was true to her heritage.

All who knew Erika knew her as being very kind-hearted and appearing many years younger than she was. She passed away on the day of her 91st birthday, which is significant in itself, as the completion of a life cycle.

A special thank you to Ana, her home caregiver for several years, and to the devoted medical and care team at One Kenton Place, all of whom treated her like a mother of their own.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National Ballet of Canada (416-345-9595) and/or the Alzheimer Society of Canada (416-488-8772) www.alzheimer.ca