Obituary of Erna Kordesch

Erna Maria Kordesch passed away on November 20th, 2013 at the age of 91. She was born in Reichenau, Austria, near Vienna on September 8th, 1922. Erna loved science and nature, and she worked as a research assistant at the University of Vienna. She was especially interested in plants and later in life studied botany at the University in Graz, Austria. While at the University of Vienna, Erna met Karl Viktor Kordesch, and they married on June 21, 1946. Their first two children, Joanna Paterson and Albert Kordesch were born in Vienna. Joanna currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Albert in Penang, Malaysia.Erna and Karl immigrated to the US in 1953. Two additional children were born in the US, Catherine Kordesch of Eugene, Oregon, and Martin Kordesch of The Plains, Ohio. The family lived in Lakewood, Ohio, for many years. After raising their family, Erna and Karl lived for a time in Toronto, Canada, and Graz, Austria. Erna and Karl moved to Eugene in 2008, where they became an active part of the community at Cascade Manor. Karl passed away in 2011. Erna was a regular participant in the monthly Teddy Bear Picnic, stuffing teddy bears that would ultimately be adopted by disadvantaged children. She also loved to sharpen her mind and her wit at Memory Class. But Erna was always happiest when visited by her beloved grandchildren: Nick, Kristina, Wendy and Alina Kordesch, Chris and Karen Fryefield, and Jean Fleming.A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Eugene at 12:15 pm on Monday, November 25th. Burial will be at Masonic Cemetery following the Mass. Donations to The Nature Conservancy in honor of Erna’s love of the natural world would be greatly appreciated by the family.Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com