Erika (Reinecke) Vakerlis of Burlington died on Thursday, July 13, at the Courtyard Nursing Care Center of Medford. Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Karl and Kate (Fingerle) Reinecke. Erika came to the U.S. in 1948, settling first in Somerville, then moving to Burlington in 2002.
Erika was the beloved wife of the late Demosthenes Vakerlis, and is survived by her son George Vakerlis and his wife Josephine of Malden, and her devoted daughter Katrina Radochia and her husband Leonard Jr. of Burlington. She was the loving grandmother of Leonard Radochia III and his wife Melissa of Burlington, Marissa Vakerlis of Michigan, and the loving great grandmother of William and Gretta Radochia. Erika is also survived by her sister Herta Vofrei of Germany and her late husband Fredi.
A funeral service will be conducted in Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 17 Meriam St., Lexington, on Tuesday, July 18 at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with burial at Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Visiting hours in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, on Monday, July 17, from 4 through 8 PM.