We mourn the loss of Erika Weber

With great sorrow and deep sadness, we say farewell to our dear friend Erika Weber, the long-time chairwoman of the Association of Germans in Estonia and a loyal companion of the FUEN and the FUEN Working Group of German Minorities (AGDM). Erika passed away on 7 April 2025, at the age of 81 in her homeland of Estonia. With her passing, we have lost a warm-hearted personality who worked for many years with great commitment for the interests of the German minority in Estonia – and for our common European minority family.

As a Baltic German with a multi-layered life and family history, Erika was a living example of the complex identities in our Europe. Her life was characterised by the great upheavals of the 20th century – by separation, loss, but also by courage, new beginnings and the determination to carry on. Anyone who listened to her felt that she not only told, but lived what many of us only know from history books.

Erika was also an integral part of the FUEN and AGDM for many years. Whether at FUEN congresses, AGDM meetings, or as a host in Tallinn – she was always present: reliable, attentive, open. She never sought the spotlight. But everyone who met her remembers her. Her calm demeanor, her sincerity, her dry humor – we will miss it all.

Erika’s dedication to German culture in Estonia, to remembrance and understanding, has left a mark – on us and on many others. She was a quiet fighter. And precisely because of that, she remains so vividly in our memories.

Our thoughts are with her family and all those who were close to her.

Dear Erika, thank you for everything. We will not forget you.

Rest in peace.

Photo: Marion Hahnfeldt