FORT EDWARD & LAKE GEORGE --- Erna Spitzer, age 91, a resident of Lake George for many years, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2014 in the Plumeria Adult Home on Roger's Island, Fort Edward.

Erna was born on August 14, 1922 in Moos, in the region of Gottschee in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats & Slovenes, daughter of Georg Krisch and Maria Trocha. Her mother tongue was a now nearly extinct German dialect called Gottscheerisch that was straight out of the Middle Ages. She was raised on a small mountain farm with her 7 siblings. She was the last survivor of those siblings.

In 1941, the German Army had attacked and defeated what then had become Yugoslavia. In a deal between Hitler and Mussolini her homeland became part of Italy and Hitler moved the entire population of the Gottschee region, including her and most of her family to the Brezice area which had become part of the German Reich. The families were given new farms which were taken from expelled Slovenes on the border of Croatia. However, with the war going on, Yugoslav Partisans were raiding the German population who had replaced the ethnic Slovenians. Things were very unsettled and dangerous until Germany was defeated and then the German-speaking population had to flee for their lives toward Austria with the advancing partisan troops under Tito who were out for blood. She and her family were captured and separated.

They all wound up in partisan labor camps where the conditions were horrible. By chance she managed to get on a kitchen work detail feeding 80 partisan officers, so she was luckier than most in not having to worry where her next meal was coming from. The partisans moved her and the rest of the kitchen staff down south of Zagreb, Croatia. In February 1946, she was released by her captors and sent to the border of Austria. The Austrian government processed millions of war victims and through the Red Cross she learned that all her family had also survived the war. She was a displaced person, but the Austrian government found her work on a farm until her health gave out due to the hard work. In 1950, she and most of her family received permission to enter the U.S. as stateless persons and moved to Flushing, Queens, NY where a brother and sister already resided, reuniting the whole family that had been separated for four long years.

While working in Flushing, she met another refugee, Anton Spitzer, a barber. They were married at St. Michael's Church in Flushing on Dec.7, 1952. They spent many happy years in Flushing. In 1977, they moved to Lake George where she helped "Tony" run Lake George Barber Shop and Real Estate. When they retired, they moved to Ocala, Florida where they resided for 10 years until their health declined and they moved back to this area.

Erna's life was devoted to her faith and her family. She was especially proud of her two grandsons and one of her greatest joys was spending time with them. She greatly enjoyed sewing, gardening and art. She worked with watercolors and oils to create some lovely works as well as handmade greeting cards for family members.

In addition to her parents and siblings, Erna was predeceased by her beloved husband, Tony, on Oct. 7, 2009. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Deutschmann and son-in-law, Barry Deutschmann of Lake George, grandsons Adam Deutschmann and Josef Deutschmann, her sister-in-law, Theresa Clappis of Flushing, two nephews and several cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Sunday, April 27 ^th 5:00-7:00 PM at the Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home 11 Lafayette St. Queensbury. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Lake George on Monday, April 28th at 10:00 AM.

Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.

The family would like to express their gratitude to her caregivers Sue, Betty, Cindy, Melissa, Denise and Rita in Fort Edward and to Cherie Coe for her compassion and dedication in taking care of Erna's medical needs.

Donations in Erna's memory may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Renovation Fund, 50 Mohican St. Lake George.

Condolences may be mailed to Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or e-mailed through www.bakerfuneralhome.com .