Erma Marie Kersting was born November 24, 1929, to Henry and Erma (Anz) Hempen. She grew up alongside six brothers (five older), in one of the only German families living on The Hill.

She graduated from Southwest High School in 1948 a semester early, and soon began working in the billing department at Stix, Baer & Fuller, where she met several women who became life-long friends.

Those work friends convinced Erma to go on a blind date with a nice U.S. Air Force veteran named Raymond Kersting, who had recently returned from Japan. They fell in love and got married on May 29, 1954, and enjoyed 62 years of marriage in South St. Louis, Baden, Dellwood and Florissant. Together they raised four children: Diane Balogh (Jim), Joan Kersting, Bob Kersting and Tricia Reisinger (Eugene); and had three grandchildren: Nick Balogh, Steve Balogh (Isabel Ponte) and Madeline Gauch.

An excellent cook, Erma made it look easy to serve her family delicious meals every evening at exactly 5 p.m. Her family agrees that her lasagna is every bit as tasty as those in the best Italian restaurants found in her childhood neighborhood.

An artistic woman, she sewed scores of baby outfits, dresses and Halloween costumes; knitted and crocheted afghans with nary a dropped stitch; dabbled in stained glass artwork, and later in life took up watercolor painting. Her paintings received local recognition and today can be found displayed proudly in her children's homes.

Erma loved to travel and had many tales of her adventures. Like that time she returned a beach ball to Tony Bennett in Chicago, and that trip to Hawaii she won on the Regis and Kelly show by having Ray tape each day's episode so she was prepared for the daily quiz.

She was happiest when she was caring for others. Her volunteer efforts were many and wide: Girl Scout cookie chairman and troop leader, cafeteria hash-slinger/room mother/field trip chaperone at St. Sebastian grade school, seamstress of a quilt panel in the National AIDS Memorial that traveled across the country, and a long-time usher at the Fox Theatre.  Even in the last month of her life, Erma was often seen comforting fellow residents at Friendship Village.

Erma packed a lot of living into her nearly 96 years and will be fondly remembered for her bright smile and great, often wry, sense of humor.

Services: A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, in the Little Church at Ascension Catholic Church, 230 Santa Maria Drive, Chesterfield, Missouri, 63005, followed by a luncheon in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Forest Park Forever , PBS or a charity of your choice. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.