Ella "Sue" Erskine, 89, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on the morning of February 12, 2026, surrounded by prayer and the family she so fiercely loved.

Born on November 7, 1936, in a small farmhouse on the Kansas prairie during the heart of the Great Depression, Ella was one of eight children born to Czech immigrants, Joseph and Agnes Bezemek, who each came to this country unable to speak English but determined to build a better life. In a season when families survived by living off the land, her childhood was shaped by resilience and resourcefulness. As the second youngest of eight, she grew up surrounded by the steady rhythm of farm life and the example of her older siblings. Together they tended the fields, cared for livestock, and gathered around a table built from what they raised and preserved. From those early years, Ella absorbed the values of hard work, faith, humility, and perseverance that would shape the woman she became.

That strength never left her.

At a time when few women pursued higher education, Ella worked her way through business school, forging a path that reflected both her intelligence and her determination. She went on to build a long and respected career working with the State of North Carolina. Yet no professional accomplishment ever outshone what she considered her true calling: caring for her family.

Ella married the love of her life, Bill Erskine, a strikingly handsome military man who swept her off her feet. Together they built a life grounded in devotion, laughter, and perseverance while raising their two daughters. Throughout her career, Ella worked with the State of North Carolina in vocational rehabilitation, dedicating 36 years to helping individuals build skills, find purpose, and create independence in their own lives. She had a deep love for people and a natural ability to make others feel seen, valued, and capable. Whether at work or at home, she led with compassion, strength, and quiet determination. Even while working full time, she made her home a place of warmth, stability, and welcome for all who entered.

After Bill's sudden passing in 1998, her world shifted, but her strength did not. She endured. She kept going. She continued showing up for her daughters, her grandchildren, and everyone who depended on her steady presence.

Ella, or "Nanny," was lovingly known for her homemade cooking and baking, her gardening, and her generosity and love of people. Her kitchen was a gathering place. Her table was always open. She had a gentle sass, a sharp wit, and a quiet confidence that never needed to announce itself. She broke barriers without fanfare and carried herself with a steady reminder of life's simplest truth: love your neighbor.

Her faith anchored her life. In her final moments, surrounded by her family in prayer, she departed this world peacefully, leaving behind not just memories but a legacy of strength, service, and steadfast belief.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Bill Erskine; and her siblings Blanche Hammond, Ann Bezemek, Jim Bezemek, and George Bezemek.

She is survived by her daughters, Debbie Harrison and Cheryl Dyer; sons-in-law, Mark Harrison and David Dyer; siblings Ludwig Bezemek, Mary Clark, and Rosalind Jarrett; numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; her grandchildren Lindsey Barber (David), Leslie Rygiel (Aaron), Camilla Dellinger (Luke), and Ella Dyer (Biggs Hawley); and her great-grandchildren Tripp Barber, Harrison Barber, and Annie Dellinger.

Ella's legacy lives on in generations of strong-willed, kind, hardworking people who will continue to leave this world better than they found it.

To honor "Nanny's" memory, we invite you to prepare a meal and share it with a neighbor, someone you love, or someone in need, just as she so often did. Her kitchen was an extension of her heart, and feeding others was one of her purest expressions of love. The greatest tribute to her life is to love boldly, serve faithfully, and keep showing up for the people God places in your path.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026, with a graveside service to follow.