Erika Dietrich Bolt

December 1, 2020

Erika Virginia Bolt, age 84, of Whiting, passed away peacefully on December 1st following a year and a half battle with cancer. Born in Port Washington, Long Island on January 6, 1936, she was raised by German immigrant parents who taught her about hard work and overcoming adversity. Erika spent her life caring about and for others, openly sharing their joys and sorrows. Anyone that knew her was moved by her spirit. She was never one to complain, despite the many health challenges she faced in the latter part of her life. Her trust and strong faith in God always carried her through. She leaves behind her loving husband Frank, her sister Alice, step-brother Karl Jennings, as well as four children, Don Bolt, Frank and Beth Bolt, Kathy and Clem Falone and Lisa and Walt Berghahn, 7 grandchildren Bryan, Rachel, Jesse, Laura, Wes, Erich, Kevin and 3 great-grandchildren, Rylee, Emma and Cameron. All will miss her warm smile and loving hugs, her genuine interest in their lives, achievements and dreams. She was always interested in how things had been and where they were going. She was so proud of them all. During their 65 years of marriage, Erika and Frank lived in the Bronx, NY, Pompton Lakes, Jackson and Toms River NJ, with a brief stint in Iran. Over the years, they enjoyed frequent visits to and from relatives in Germany. While they traveled many places, their favorites were Sea Isle City NJ, various parts of Florida but especially Disney and Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. Erika and Frank passed down a lifelong love for summer vacations in Sea Isle to both their children and their grandchildren, including a love of crabbing, mini-golf, pizza and rides on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Erika enjoyed the beauty of nature in all its forms, whether a sunrise over the ocean, the intricate patterns of clouds in the sky, the vast array of flowers she found in every garden she could visit or the call of a Loon on a quiet New Hampshire morning. An avid gardener, she inherited her green thumb from her father who had been the leading horticulturist at the NYC Botanical Gardens while she was growing up. She had a deep love for music, which began with a violin as a young child and continued throughout her life in church choirs. She was a friend to many, always ready with a kind word or offer to help. In the short time of her passing, a noticeable void has already been created. Hopefully all will rejoice at the memory of a kind word or gesture that will bring to mind Erika. Her family takes comfort in knowing that she is watching over them, waiting for the time when they will be together again, encircled in her loving arms, feeling the warmth of that wonderful smile we remember so well. Visitation will be Mon. Dec. 7 from 2-4 & 6-8pm at Carmona Bolen Home for Funerals, 66 Lacey Rd., Whiting. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at Ocean County Baptist Church, Toms River. Interment will follow at the NJ Veteran’s Cemetery, Arneytown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to www.Angelic.Health or the American Cancer Society.