Erika Maul

It’s with a heavy heart that I write that Erika Maul unexpectedly passed away peacefully on the 19th of November 2023. I’m heartbroken but I know she’s now with our departed family at peace.

I am her only son. This fundraiser helps me to pay her funeral according to her last wishes so that I can bury her with dignity and respect. I am working to arrange a date and time for the service. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Erika's Story.

In 1946, my mom was born in Bad Honnef Germany just after the war. She had a very fascinating childhood, but eventually developed wonder lust and a desire to visit the United States. She spent some time in the 1960s-70s exploring America and then returned to Europe where she met my father, married, and had me. After a few years, it wasn't working out with my father and she missed the States, so she made plans to return.

After making the appropriate arrangements, my mother followed her dream to immigrate to New York from Germany. My mom was strong, working to ensure a bright future for her son. Despite the challenges of raising a child on her own, Erika's love, determination, and her friends from Budd's in Queens Jackson Heights ensured we had a rich life.

As the years passed, Erika moved to Arizona and then to Tampa Bay in Florida. In Tampa, Erika found a new rhythm beneath the warm Florida sun. We embraced the slower pace of life, the salty breeze from the Gulf, and the vibrant culture of the Sunshine State. Erika's sacrifices bore fruit as I finally started to do well in school, attended university, and joined the military. During this time she built herself a nice little forever home in Palm Harbor where she was determined to spend the rest of her days.

Despite her unwavering dedication, life dealt Erika a series of difficult blows in her later years. Health issues and financial struggles became constant companions, and as the sun set on her life, Erika found herself in a situation she never anticipated – destitute and in need of help. Social security never kept up with the ever-increasing cost of living, so I had been paying her insurance, property taxes, and maintenance emergencies while some local friends had been helping her directly with chores.

Erika has passed away, leaving me the heavy burden of arranging a funeral for the person who has given me everything. This GoFundMe campaign allows me to give my mother the dignified farewell she deserves. Your compassion and community allow me to ensure her enduring legacy of a single mom who, against all odds, created a life filled with love and hope for her son.