November 16 2018: LAKE, Erika “Ricky”

Erika “Ricky” Lake

Died peacefully November 10, 2018 at her home in Silver Spring, Maryland.   Born on December 6, 1931 in Frankfurt, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Friedrich and Selma Zins.

Erika immigrated with her family to New York in 1946, settling first on the Lower East Side and later in the Bronx. Erika attended vocational school and trained and worked as a cosmetologist. While also working at a local movie theater, Erika met and then married the late Jack Lerch in 1956, eventually moving to Hillsdale, New Jersey in 1960 to raise their four children. In the ‘80s, Erika moved to Maryland, continued her work as a cosmetologist and later met and married the late Paul Lake. Erika spent her senior years as a member of the Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, MD.  Her greatest passion was to travel frequently to New Jersey, Wisconsin and North Carolina in order to build close relationships with each of the nine grandchildren she treasured. When not traveling, she loved playing Mahjong and dining daily with her many friends who will miss her dearly.

In addition to her parents, Erika was pre-deceased by her sister, Inge Hacker, with whom she shared a special bond. Erika’s beautiful smile and loving spirit will survive in those she leaves behind: her children Victor (Susan), Judy Olson (Jeff), Mark (Gayle) and Carol; her nine adoring grandchildren Corey, Carleigh, Erin, Stephanie, Cynthia, Kyle, Will, Casey and Andrew; and her nieces and nephews Linda, Victor, Robert, David, Elinor and their children. Their lives are her legacy.

A memorial service and celebration of Erika’s life will be held on Dec. 2, 2018 at 1 pm in the Riderwood Village Chapel, Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to The Blue Card Fund in New York or Wings of Love Kuwait in Baltimore.