About

Erica was born on September 29, 2001, to Bill and Donna Diedrichsen. Since she was young, she loved to learn and was an avid reader. Erica is known for her beautiful smile and upbeat personality.  A teacher nicknamed her “Smiley” due to her constant and infectious smile. Erica was engaged in many activities from ice skating, gold, tennis, girl scouts, Pop Warner Dance, soccer and softball. She was willing to try new things and was adventurous as she got older.  

Erica has one brother William and one sister Ava. Erica is the oldest child of the family. She enjoyed the beaches and warm weather, and it aided her in determining to go to college in Florida. She decided on USF where she earned a Presential scholarship. Erica is a Sigma Kappa and made lifelong friendships. She majored in biomedical sciences and had dreams of patient care and working within the medical field. She graduated early from USF summa cum laude. After graduating with her Bachelor of Science from the University of South Florida, Erica was attending Rutgers University in the Biostatistics Program in Public Health. Again, showing Erica’s love for learning. Elementary teachers as far back as sixth grade commented on Erica’s love to learn attitude within the classroom. 

Her presence had a way of illuminating even the darkest of rooms, reminding us all of the transformative power of joy and compassion. Like a butterfly – beautiful, sought after, yet unassuming and gentle – Erica brightened the lives of those around her. She possessed a rare gift – the ability to make everyone she met feel as they were seen, heard, and valued. 

Her compassion and dedication to lifting others’ spirits were evident in the countless hours she spent volunteering with various organizations, giving back to her community. From visiting various groups to supporting those in need, Erica’s selflessness knew no bounds. She saw not strangers, but potential friends, fellow travelers in this journey of life. Erica’s hard work and selflessness left an indelible mark on our town. She was a beacon of hope, a reminder that even one person can make a world of difference