Erika Kochey

Erika Kochey, daughter of the late Sebastian and Amalie Miehler and wife of late Frank Kochey, passed peacefully at home on March 31, 2019 at 82-years-old in Chester, VA. Born in Berlin Germany and a longtime resident of Sparta, she arrived in New York City on January 28, 1953 aboard the S.S. United States at the age of 16. Erika owned and operated Conn Travel in Morristown in the 1980s and 1990s and loved to travel, both with and without her clients. Her retirement led to allowing her creativity to flow as she sold decorative floral arrangements and loved making jams and jellies from fruits she picked herself, as well as creating beautiful needlepoint art. She has knit copious amounts of baby hats, blankets, and booties for the young infants that may be in need as well as hats and scarves for adults in need to battle the cold NJ winters. She is survived by her sister Gerda Herger, son Gary Kochey, his wife Carol and their children Amanda and Ian, her son-in-law Andrew Smetana and granddaughter Christy. Erika is predeceased by her daughter Valerie and husband Frank. Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 10-11 a.m. at Goble Funeral Home 22 Main St., Sparta. Funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Sparta Cemetery.