Fundraiser launched for corrections officer killed by cancer

A fundraiser to that would have helped pay the mortgage of a Wallington mom and Hudson County Corrections Officer with cancer will now go toward a memorial fund. Watch video

WALLINGTON -- A fundraiser to that would have helped pay the mortgage of a Wallington mom and Hudson County Corrections Officer with cancer will now go toward a memorial fund.

Erika Coy died early Wednesday of kidney cancer. She was 39.

U.S. Soccer Heroes, a Hudson County nonprofit that holds soccer events to raise money for law enforcement officers in need, first launched a fundraiser for Coy in late January, said Alex Lalaoui, founder of the group. The group also organized a pickup soccer tournament Feb. 15 on her behalf.

When Lalaoui learned Coy died at 2 a.m. Wednesday he opted to go even further. U.S. Soccer Heroes raised their GoFundMe fundraising goal from $15,000 to $50,000, to go toward funeral arrangements and to establish an educational fund for her four children, Jaylin, 14, Jana, 12, Joey, 8 and Jaela, 6.

The GoFundMe had raised more than $13,000 as of Wednesday, including hundreds of dollars raised as word of Coy's death spread.

"It's already an amazing turnout from our community," Melinda Vickerman, director of U.S. Soccer Heroes, said.

Lakia Gaillard, acting president of the PBA Local 109, representing Hudson County Corrections Officers, said many officers donated vacation days to keep Coy in the payroll since her diagnosis in November. They sold "Team Coy" wristbands and donated toys and clothes to her children.

Now that Coy has died, they'll help pay for arrangements and escort her family from their Wallington home to wherever they decide to have services. Gaillard said Coy, who stood just 4 feet, 9 inches tall, commanded an outsize amount of authority at the Hudson County Jail in Kearny, where she was known as "The General."

"You never saw her face, you just heard her voice," Gaillard said. "You'd think it was a huge lady speaking."

Cesar Coy, Erika's brother, said any help the family received to help pay for the education of her children. She worked hard to support her family and and helped mediate many family disputes, he said.

Coy was born in Colombia in 1976 and immigrated to America with her family in 1983. She grew up in Union City. For the past 12 years she's lived in Wallington where she, her children and husband Joey were involved local recreation programs.

"Thank you to anyone and everyone who supports the kids," Cesar said. "It's just beyond words.

Viewings are scheduled for Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Warner-Wozniak Funeral Service, 80 Midland Ave., Wallington. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 127 Paterson Ave., Wallington.

The pickup soccer tournament is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 180 9^th St. in Jersey City. A $20 donation will go toward Coy's family and allow participation in five on five pickup games.