Obituary of Erika Arbolino

Erika (Pignitter) Arbolino died last night in her sleep after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Graz, Austria and immigrated to the USA in 1966. She learned English and Italian-American customs on her own. She was very proud to have learned English quickly and to have erased her German accent, and doubly proud to be a citizen of the USA. She was a homemaker and a mother until her children were able to stay home alone. She worked at Rea's Tavern, a local family-owned business for many years until her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had to retire from his job. She then taught herself how to type and joined the business world at Logos Corporation, a linguistics company in Rockaway, NJ, where she was promoted to office manager in a short two-year span. Upon retiring, she was the best grandmother around.

She was predeceased by her father Franz Pignitter, her mother Amalia Pignitter and her brother Franz Pignitter, of Graz, Austria. She was also predeceased by her father-in-law James N. Arbolino, her mother-in-law Antoinette Arbolino, and her husband Joseph A. Arbolino.

She is survived by her son James F. Arbolino, his wife Nichole Arbolino and their son Joseph Arbolino, her daughter Nicol Arbolino and her daughters Alexa Neish and Holly Neish, and her lifelong best friend Dolores Dalessandro.

Erika's Life Celebration will include a memorial visitation on Monday July 15, 2024 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, 150 Landing Road, Landing, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Erika's memory to Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.