Erica April Vaughn-Fisher

Erica April Vaughn-Fisher, daughter of Matthew Vaughn and the late Janice (P.K.) L. Downing, was born April 7, 1965 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. After a courageous four-year battle with cancer, she passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2016, surrounded by family, at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Erica, also known as April, had so much personality that she always answered to two first names. To Erica, names and nicknames meant a lot and said a lot about a person. This is why Chandler Bing, Chayse Face, Chain Chain, Little Miss and Hunter Bunter Boo, to this day, proudly answer to the special nicknames that Mommy and Auntie bestowed upon them. Erica grew up in Jamesburg, NJ and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in South Amboy, NJ. After High school she moved to South River, New Jersey. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Post University. In 1996, she met and married Mark A. Fisher and they had three beautiful daughters. As a young woman, Erica’s passion for fashion led her to the New York garment district, where she worked in wholesale buyer showrooms and well-known retail stores such as Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s on Herald Square. Once she became a mother, Erica enjoyed nothing more than doting on her daughters. She proudly became the local “Helicopter Mom,” known at her daughters’ schools for starting playgroups and participating in the PTA, while happily chauffeuring her girls to regattas, horseback riding, fencing and harp lessons. Her love for working with children and preparing them for the future, paved the way for her to become a substitute teacher in the South River, New Jersey school district. In addition, Erica’s strong entrepreneurial spirit propelled her to develop a successful home-based business, called Creative Cupcakes & More, that thrived from the West coast, where she lived in CA for six years, to the East coast, where she lived for the last six years. For those of you that had the pleasure of sampling Erica’s tasty treats, you know that these delicacies could have easily won the Cupcake Wars, one of her many favorite reality TV shows. Erica didn’t just march to the beat of a different drum, she danced to her own tune. If there was a rule, she broke it, and if there wasn’t a rule, she made it up as she went along. As happy go lucky as she was, Erica possessed an indomitable spirit and bravery beyond belief. She was always optimistic and fierce. She relied on these traits to power through the fight of her life. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, awesome sense of humor and contagious laugh, as well as her generous heart that will continue to shower love on her beloved family and friends forever. Erica was predeceased by her mother, Janice L. Downing. She leaves to cherish her memory, her father, Matt Vaughn (Willa); her husband, Mark Fisher; three daughters, Chandler, Chayse and Chaney; two sisters, Cynthia Vessel and Cristal Downing-Jeffries (John); one brother, Brandon Downing; nephews, Shkire, Jeremiah and Hunter; nieces Taylor , Skylar, Harmony, Kylee and Gabriella; her father-in-law Mark H. Fisher (Annette); three sister-in-laws; one brother-in-law and a host of many other nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and dear friends.

Erica April Vaughn-Fisher

April 7, 2016 - August 1, 2016