- Date Of Birth: February 19, 1977
- Date Of Death: November 13, 2021
- State: Colorado
It is heartbreaking to announce the death of Erica (Snyder-Notz) Moeller, who left this world far too soon on Nov. 13, 2021. She entered her heavenly home at the earthly age of 44 yrs, 9 months and 24 days. Although Erica had been fighting Metastatic Breast cancer for several years, she had been working, living and loving life until she experienced rather sudden complications from this horrible disease that took her life.
Erica was born on Feb. 19, 1977, at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Co. She was the firstborn child of her proud parents, Jill and Hugh Snyder-Notz. When Erica was 3 months old, the family moved to Conifer, Colorado, where she was raised. Two younger siblings, Melissa and Caleb, joined her in their mountain home where they were raised on John Denver music, along with many animals, and free range parenting. The three kids loved playing outside, eating dinner every night as a family, and watching tons of videos over and over given the lack of cable tv on Conifer Mountain. There were sounds of Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, and always, John Denver playing in the house and car. Erica was always a responsible child, good student, had a great sense of humor, and loved her family and all animals.
When Erica was 11, she fell in love with horses. She had a beautiful black quarter horse named Tasia that she loved more than anything. Tasia and Erica built the greatest relationship, trust, and bond that helped Erica enjoy her Westernaire experience for 9 years. She knew how to study after many years of diagramming drills, learned about teamwork, and experienced how powerful that horse/rider relationship can be. Erica was devastated when her beloved horse, Tasia, died after performing in the stock show one year. She continued with her love of horses while working with her brother’s horse Lakota (which Erica still owns to this day 30+ years later). Together, they became part of the Varsity Red Team and graduated from Westernaires in 1995 when she left for college.
We heard many stories of the cute boy named Jeff when Erica was 14 and a student at Evergreen High School. Erica enjoyed many slumber parties with her many friends, school happenings and Westernaire events to keep her busy throughout her teen years. Erica graduated from Evergreen High School in 1995.
Erica earned a B.A. degree from University of Colorado/Boulder where she majored in Anthropology with many science credits. She went on to Western State Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon, where she earned her Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine, Magna Cum Laude, Valedictorian of her class. She returned to Colorado and soon opened her own practice, Stepping Stones Chiropractic, in Littleton, Co. Erica loved her patients and enjoyed working with Stasia and Rikki throughout these years. She was a believer in Chiropractic Medicine and had been working with many of her patients since the beginning of her practice.
Erica was one of the most beautiful and kind human beings one could ever hope to know. She had a gentle strength, courage that words cannot describe, much knowledge to help inspire and educate others, and a wisdom this world has never known. She was smart, pretty, funny, conscientious, loving, compassionate, thoughtful, and one of the best car trip companions one could ever want! She was “the whole package”, as her Aunt Mary would say about her. Erica was opinionated, but thoughtful; she disliked and avoided conflict and confrontations; she could be sassy and salty, if appropriate and necessary. She liked healthy foods, great bargains, shoes and jackets, Taylor Swift, and John Denver. Her DVR still has shows she liked watching like Teen Mom, 1000 # woman and every Dateline she hadn’t had time to watch. She loved a good crime/mystery show and she went to many “Nights with the Coroner” events. Erica loved to cook and could put a tremendous meal together in a short period of time with whatever she had in the fridge. She could fit more dishes in her dishwasher than anyone would ever think possible.
Erica was a firm proponent of spaying/neutering pets and rescuing, not buying pets and/or any animal. She taught all to respect bugs and spiders and take them outside as opposed to squishing them. Erica is the only person I know who would be so happy to find a beautiful red lady bug in her romaine lettuce at Sweet Tomatoes! She scooped it up in a napkin, to find it had survived, triple washing, and was alive. She took it outside with a smile and put it in the landscaping to live out it’s natural life.
After a 20 year crush from high school and parties during college days, Erica made the most gorgeous bride when she and Jeff Moeller were married on a beautiful day at the Evergreen Lake House on June 4, 2011. They bought a house in Littleton, Co. and began a good life together while working, playing, traveling, and loving life. Erica was elated for a whole year with a fox family that came to live in their backyard. She had researched and then treated wild “Willard the fox” for mange. He/she, in turn, gave them six little fox kits to provide many hours of wildlife entertainment. She went on to treat other foxes and coyotes that were affected by mange. She liked to think the healthy ones she saw were ones she treated or their offspring. Erica became a foster Mom to many kittens and adult cats during the last few years and had great success matching her perfect orphans with the best forever homes. Her last placement of two kittens was during her final stay in the hospital. Her passion and love of animals was constant and never ending.
In 2014, Erica was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was frustrated that her own body was not receptive to her healthy practices and lifestyle, consequently not fighting off the cancer. She went into aggressive treatment quickly, and after two years she was nearly in remission.
After medical authorities told Erica and Jeff it was unlikely they would be able to have children, Erica was given permission by her physicians to go off medications for three months to see if she was able to conceive a baby. Erica’s dreams came true when they found out she was expecting their miracle baby girl. Wren Merit Moeller was born on Aug 26, 2017, and became the highlight of Jeff and Erica’s life and the center of their world. Erica and Jeff made a wonderful and loving home in which to raise Wren, full of love and happiness. Wren carries on her Momma’s compassion and kind heart. Along with looking exactly like Erica, Wren shares Erica’s love for animals and caring for them, wholeheartedly. Erica was able to see Wren develop a love for horses with Erica’s own horses, Lakota and Taninka. Erica loved seeing a horse that she rode and loved as a child being taken on by her own daughter. Wren also loves music and enjoyed singing alongside Erica to every song knowing every word. Erica will always be with Wren as anyone can see and feel after being near Wren.
Erica and Jeff were devastated when they received news that the cancer had crept back into Erica’s body in 2018.
Erica made good use of every hour God gave her. Erica would rarely slow down. During the month of November, Erica had just completed her continuing education classes for the next couple of years, Thanksgiving had been planned, Christmas presents bought and new clothing for work had arrived in the mail. Erica was excited for Wren to get her first haircut, to go through the 25 new vintage books she had ordered for Wren which arrived a couple of days after she passed away. Erica had decided she would buy 17 birthday cards and write on them in the event she wasn’t here to give them to Wren but had not gotten that done, yet. There was so much scrapbooking left to do. And, she hadn’t gotten the time to paint the dollhouse ….
Thank you to the Drinkwine Family Mortuary for their final earthly care of Erica.
Survivors left to grieve Erica’s loss and relive wonderful memories are Erica’s Husband Jeffrey Moeller, Daughter Wren Merit Moeller, Most loved pets Linzy, Bradley, Heidi, Silver, and Sprocket, the longest living red slider turtle, ever, all of Littleton, CO. Her parents Jill Snyder Porter, Littleton, CO. and Hugh Notz(Regina), Denver, CO. Sister Melissa Dunlap (Casey) Aurora, CO. and Brother Caleb Snyder-Notz (Emily Hale), Littleton, CO.; stepsisters Cailin and Kerry Doran, both of NY.
Parents-in-law Tom and Lori Moeller, Evergreen, CO.; Brothers in law Kevin Moeller (Atsuko}, Lakewood, CO. and Eric Moeller (Tammy), Littleton, CO.
Niece and nephew Elizabeth and Aiden Moeller, both of Littleton, CO
Aunts Gayle Sumner, Albuquerque, NM; Patty Notz Keesling, Elizabeth,CO. First Cousins Jason Sumner, Ballard, WA; Monica Sumner, Gig Harbor, WA; Jody Barnes (Wayne) and Mindy and Layne Kessling, all of Elizabeth, CO. Cousin Debbie Waggoner, Columbia, MO, many other cousins, friends, special patients, and fellow animal rescuers. .
Among Erica’s first greeters were her beloved horse, Tasia, special dogs Faith and Carolina, Kirby the cat, along with equally loved dogs, cats, raccoon, pig, horses, pony, donkey, ducks, geese, llamas, rabbits and sheep. Erica also joins her Stepfather, Russ Porter, Grandparents Robert and Marjorie Snyder, Wilson Bowers, Ted Notz, Emaline Notz, and Aunt Mary and Uncle Jim O’Neill and many others. And, Erica has met Solo!
Erica was there to greet her sweet little black potcake dog, Lucas, who joined her shortly after her death. He was a Momma’s boy and his broken heart likely expedited his trip.
Erica’s family wishes to thank Dr. Kono, Dr. Acharya and Dr. Spenser for all of your expert and loving care of Erica. We know you tried to do everything possible to extend and save Erica’s life.
Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO
