Lacey Mom Never Got To Hold Her Baby; She Died After COVID Battle

LACEY, NJ — Brittany Bodzak never had a chance to hold the baby in her arms, Donna Pizzi said.

Now a fundraiser has been set up for the Forked River mother of three children, including a 4-week baby girl, who died recently after a month-long battle with COVID-19.

Bodzak, 35, who died Wednesday, March 17, had two sons who were 6 and 2 years old, and her daughter was born at home while she was in quarantine due to COVID-19, according to a GoFundMe page organized for the children.

“While at home sick and in quarantine Brittany unexpectedly went into labor and delivered her baby girl at home in Forked River,” wrote Pizzi, the organizer of the fundraiser. “While her beautiful baby girl was born healthy, Brittany began her fight, on and off a ventilator. She eventually was unable to survive and lost her fight to COVID.

“Although the children are safe with their grandparents they will miss their mother. As they grow they will wonder about her and ask questions, they will want to know ‘why.’ As family and friends grieve, Brittany will be forever in our hearts and her memories cherished,” Pizzi said.

Bodzak graduated from Lacey Township High School in 2004, according to her obituary on riggsfuneralhome.com.

Brittany was predeceased by her paternal grandmother Edna Bodzak. She is survived by her parents Stephen and his wife Diane, and Donna and her husband Roger Johnson, children Jeremiah, Julian and Jocelyn, her siblings Stephen (Teresa), Nancie (Justin), Patrick, Danni and Najee (Paul). She is also survived by her maternal grandparents Allen and Camille Planer, two nephews, ten aunts and uncles, and 12 cousins.

Several community members wrote heartfelt messages on the GoFundMe page with their donations.

“RIP sweet angel. So sad. May God watch over your children & family in this very hard time,” one person wrote.

“It's the right thing to do. I've been blessed to pay it forward,” said another donor.

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