Kendall Park, NJ – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Martha (Sawyer) Briefer, beloved Aunt, at her home in Kendall Park, NJ, on Sunday December 8 at the age of 84. Marti was born on March 18, 1940 in Marlborough, MA to Irene (Izzo) and William Sawyer.
Marti graduated from Hudson High School then went on to attend the Worcester Teaching College, majoring in Early Childhood Education. After living in South Carolina and Pennsylvania, she thrived in New Jersey in the same home for nearly six decades.
Her work life included Boy Scouts of America, Stearns & Fosters, and Canon, where she earned the 2004 Canon National Spirit Award (one of only 25 National Honorees). Her last employer was Home Depot in Monmouth Junction, NJ, where she earned many accolades and enjoyed helping customers and making friends for over a decade until retirement. Even after retiring, Marti could often be found visiting Home Depot to chat and check things out.
To say that Marti loved sewing, knitting and crocheting would be an understatement. Her home was filled with yarn, fabric and every tool of her craft. She was always working on one project or another and had just finished making a Christmas tree skirt as a wedding present for her newly married great-niece.
Marti was predeceased by her parents and her brother-in-law Tom. She is survived by her sister Lynda Bissonnette, nieces Michelle (Bruce) Whiting, Renee (Sandy) Mathes and Claudine Bissonnette, and great-nieces and -nephews Christofer Whiting, Kimberly (Nicholas) Langlois, Jack Whiting, Thomas Mathes, Molly Mathes and Grace Mathes. She also leaves behind her New Jersey family of Lisa and Bill Courtney, Brian Courtney, and Jessica (Ricardo) Da Silva and their children Stella and Hunter. Marti’s big personality and caring ways will be missed dearly both by her family as well as the many friends in her neighborhood.
A memorial service was held at Gleason Funeral Home in Somerset, NJ on Saturday December 14.
