January 31, 2015
Griesmer, Marguerite V.
Marguerite Valian Griesmer died peacefully on January 27, 2015 at the age of 95. The oldest daughter of Michael and Victoria Valian, Marguerite was born May 20, 1919 in Brantford, Ontario, before moving as a young girl with her family to Detroit, Michigan. She attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing, became an R.N., and worked as a surgical nurse for many years. After moving to Houston, Texas, Marguerite met her husband Samuel I. Griesmer, an airline captain for Eastern Airlines, at her brother’s restaurant “Valian’s”, a popular family restaurant in Houston. They married in 1950 and moved to Scotch Plains then Red Bank, NJ, before settling on their 33 acre farm in Colts Neck in Monmouth County, New Jersey. After raising their five children Marguerite returned to her love of nursing, working as a private duty nurse.
Marguerite was a talented artist all her life, painting, doing needlepoint, rug hooking, crewel work and decoupage. She was instrumental in bringing the performing arts to Monmouth County through her tireless volunteer work on the Board of The Monmouth Arts Foundation (Monmouth Arts Council). She was also very involved at The First United Methodist Church in Red Bank, NJ. In 1987 she and Sam retired to Milton, Massachusetts to live closer to two of their children. Born of Armenian parents, who both emigrated from Turkey, Marguerite was proud of her Armenian heritage and was involved in several Armenian educational and charitable organizations.
Marguerite leaves behind her four adoring children: Gail Malcolm of Chance, MD, Constance Griesmer of Pasadena, CA, Samuel I. Griesmer, Jr., and his wife Leslie of Dedham, MA, and Susan Griesmer and her husband Ward Holder of Westwood, MA. She is predeceased by Sam Griesmer, her husband of 52 years, and her eldest daughter Linda Avati. She also leaves her ten beloved grandchildren Sally Avati, Jennifer Avati, Timothy Avati, Beige Malcolm, Cory Griesmer, Andrew Griesmer, her namesake Marguerite Griesmer, Penelope Pease, Samuel Pease and Harley Pease; two great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews in Ohio and Texas.
A private service was held at the Folsom Funeral Home on High Street in Westwood, MA, on Friday, January 30, 2015, followed by interment at Westwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent in her memory to The Museum of Fine Arts, MFA Fund via https://www.mfa.org/give/mfa-fund.
Comments(4)
Rest in peace dear A. Marguerite! Sweet, loving Aunt that you were?
I just saw this obituary today, while googling the NYT November 1991 wedding announcement. Your mom lived such a life and was quite something. May her beauty and brilliance be remembered and celebrated, and may she live on through her children and grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and beyond.
Marguerite Griesmer was my nurse in 1968 when I had been placed in the intensive care unit of Riverview Hospital, Red Bank, NJ after I had been in a coma and also in the isolation unit at Riverview Hospital. She was the second nurse I was aware of, after I came out of the coma and had been attended by my aunt, Anne B. Harrison, RN, who had the “guts” to he exposed to spinal meningitis—-I still recall the loving and caring attention from Mrs. Griesmer—she was like a beacon of light and hope for me. I am now 68. I still remember Marguerite.
I have fond memories of your mother and father. I don’t know if any of you remember our family: Maline and John Kelejian, Melinda, and Johnny. Constance would be the most likely person to remember me, maybe Gail. It would be interesting to have a conversation with someone in the family to compare memories. On the off chance that one of you sees this and would like to call or text, my number is 513 348-6433.