Marguerite V. Griesmer

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 .