In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite Marilyn Siegler, 91

Former longtime Fair Havenite and Little Silver resident, Marilyn Bernice Siegler, passed away on Friday, July 10. She was 91.

Born on March 29, 1935, on Staten Island, NY, Marilyn was the daughter of Herman and Jeanette (Heller) Bergwerk. She attended Curtis High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College and a Master’s from Rutgers University.

“Marilyn met the love of her life, Seymour ‘Sy’ Siegler (1932-2016) at the annual Spring dance at the Jewish Community Center, Silver Lake, Staten Island – the same JCC where Sy’s parents Sam and Dorothy had met. They married and lived a beautiful life together for over 65 years. Dad loved a good joke, and mom loved to confuse and mess up any punch line. ‘Look at the orange mother laid’ always brought on a giggle. Mom was classically confused on reading maps, indicating to us once at the San Diego Zoo that we were ‘here,’ with ‘here’ being the dot in the legend. Marilyn and Sy raised their five children in Fair Haven and Little Silver …

“Her Monday nights belonged to Mahjong, a ritual she kept for over 60 years. Summers were spent at the beach, full face in the rays, with the last week of August almost always dedicated to Long Beach Island with as many family members as could fit into rented houses and motels. In her free time, she knit wonderfully oversized socks and personalized cardigans, once knitting a custom sweater for every student in a Red Bank Middle School fourth-grade class.”
Loved ones of Marilyn Siegler in her obituary

Marilyn was a homemaker, Home Economics teacher at what was Red Bank High School, a bookkeeper, a camp counselor, a pre-school teacher, and, lastly, a registered dietician in hospitals and nursing homes throughout New Jersey.

“She was a proud mom/grandma/great grandma/aunt, throwing amazing parties, thinking of thoughtful gifts, and always remembering to send cards out to each and every family member for whatever occasion, signing off with “Big G, Little G” for her and dad.” ~ family in Marilyn Siegler’s obituary

Marilyn was predeceased by: her parents, Hyman and Jeanette Bergwerk; and her husband, Seymour.

She is survived by: her brother, Phllip (Debbie) Bergwerk; her five children, Amie (Russ) Riva, of Delaware, Margie, of Red Bank, Jeff (Leslie), of Long Branch, Steven, of Jersey City, and Sara (Kevin) Horn, of Red Bank; her grandchildren, Adam (Michele) Laskowitz, Daniel (Jill) Laskowitz, Rebecca Laskowitz, Matt (Sue) Siegler, Sophia Siegler, Sam Siegler, Siobhan Nerys, Miles Hansen, Lyndsay Horn, Charlie Siegler, Shay (Nelly) Siegler, Nora Siegler, Shannon Riva and Michele (Rick) Bernard; and her great-grandchildren, James, Ryan, Lucas, Ella, Eli, Lucy, Grace, Beatriz, Samara, Johnny, Justin, Madison, and Radley.

Graveside service was be held on Sunday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at B’nai Israel Cemetery, Tinton Falls.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home