Miriam C. Mayer, age 86, of Hackettstown formerly of South Orange, NJ died Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Kindred Hospital at St. Clares, Dover, NJ. Miriam was born December 21, 1931 in New York City, NY. She is the daughter of the late Harry D. and Miriam (Hoffman) Comer. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Jacob and a sister Carolyn.
She was previously employed by American Red Cross, Fairfield, NJ as a Bookbinder retiring several years ago. Miriam was a very involved parishioner of the South Orange Valsburg United Methodist Church before moving to Hackettstown where she attended Trinity United Methodist Church. She had a great passion for learning, loved music and singing in the church choir, adored animals, was an avid reader and enjoyed watching Jeopardy and cooking shows.
She is survived by her devoted daughter, Elisabeth Mayer, 2 brothers, Harry Comer and wife Lynn, Charles Comer and wife Nancy, 2 sisters, Marguerite Jansen, Janet Bryars and her life partner Jon R. Ayers, many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 25 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 213 Main Street, Hackettstown, N.J. with Rev. Debra A. De Vos officiating. Burial will follow at Restland Memorial Park, East Hanover, NJ.
For those desiring donations may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, the ASPCA or to the American Red Cross in memory of Miriam.
Janet Comer Bryars
#1
September 18th, 2018 5:26 pm
Mimi: You were my oldest sister, by 8 years, so growing up, I thought that I’d never catch up. We 5 younger kids called you the “Ancient One”, even though Carolyn was only a year and a half younger. You set a fine academic example for all of us younger kids, such that the teachers from first grade right through high school graduation saw the Comer name and expected excellence. I was too impatient to achieve the precision and perfection you required in all of your advanced courses, especially in the languages. But your influence came through as I recalled attending your graduation from then Lawrence College, now Lawrence University, and realized you’d taken tough courses and finished in 4 years. I did catch up, in a way, because I, too was determined to go through my 4 college years and end with a diploma. In your wedding, when we three younger girls were all in fancy pink dresses with huge picture hats and tiny white gloves, you were so elegant and lovely in your gown, and made the family very proud and happy. Several occasions when Lissa was a child, she joined my 3 and I felt a closeness to you that was memorable. The way you cared about Mama when she was old and incapacitated rubbed off on your Lissa, who lovingly stayed with you when you needed her most. Too bad we lived so far apart and did not keep up the visits as often as we’d have liked. But you remained, and will forever remain, my big sister.