Marilyn H. (Pankow) Brighton

Marilyn H. Brighton, nee Pankow, loving wife of the late Ralph P. Brighton and beloved mother of Carol Brighton, Karen Brighton Gesl, and Barbara Brighton Miller; supportive mother-in-law to James Gesl and Chuck Miller; always understanding Gma to seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren, died November 6 after a lengthy illness at Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, New Jersey at the age of 99.  She is also survived by the last of her five siblings Robert Pankow of Buffalo, New York who remembers her as a second mother after their father died suddenly at an early age.  Marilyn was a former home economics teacher and homemaker who spent many days volunteering for her local churches as well as serving on the statewide and national boards of the Lutheran Church Women which became Women of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).  Marilyn was both model and mentor for her daughters, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren but also for many of the women influenced by her and her work in the church.  She and Ralph were founding members of the Protestant Community at Cedar Crest and helped to establish the worship program, governing council and personnel for that ministry.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cedar Crest Staff Appreciation Fund care of: Philanthropy Dept., 1 Cedar Crest Drive, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444

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