Briege (Grant) Walker Obituary (1938

Mrs. Briege Walker (nee Grant) of Jamesburg, New Jersey died in her home, surrounded by her family, on January 10, 2020. She was 81 years old. Briege is predeceased by her loving husband, Thomas, and her parents, Michael Grant and Kathleen Grant (nee Carolan) and a baby sister, Mary Grant. She is survived by their two daughters, Kathleen Walker Slomian (James) of Monroe Township, NJ, and Patricia Florek (Casey) of Jamesburg, NJ; her four grandchildren, Bridget, Andrew, Jimmy, and Kelly; her siblings Thomas Grant (June) of Jamesburg, Michael Grant (Sheila) of Dundalk, Ireland, and Kathleen Dunne (predeceased by Desi) also of Dundalk, Ireland; many cousins and friends in Ireland; nieces, nephews, and in-laws both here in the United States and in Ireland. Briege was born on September 16, 1938 in Dundalk, Ireland. She met her soul mate Tommy at a St. Patrick's Day dance in 1958; they were married in Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk on January 22, 1964. After their marriage they emigrated to Jackson Heights, Queens, New York and lived there until 1973 when they relocated to Jamesburg, New Jersey where they resided for the rest of their lives. Prior to her marriage, Briege was employed by P.J. Carrolls Ltd in Dundalk where she worked in their laboratory. While employed there, she started the Rosary Crusade with recently deceased Fr. Gabriel Harty, friend of Fr. Patrick Payton, Rosary Priest. Briege was a member of the Civil Defense and was the first lady to be a leader of the Civil Defense Rescue Team. She was also a singer and performer in productions held in the Dundalk Town Hall. In her early married life, she was a full-time mother. Later on, she returned to work as office manager of Buxton's Restaurants in Jamesburg until it closed and then moved to Lower Pyne Associates of Princeton from where she retired as property manager. Before and during retirement, she traveled extensively with her beloved husband numerous times to her family in Ireland, to Europe, Canada, and the northeastern part of the United States. Briege was an active and dedicated member of the St. James the Less parish and choir for the better part of 50 years. She is remembered by her family as a loving wife, mother, nana, sister and aunt who adored her family's company. Briege was known for her beautiful voice; music and singing were a lifelong passion and her daughters can hardly recall a conversation that did not elicit a song from her. Her musical tastes varied from Johnny Mathis, Mario Lanza, Doris Day, Simon and Garfunkel, Luciano Pavarotti, and Phil Coulter to name but a few. She was always first to be asked to sing at parties; her standard was "The Twelfth of Never" and famous among the family for the poetry she wrote for them. Most dear to Briege was dancing with her darling husband Tommy and her daughters and family are consoled that she is reunited with her "one and only love". Services will begin 10:30 a.m. Thursday January 16, 2020 at the Lester Memorial Home 16 W. Church St., Jamesburg followed by an 11 a.m. funeral mass offered by Father Michael at Saint James the Less Church in Jamesburg. Burial will follow at St. James the Less Cemetery. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Briege's life 9-10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16th at the Lester Memorial Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Saint James the Less Church in Jamesburg. Her family would like to thank Dr. Michael Carlucci for his compassionate care of their mother.