Marie Briggs

Marie Roger Briggs went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 5, 2021. She was born November 6, 1945 in Degraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda, New York. She was the daughter of Armand Roger and Gabrielle Moreau Roger, formerly of Wright Corners, New York.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, James Briggs Sr. of Orlando, FL, her son James Briggs Jr. and wife Kelly of Kaiserslautern, Germany, and their son Nicholas Roberts of Casselberry, FL; and her son Ricky Briggs, his wife Janey, of Apopka, FL, and their daughters Rebecca and Rachel Briggs of Orlando, FL.

Marie came from a large family of 10. She was preceded in death by her sisters Annette Roger, and Madeline Roger Gundlach, and brother Rolland Roger. She is survived by sisters Jacky Roger Taylor, Jeanette Roger Ruppel, and Claudette Roger Horanburg, and brothers Armand, Ernest, and Raymond Roger.

Marie grew up on a farm and would often brag about being the fastest tomato and cherry picker in the family. She graduated from Newfane Central School, and was named the Cherry Blossom Queen as a teenager. She met her husband on a blind date 57 years ago and married shortly out of high school. They married on August 10th at the United Methodist Church on Main Street in Newfane, New York. She was always athletic and played badminton in school, loved to ice skate, bowl, swim, and could give her husband a run for his money on the golf course.

She was a consummate chef and baker and her family has the girth to prove it. She often bragged about winning the pie baking contest at the county fair as a teen. She has held a 20-plus year tradition of baking Christmas cookies with her granddaughters.

She never rested and had two jobs most of her life. Marie worked for Hartford Insurance for 19 years. She also owned a newspaper delivery route, helped her husband run a janitorial business, and started her own ceramics business which she ran until retirement. She was a very gifted ceramics painter and also taught painting to others. She had many interests and hobbies and amassed a huge baseball card collection. In the midst of her jobs, hobbies, and maintaining a household, she miraculously raised two exceptional sons.

She was forever a dog lover and over the years her furry family included TJ, Fifi, Fluffy, Rags, Tasha, Maggie 1, Maggie 2, and Bella.

Marie has asked that in lieu of flowers, people would donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in her name.