Merle Rhodes Briefer

Merle was born March 25, 1938 to Sam and Rose Greenberg. She grew up in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey with her younger brother, Jack and her younger sister, Helaine. She graduated Hasbrouck Heights High School and went to Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. After completing her studies she went to work in Manhattan for a public relations firm who represented clients (Harry Belefonte, George Gobel, Captain Kangaroo, etc). After working several years, she married and moved with her husband to Tucson, Arizona in 1959.

In Tucson, she worked for the University of Arizona and gave birth to her two children Andy Briefer and Vanessa (Briefer) Reagan. She loved being a mother and spent her spare time becoming active in her synagogue (Anshei Israel). She served as Sisterhood president for two years and during that time served on the board of the Southwestern Region of United Synagogue of America.

Merle divorced at age 35 and took her two children to Phoenix to attend Court Reporting School. She spent three years in school and then returned to Tucson and free lanced as a court reporter taking depositions and working in court. After two years, the governor of Arizona appointed a new judge in Bisbee, and Merle was recommended for the job as his court reporter. She accepted and moved to Bisbee with her daughter. She worked in Bisbee for 25 years, and then retired and moved back to Tucson.

She lived many years in Sun City Vistoso, where she made many friends and rekindled friendships from many years earlier. Her favorite activity was spending time with her children and grandchildren (Matthew, Zachary, Samantha and Tommy), who she adored. She enjoyed watching Matthew and Zachary grow up at regular Sunday dinners with her son and daughter in law(Sue) and Sue’s parents (Alan and Florence Berns). She also enjoyed frequent vacations to California where she spent quality time with her daughter and son in law (Jeff), Samantha and Tommy. Her other pleasure was speaking to her sister, Helaine from Florida on a daily basis. She loved playing mahjongg, bridge and scrabble. She also enjoyed traveling to Holland, Greece and Belgium and taking cruises with her close friend, Al.

Six months ago, Merle decided to move into Via Elegante Assisted Living. She went to many activities and with her sense of humor and compassion, easily made many new friends. Shortly before Thanksgiving she became ill and passed away peacefully at Casa De La Luz hospice with her beloved children bedside, holding her hand.

She will be deeply missed by her children, grandchildren, sister, cousins and countless friends that she touched. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDRF), which were two charities that she felt passionately about.