Remembering Ginger Siefring
The NAMI community in Somerset County, in New Jersey and beyond mourns the loss of a dedicated and compassionate volunteer leader, Ginger Siefring, who passed away on Saturday, June 29th due to brain cancer. Ginger Siefring had served as Vice President and Secretary of NAMI Somerset in 2012-2019. She offered comfort and empathetic support to families with a loved one with mental illness, and helped encourage caregivers to attend family support groups. Through her beautiful and informative monthly newsletters, Ginger helped connect affiliate members, offered resources, and served as a “messenger for Group wisdom” at members requests. Ginger also volunteered as a parent presenter for NAMI NJ’s Educating the Educators program and had been instrumental in assisting NAMI Somerset County pursue its Re-affiliation. As an exemplary volunteer, Ginger was honored by NAMI New Jersey as a Volunteer of the Month in October 2018. Ginger leaves behind a rich legacy and an example for volunteers across the state to follow. Ginger will be dearly missed.
A letter from Sue Ferranti, President of NAMI Somerset:
Dear Friends,
It is with such sadness that I share this news. After a long hard four-month struggle with brain cancer, our Dear Sweet Ginger passed away peacefully on Saturday June 29th. She leaves behind a son, daughter, loving husband of 43 years and many many friends who will miss her smile, empathy and dedication to every task she undertook.
Ginger was the backbone of NAMI Somerset keeping us all informed with her amazing newsletters. While working full time, she answered every email, forwarded every piece of info that she felt might be of importance to one of us, and attended every support group. She was a trained facilitator that assisted in our small groups, brought and set up snacks and always made certain the resource table was current.
Ginger had a kind word for everyone and recognized everyone’s efforts. While visiting her in rehab at Kessler, she introduced me as if they were her dearest friends. Everyone that met her felt special because of her. She was such a loving and caring person and I am so grateful to have known her and had her in my life for the past 13 years.
Services will be held on Thursday, July 18th at Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 651 Country Club Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Visitation will be from 10:30am – 11:00am. Service will be from 11-12. More details can be found on Bridgewater Funeral Home’s website http://www.
I hope we can all try to come together, share memories and honor her at our July 11th (changed due to July 4th) meeting. We need to reach out, whether we are doing well or not, and honor Ginger by being there for each other. She never missed a meeting and now we will have to figure out how to fill those very large shoes. Please come, share and remember the selfless individual that she was. Your story and presence might just be exactly what someone else needs. If you are unable to come, please reach out to me and let me know how you are. We are stronger TOGETHER.
With Heartfelt sympathy,
Sue Ferranti
Pres. NAMI Somerset
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