Martha Ann Geiselhart, née Kattermann, was born in Hackensack August 5, 1937, to August and Ann Kattermann and raised in Ramsey until she was eight, and then in Sussex, NJ., where her parents purchased land for a farm in the 1940’s. Martha attended Rider College and taught high school business courses until she married Erwin Geiselhart on June 25, 1960. Together, they raised four children and owned and operated Merry Acres, a garden center and produce stand on Route 206 in Andover, for 30 years. She canned 250 quarts of tomatoes every year and preserved countless jars of strawberry, blueberry, and peach jam, in addition to filling the freezer with produce grown on the land.
Martha was a member of Good Shepherd RC Church and sang in the choir. She loved to do crafts, crochet, knit, and paint and took art lessons after she retired. She also had a sense of wonder and awe for nature and instilled this in her children, taking them on fall foliage rides, combing the beach for shells and rocks in Rhode Island on summer vacations, and lying in the grass finding shapes in the clouds. She also enjoyed bird watching, gardening, and walking the rail trail and around the property.
Martha is predeceased by her husband Erwin Geiselhart, her brother Ernest Kattermann, his wife Catherine, and son Eric’s wife Tammy. She is survived by her daughter Maria, sons Karl, Eric, and John and his wife Mary Jo; grandchildren Amber Galindo and her husband Luis, Cheryl Freeman, Victoria, Nicolle, Tara, Chiara Geiselhart DiBella, Christopher Geiselhart, and Jonathan Brovich; and great grandchildren Gianna Grasso, Camila Galindo, Thomas, McKenna, and Riley.
A Graveside Service will be held privately by Martha's family.
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