Martha Koziel Obituary

Martha Koziel (AKA Nana, Mom), 92, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on Friday, April 11, 2025 surrounded by the love and memories she created over a life well lived. She was born on October 28, 1932, in Camden, New Jersey, to Emilie and Albrecht Henschel and was a resident of Pittsgrove, New Jersey, for over 62 years. The true and absolute matriarch of her family, Martha was known and loved by all for her wit, warmth, fierce independence and never shying away from giving anyone a hard truth. Martha left behind not just family and friends, but a legacy of character traits, joys, laughter, and moments that will be cherished forever.
Martha is survived by her three children, Linda Harper, Brenda Brown and Ernest Koziel, and the absolute lights of her world, her grandchildren, Danielle Montana Wolfson, Anthony Montana, Angelina Montana, Julia Montana, Amanda Koziel, Chelsea Koziel and Andrew Koziel as well as her extended family - Richard Montana, Sonya Hastings, Abby Hastings, Joan Hathaway, Edgar Hathaway and Patty Alexander, her caregiver for the last three years. She was predeceased by some of her very favorite people: her mother, Emilie, father, Albrecht, her husband, Walter, her nephew, Lawrence Hurst, and later life partner, Walter Harris, and she is probably enjoying a Bing Crosby record and a glass of Manaschewitz with all of them at this moment.
Martha was employed by Colonial Applicator (later Comar) for 40 years, retiring in 1994 to care for her grandchildren. She found beauty in simplicity and purpose in the everyday: watching over and helping out all of her neighbors, her afternoon word searches, planting flowers at the Olivet United Methodist Church every spring, adopting and regularly cleaning litter from Sheep Pen Road, picking local wild blueberries used to bake muffins for family and friends, enjoying reading The Daily Journal every single day and finding the best yard sales county-wide on Saturdays.
One of her favorite sayings in her later years was "I'm still here!", and while she will be immeasurably missed by those who knew and loved her, we find comfort in knowing that her memories and legacy will always still be "here".
The service, open to Martha's family, friends, neighbors, and anyone whose lives she touched, will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025 at Adams Funeral Home, 111 S. Main Street, Elmer, NJ 08318. Guests should arrive at 10:00am to pay respects to the family, with a service to follow at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Olivet Church (https://oumc.com/give).