Obituary of Harriet Hammell

Harriet Ryer Hammell, long-time resident of the Budd Lake area, died Friday the 24th of January in her home. Born in 1931 in Belleville, NJ, Harriet worked for AT&T until the birth of her first child. She was a stay-at-home mom until the mid-70's when she went back to work, first as an home-health aid while she worked on her LPN license. She worked as a nurse at Clara Maas for many years until her move to Flanders, NJ. At that time, she continued nursing through agency work. In later years, she worked as the office administrator in the family business in Randolph. Ever the family woman, Harriet had the opportunity to provide care to both of her grandchildren in their early years and also provided care when needed for her father and mother-in-law. Harriet was an accomplished singer who won competitions throughout her school years. She loved music and was always active in her church choir as well as a group called the Melodears. Harriet also loved sewing, counted cross-stitch and knitting. With her family, she enjoyed traveling. Much of their travel in the United States was done in her motorhome. Cruising was another favorite way to travel. She and Jack took more than twenty-five cruises all over the world. Harriet was brought up in Grace Baptist Church in Belleville, NJ. When she moved to Flanders, she became a member of Ledgewood Baptist church. She was involved in the choir and the prayer shawl ministry as well as other charitable church endeavors. She is survived by her loving spouse, Jack Hammell, her children Katherine DiGiacomo, Tom and Lorrie Hammell and Carol Kagdis, her grandchildren Joel and Sara DiGiacomo, Kacey Kagdis, great-granddaughter Isabella DiGiacomo and brother, Howard Gray Ryer, Jr. A Memorial Service will be held on February 15th at 2pm at the Ledgewood Baptist Church in Ledgewood NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Partners in Development at www.pidonline.org.