Velma B. Giger, 1949-2025

LITTLE EGG HARBOR – Velma B. Giger, age 76, a resident of Little Egg Harbor Township, passed away peacefully in her home on September 2, 2025.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Velma (Fest) Bethel and her sister Dorothy Bethel. She is survived by her loving husband Thomas, son Matthew (Melanie) and daughter Suzanne (Michael) Proniske, and grandchildren Lia and Silas Hochberg Giger.

Velma was raised in Medford Lakes, NJ, and graduated from Lenape High School in Medford, NJ. In 1970, Velma obtained her B.A. from Beaver College (now Arcadia University) in Glenside, PA. She obtained her teaching certification and was an elementary school teacher at George J. Mitchell Elementary School, where she met her husband, Tom, also a teacher at the school. Velma was a life-long dedicated learner and supporter of education, serving for multiple terms on the Pinelands Regional School District Board of Education. She instilled a love of learning and dedication to education in her children and grandchildren. When Tom took the reigns from Velma’s father, Richard, at the family bookbinding business, Velma left the classroom and expertly managed the office operations of the Bethel Bindery for many years.

Velma was known for her warmth and exuberance and made and kept many friends throughout her life, from high school friends to those she met later in life, whether slope-side while skiing or on the sidelines of her grandchildren’s sporting and other events. She cherished spending time outdoors and in beautiful places with family and friends, particularly in and around her beloved Bolton Valley, Vermont. She also loved to travel, and embarked on many wonderful trips in her later years with Tom and her family.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 12 noon, at the First United Methodist Church, 134 N. Green Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lupus Foundation of America <a href="https://www.lupus.org/" target="_blank">www.lupus.org</a> or the Vermont Land Trust <a href="https://vlt.org/" target="_blank">www.vlt.org</a>