Nodji C. (O'Brien) Sanns

Nodji C. Sanns, 81, a longtime resident of Belford, peacefully passed away Tuesday, December 15th, at Riverview Medical Center. Nodji was born in Daly City, Ca., a daughter of the late Genevieve and John Joseph O'Brien. She moved cross country with her husband and their young children and eventually settled in Belford. Nodji worked at the coat factory in Red Bank for for many years before working at Freedman's Bakery in the Belford Junction. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading . She was known to many as "Mom." Her home was always open to the neighborhood children and her children's friends. She has remained Mom to many of these children well into their adult years. Mom will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. If home is where the heart is Nodji has gone home to her city by the bay, San Francisco, Calif. Nodji is the only one of a family of 12 to leave the state to live.
Nodji is  survived by three daughters, Valerie (Albert) Bigelow of Belford; Nodji "Pat" Sanns (Ed ) of Fla.; Stacy (Billy) Donovan of Va.; five sons Robert (the late Celia) of Leonardo; Eric ( Pat) of Howell; John ( Diane) of Leonardo; Kenneth, and Leonard, both of Belford; her daughter by choice, Gail Cranick (Mike). Nodji is also survived by two sisters, Gail (Joe) Stanislao,  Dawn (Mudd) Funkhauser; a brother, Kenneth O'Brien, all of Ca.; 13 grandchildren; Amie, Nicholas, Craig, John, Dawn, Derrick, Ryan, Robert, Samantha, Melissa, Ginny, Robert, Gina and 13 great grandchildren.
 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to

The Rainbow Foundation, PO Box 545, New Monmouth, NJ 08848

or Wounded Warriors at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate

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