Margaretha Verena Woodruff, known to most as Grita, died on January 10, 2025, after a brief illness and hospital stay. Grita grew up outside of Zurich, Switzerland with her sister, Trudy. She came to the United States as a young girl in 1961 where she met her future husband, Jason Cameron Woodruff, and raised their family in Montclair, New Jersey.

Grita was a role model to many for living life to its fullest. She was fluent in five languages, perfecting her English after moving to the United States from Switzerland.
She was ahead of her time as a highly-regarded, accomplished professional in the insurance industry with a career that spanned nearly four decades.

As a lifelong tennis player, she enjoyed memberships at several racquet clubs. Playing tennis, and in recent years, pickleball, brought her joy for the competitive match play and especially the camaraderie. In fact, she was playing social tennis the day before she became ill.

Off the court, Grita enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the world. Naturally, her favorite trip was always back home to Switzerland, where she loved visiting family and friends, and hiking in the Swiss Alps.
Gardening was also a passion. Not one to sit still, she curated and worked in her yard every chance she had, cultivating a beautiful garden year after year.

She was always reading a book or listening to music, attending many classical symphony performances and operas in her lifetime. However, the music that brought the biggest smile to her face was traditional Swiss music from the Alpen region.

For all of her talents, interests, and accomplishments, Grita was accepting and loving, with a strong wit and sense of humor. She was always available with insightful words or to comfort those in need. She was a great friend to many and was most dedicated to being a devoted mother, sister, and grandmother. This inspired tremendous love and respect from all who knew her, especially her family.

She is survived by her daughter, Jane Woodruff Berra, and son-in-law, Dale Anthony Berra; her son, Adam Cameron Woodruff; her beloved granddaughters, Alexandra Jane Berra and Kay Margaret Berra; and a large extended family in the US and Switzerland.

She was predeceased by her husband, Jason Cameron Woodruff, her sister, Gertrud Anna Heusser, and brother-in-law, Gottfried Eugene Heusser, and her parents, Anna Maria Hautle Silvestri and Wilhelm Silvestri.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, in Upper Montclair.

The family will receive friends and relatives At St. James Episcopal Church in Upper Montclair from 10am -11am on Monday, January 27th. The funeral service will begin at 11am.
The repast will immediately follow the service at De Novo European Pub in Upper Montclair at 12pm.