Obituaries

Sophie (Melnick) Stump

June 12, 1930 - May 28, 2026

A viewing will be held on June 5, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish 369 Georgetown Road in Penns Grove. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on June 5, 2026, from 11:00 AM at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish 369 Georgetown Road. Burial will follow immediately after the Mass at Lawnside Cemetery, 1017 Route 40, Pilesgrove, New Jersey.

Sophie Melnick Stump, 95, passed away peacefully at her home in Pennsville, New Jersey, on May 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on June 12, 1930, in Carneys Point, New Jersey, Sophie lived a remarkable life marked by love, dedication, and resilience.

Sophie was the youngest of eight children born to Harry and Julia Klem Melnick. Sophie grew up in Penns Grove, New Jersey and attended elementary schools in Deepwater and Penns Grove NJ. She achieved a milestone that brought her great pride—becoming the only member of her family to graduate high school. Sophie graduated from Penns Grove Regional High School (Re-Hi) in 1948 and often fondly recalled being selected by Miss Wainwright, the principal of Lafayette School in Carneys Point, to play the Statue of Liberty in an eighth-grade play alongside Richard Combs as Uncle Sam.

Following high school, Sophie pursued further education at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts. During her time there, she had the unique opportunity to sing with Billy Graham in the college’s auditorium. However, due to limited financial resources, she returned home after one year and began working to support herself and her daughter. Over the years, Sophie held various jobs that showcased her strong work ethic and determination. She worked at the diner on Virginia Avenue in Penns Grove, Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville, Anchor Hocking glass manufacturing facility in Salem, and A&P markets in Penns Grove and Swedesboro for 13 years. In 1995, she retired from Acme Markets in Woodstown after an impressive 31 years of dedicated service.

Sophie was a devoted mother to her only child, Deborah Griscom. She cherished her role as a grandmother to Dr. Danielle Diener (John Diener) and Guy E. Griscom and was overjoyed to become a great-grandmother to Jackson Diener. Her family remembers her as the most amazing, soft-spoken, and loving person who would do anything for those she cared about. Sophie deeply loved not only her family but also Deborah’s friends and thought the world of her grandchildren’s friends.

A woman of faith and intellect, Sophie was a dedicated member of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish (formerly Corpus Christi Church). In her younger years, she read the entire Bible from cover to cover—a testament to her curiosity and devotion. She enjoyed reading, solving word finders, and watching or listening to Lawrence Welk. One of her greatest joys was attending all of her grandchildren’s activities; she was immensely proud of their accomplishments.

Sophie is preceded in death by her parents Harry and Julia Klem Melnick; brothers William (May), Michael (Madeline), George (Audrey); sisters Mary (Frank), Anna (Ramon), Dorothy (Kenneth), and her fraternal twin sister Julia (Will and Al). She will be deeply missed by her daughter Deborah Griscom and son-in-law Guy M. Griscom; grandchildren Dr. Danielle Diener (John Diener) and Guy E. Griscom; great-grandson Jackson Diener; and many dear friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sophie’s memory to St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish at 369 Georgetown Road, Carneys Point NJ 08069 or Angelic Hospice at 302 Hooper Avenue, Toms River NJ 08753.

Sophie’s legacy is one of love, perseverance, and unwavering devotion to her family and faith. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her.