Cheryl A. Briggs, 78

Cheryl Ann (Wiggin) Briggs of Dover, New Hampshire, formerly of Belmont, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully at the young age of 78 at Riverside Rest Home on February 14, 2025.

She was born May 14, 1946, in Rochester, New Hampshire, to Blanche Vigneault Wiggin and James F. Wiggin. Cheryl grew up in Somersworth. During her time in school, she was a member of the Graniteers Drum & Bugle Corps. She graduated from Dover High School, Class of 1965. She studied and received her certification as a hairdresser.

In school, Cheryl met her lifelong partner, Edward Byron Briggs, and they married on August 7, 1965. They moved from New Hampshire to Long Island, New York. They resided in Sayville, New York, and Ridge, New York, from 1965 to 1994 for Edward’s career at Northrup Grumman building aircraft. Cheryl and Edward became members of the MIUCC church and helped with many community needs.

Cheryl became a stay-at-home mom after having her two boys, Brian and Darin, and briefly worked at Sayville Ford. During their time in New York, Cheryl was experiencing some health trouble and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in September of 1986. She fought a long, hard, arduous battle with the disease. When Edward retired from Northrup Grumman, they moved back to New Hampshire and resided in Belmont from 1994 to 2019. In Belmont they attended and became members of the Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church and again fulfilled positions to help the community where needed.

As Cheryl’s MS progressed, she wanted to move into Riverside Rest Home, where she resided from July 2019 to February 14, 2025. She was loved by all the staff and residents while living there.

Cheryl leaves behind her son Darin, daughter-in-law Deirdre (Dede) Briggs of Belmont, New Hampshire; her brothers, Arvid Wiggin of Dover, New Hampshire, and Kevin Wiggin of Harrisburg, North Carolina; her sister, Gail Hines of Punta Gorda, Florida; sister- in-law Roberta Wiggin of Belmont, New Hampshire; her niece, Amanda Austin, and Amanda’s daughter, Jamie Wiggin, both of Belmont, New Hampshire; and her cousin, Angela Hall of Punta Gorda, Florida; along with many other nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Cheryl was predeceased by her parents, James F. Wiggin and Blanche Vigneault Wiggin; her husband, Edward Briggs; her oldest son, Brian Briggs; and her brother, Wayne Wiggin.

The family will be having a mass at Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church, as well as a Celebration of Life, while we wait for spring in New Hampshire to be able to do a graveside service. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one or both of the following: Northfield-Tilton Congregational Church, 283 Main Street, Tilton, NH 03276, or New Hampshire Humane Society, 1305 Meredith Center Road, Laconia, NH 03246.