Samantha L. Brayton

Samantha Lynn Brayton, 45, of Northborough, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 4, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on June 17, 1977, to Mei and Bruce Pendleton in Lebanon, New Hampshire, she attended Lebanon schools, participating in many different sports and enjoying her summers on Lake Winnipesaukee. She loved being at the lake: swimming, boating, water skiing, kayaking, hiking, and all the great adventures with her sisters and lake friends. In high school, she developed a love for lacrosse. She worked hard to become team captain and earned an athletic scholarship to play at the collegiate level. After she graduated from Lebanon High School in 1995, she went on to study at Lehigh University.

Samantha loved working with children; she had a passion for youth ministry and Young Life. She worked at Hanover High School in New Hampshire and cared for a young boy with autism in Norwich, VT. After graduating from Lehigh with a degree in Psychology, she landed her dream job and was offered a position on staff with Young Life in McLean, VA. She worked at various Young Life camps as a counselor for high school students, where she would teach anyone who wanted to learn how to water ski. She was passionate about sharing God’s word and his message of love.

In 1995, Samantha met John “Jay” Brayton at Lehigh University. It was at this time that they developed a lasting friendship. Life took them in different directions, as it often does, but Samantha and Jay ultimately found their way back to one another in 2013. Together, Samantha and Jay went on to have four children completing their wonderful, blended family with seven children, Faith(15), Isaac(13), Evelyn(11), Willamina(4), Sybil(3), Zane(2), and Samuel(1). Samantha’s children were her greatest accomplishment; they were her pride and joy. She loved the family that she and Jay had created together.

Samantha will be remembered fondly for her kindness, friendship, and warm smile. She loved a good thunderstorm, a beautiful sunset, and rainbows. She enjoyed a nice glass of red wine, good conversation, and fellowship with family and friends. She was gifted in sharing God’s word and valued her church family. Samantha had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She enjoyed many of life’s simple pleasures, but sweet snuggles with her babies were her favorite. She will be deeply missed by all that have had the pleasure to know and love her.

Samantha is survived by her husband John Brayton, her children; Faith, Isaac, Evelyn, Willamina, Sybil, Zane, and Samuel; her mother, Mei Corbett and father, Bruce Pendleton; her sister Christine Drown, her husband Eric, and their four children; her sister Alexandra Izadi, her husband Babac, and their two children.

Visiting hours will be held for close friends and family on Friday, May 12, from 9 to 11 AM in the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 W. Main Street, Westborough, Massachusetts.

Her funeral service will be held at 1 PM, on Friday, May 12, at the Chapel of the Cross,160 Flanders Road, Westborough, Massachusetts, with a fellowship reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Young Life – Upper Valley New Hampshire - NH22.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)