Brenda Halversen Leipold

Brenda Halversen Leipold

Brenda Halversen Leipold, 78, died peacefully at home on Monday, November 29, 2010.

She was the daughter of Joseph Halversen and Eleanor Souther Halversen, through whom she traced her lineage to the Southers who sailed as Pilgrims to America on the Mayflower.

Brenda was born in Portland, Maine on September 24, 1932.

Brenda is survived by her husband of 33 years, Robert D. Leipold; her three children, Diane Cote Adams of Farmville, Virginia, Normand Arthur Cote of Kanoche, Hawaii, and Christopher Cote of Kailua, Hawaii; three grandchildren, John S. Adams, II, Normand R. Adams and Branden Cote; her brother, Mandt Souther Halversen of Sarasota, Florida; and four stepchildren, John D. Leipold, Jennifer Leipold Alexander, Jo Anne Leipold and Robert D. Leipold Junior.

Her first husband, Normand A. Cote, predeceased her.

Brenda attended the Saint Mary's Episcopal School for Girls in Peekskill, New York. Following Saint Mary's, she studied at The Art School of the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Subsequently, she was appointed Interior Designer at Garfinckels Department Store in Washington and placed in charge of the store's large window design and displays. She enjoyed planning and staging the store's other outlets at the prestigious Mayflower, Willard and Shoreham hotels.

Brenda evinced at an early age her aptitude for art and her fine tuned appreciation for colors. She was an accomplished artist who worked in many media, Drawing, oils, clay, sculpting, and fabrics. She participated in a number of juried shows. She also was a skilled knitter who designed sweaters and other items of apparel. And she designed and made jewelry and craft items including her well-received decorated lighted glass blocks.

Brenda had traveled and lived in many locations. She particularly enjoyed her many years in Hawaii, the ten years in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a delightful enclave of artists and writers, and fourteen years at Lake Monticello, Virginia.

At age four, Brenda was afflicted by polio, particularly in her left leg. She treated that illness as an obstacle to be overcome. She persevered and lived life to the fullest each and every day.

Brenda reached out to others through charitable and volunteer activities. She was in charge of all the Red Cross volunteers at the large Army Hospital, Tripler Army Medical Command, in Hawaii during the Viet Nam war era. She also actively participated with other Red Cross activities, the American Heart Association, the Cancer Society and the March of Dimes among others. Brenda had an affection for animals and volunteered at SPCAs. Her own pets always included one or more dogs and exotic topical birds which she raised, hand fed, tamed and trained.

She was not pretentious, but rather was easy to meet and get to know. Brenda had a good sense of humor. She particularly enjoyed a good bridge game, knitting, crafts, an interesting book, gardening and cooking. She was admired for her eclectic and colorful wardrobe.

Brenda was a more-than-ten-years survivor having had a bout with breast cancer, which she won. When apprised of the fact that the small cell cancer in her right lung had spread to her brain her reaction was to raise her chin and say, with a positive smile, "I've had a good life." Then and subsequently she had been heard to say, "Thank you, God." For those of us she leaves behind we also say, "Thank you, God. Thank you for giving us Brenda to know, enjoy, cherish and love."

Funeral services will be held at the Cunningham United Methodist Church, Route 53 at Va 610, 11 a.m. Friday, December, 3, 2010.

Following the service the family will receive friends at the Lake Monticello Club House. Interment will be at the Leipold family grave site at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Rock Creek Cemetery Church Yard in Washington, D. C.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.