Barbara Brewer

Barbara S. Brewer CHESAPEAKE - Barbara Stephanie Brewer, 65, died at home Sept. 17, 2009. She was born in Washington, D.C., Oct. 8, 1943, the daughter of John Ashley Brownridge and the late Kathrine E. Brownridge. Stephanie is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard W. Brewer; her son, Richard S. Brewer and his two children, Alison and Delaney; her daughter, Theresa Brewer Hilbert and son-in-law George J. Hilbert and their two children, Ashley and Sean; her father, John Ashley Brownridge in Springfield, Va.; her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Susan Brownridge in Port Deposit, Md., and their two sons, Philip and Daniel. Stephanie grew up in Alexandria, Va., where she attended St. Rita's School and St. Mary's Academy. She was an outstanding swimmer and trained for the 1960 Olympics in Rome. However, the Olympic training interfered with her childhood dream of being a nurse. She gave up the year-round, seven- day-a-week swimming practices to go to nursing school. After graduating high school in 1961, she attended DePaul School of Nursing, affiliated with DePaul Hospital in Norfolk, where she earned her RN. More importantly, Stephanie met her husband and true love, Richard. They married Aug. 8, 1964. Stephanie was very involved with her family's activities. She especially loved camping, sports, and was an avid Redskins fan. She enjoyed helping her husband who coached their children's basketball and baseball teams. She always encouraged both her own children as well as the other children on their teams to do their best in sports and in life. During her nursing career, she worked with several OB/ GYN practices in the area. Her patients remember her as extremely kind and gentle. She developed friendships with patients and co-workers that have lasted until her last day. She was an outstanding nurse for 40 years until she developed debilitating illnesses and had to retire in December 2000. Some of the doctors in the three OB/GYN groups she worked for were Drs. William Reingold, Al Bruno, Greg Uy, Beryl Sun, Ralph Chesson, Hugh Walcott and Theresa Whibley. She recently attended her DePaul Class of 1964 reunion in June. She was especially close with two of her classmates and very good friends, Beverly Aberle of South Carolina and Ruth McCormick of Illinois. They frequently traveled together and both were a source of strength for Stephanie during her long illness. She was able to devote her retirement to her husband, Richard, her two children and four grandchildren, Ashley, Sean, Allison and Delaney. Her children and grandchildren were a constant source of joy. Even as her illness got worse, she always looked forward to their frequent visits and was energized by their presence. She was especially close to her oldest granddaughter. Ashley was her constant companion and her second set of hands. Ashley devoted herself to taking care of her grandmother, running errands, shopping, cooking, cleaning and driving her to doctor's appointments. The family wishes to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Stephanie's memory to the American Cancer Society or the Lupus Foundation of America Inc. The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Indian River Chapel, Monday, Sept. 21, from 7 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home chapel by the Rev. Marie Pogorelee. Burial will follow in Colonial Grove Memorial Park. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.