Helena "Chris" Brower

Helena "Chris" Hetman Brower

Helena "Chris" Hetman Brower, 93, of Waynesboro, Virginia, died on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at Augusta Health.

She was born on November 7, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of the late Peter and Elisabeth Hetman.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Howard L. Christiansen on December 23, 1955; Edgar Tomlin on April 30, 1982, and R. Francis Brower on August 18, 2009; an infant son, H. Stirling Christiansen; and brothers, Walter and Nicholas Hetman.

Chris was always active, and through her life she worked and lived in many places. She was bookkeeper for the Pittsfield National Bank in Massachusetts, worked for a doctor's office in Crozet, and was a very active member of the VFW auxiliary in Crozet. Chris was a private caregiver for many people over the years. She was the first female President of the Massachusetts Grange in Hancock, a state agricultural organization. She moved to Waynesboro in 1965, and was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. She attended Hermitage Presbyterian Church with her late husband Francis, and enjoyed cooking in the kitchen there with other ladies of the church. Her hobbies included crocheting, knitting and gardening, but her real joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Dale Elaine Black and husband Gene P. of Waynesboro; stepdaughter, Brenda Barbour of Boston; stepsons, Ronnie and Jerry Brower of Waynesboro; sister-in-law, Anita Hetman of Waynesboro; five grandchildren, Brian Black and his wife, Patty, Sean Black and his wife, Ronda, Treacy Black and his wife, Renae, Cheryl Tuckwin and her husband, John, Stephen Black; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Also surviving are her great-grandchildren, Isaiah and Xavier Black, Katie and Hannah Black, Jonathan, Michael, and Aaron Black, Ava and Jackson Tuckwin; stepgrandchildren, Tom and Jim Barbour, Stacey Brower and Jonathan Brower.

A graveside service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Augusta Memorial Park by the Reverend Wray Sherman and the Reverend Kim Webster. Following the burial, a memorial service will be held at Hermitage Presbyterian Church at 11:30 a.m.

The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hermitage Presbyterian Church organ fund, 46 Hildebrand Church Road, Waynesboro, VA 22980, to St. John's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 945, Waynesboro, VA 22980 or to a charity of your choice.

McDow Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.mcdowfuneralhomeinc.com.


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.