It is a Happy Mother's Day today Mom as we remember and hold dear evey moment shared with you, every laugh, every smile and even the sad times. We grieve our loss with JOY and bless you richly today!
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Freya (Brown) Bruington was born of the marriage of Delia Olson and Henry Leroy Brown in Elmhurst, Illinois. Her maternal descendants emigrated to the U.S. in the 1840s from Norway, settling in northwest Iowa where they have farmed until today. She was a tender and gentle spirit with gifts in writing and creativity who earned a scholarship to Cornell College in Iowa where she began Journalism studies. A pioneer in an era where few women pursued such dreams, she left school before graduation to marry George Hedges and together their love produced three children: Marcy, Paul and William (Bill).
She became a single Mom in 1960 and her creative talent began to shape the lives and destinies of her children, who years later serve their community as nurse practitioner, family attorney and high school principal respectively. She dedicatd her years to her family while touching many, many lives through the selfless gift of her time, encouragement and love. She reached out to the disabled, the lonely, troubled young mothers and all who crossed her path. She embodied virtues of fairness, racial equality and a nonjudgmental embrace – instilling these values in her children by example and quiet instruction. She maintained an abiding love and appreciation for the written word and literary expression through these years.
Mom suffered hardships and heartaches, but refused to give place to bitterness or accusation practicing forgiveness and mercy. Freya was a skilled, diligent worker over a forty-plus year career. Upon “retirement” she volunteered her time for a local hospice group in Gainesville, Florida, where she lived from 1993 until 2007. This past summer she relocated to Virginia to live with her son Paul.
Soon after the move she was diagnosed with lung cancer which claimed her life after a valiant and courageous battle. Still, she never lost her vital sense of humor or her focus on the well-being of those around her. We all were blessed with many hours together in these past months, as Mom continued to encourage and support all that she touched to follow their dreams and remain true to their life paths.
The Freya G. Brown Scholarship Fund
in the early 1950s Freya herself was an aspiring writer who was awarded a scholarship upon graduation from Lyons Township High School (LaGrange, Illinois). In honor of her life’s passion and desire to encourage the dreams of others, her children have created the Freya G. Brown Scholarship Fund intended to provide financial aid ...
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Bruce Baldwin and Family |
What a lovely remembrance for your gentle, caring and gifted mother. She obviously passed her gift for writing on to you. Please accept our condolences for your loss. |
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Tina de Paulo and Family |
Paul: May God be with you in this time of sorrow. I am sure your mother is now with God. |
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alan graustein |
Joan and I have fond memories of Freya. We have enjoyed viewing the photos that you have posted. We'd love to visit with you in the near future. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Al & Joan |
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Barbara Blinn |
Your mom would be as blessed by this page as she was by each and everyone of you throughout your years. She always believed the best and prayed many happy endings into existence. May God comfort you in your great loss and continue to knit you all together in the constant awareness of her love and the knowledge that she is now in His tender embrace telling anyone who will listen how great each and everyone of you are to her. We here in the Lakes Region will never forget this wonderful person and character we all loved and experienced for many years. Love and Prayers always, Barb |
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Artie and Carol Boudreau |
What a beautiful memorial to a special mother. We know the greatest blessing Freya had was having all of you for her family. Trusting God Artie and Carol. |
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Paul |
Mom! It has been two weeks now since you hugged us for the last time, and the house is empty and quiet without you! The world will never be quite the same! Thank you for thousands of great memories, even more laughs, all the words of encouragement, and your constant love. Thank you that you walked what you believed: that goodness, kindness, fairness and humiltiy are the essence of shining that light. I will always seek to carry that torch until we meet again in the heavens! Forever Love, Paul |
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David Migliaccio |
To the family of Freya Bruington,
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Mcneill's |
Paul and Family,
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peg griffiths |
Freya was a very special friend to me. I am so sorry that I wasn't more in touch with her in her last days. Freya taught me many lessons, not the least of which was her tender compassion. She will always be a special part of my memory. Let us not forget how much Freyal loved Jesus, and I look forward to seeing her one day in Heaven. We were "pals" and shared many wonderful times together. In her last letter to me, her sense of humor showed through: She said in a recent overnight visit to the hospital she left the next morning feeling fine but a little off key. In the same breath she asked me if I was stiill playing the violin! God bless all of you in this time of loss. I hope we will keep in touch. |
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Jeanne and Michael Charnigo |
To the family of Freya Bruington... You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Your mother was for certain a gentle and sweet lady to have raised such a genuine and caring daughter as Marcy, our good friend and neighbor, and now matriarch of your lovely family. God bless you all. Jeanne and Michael Charnigo
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Dan Cole |
Although I never personnelly met Freya, I new her from the CBS Message board, where her name was seventyplus. This lady was insprinational in bringing the Auto Boards on CBS into what we now call "Our CBS Family" She helped take the lead into bring us all together and gave us the inspiration for our Motto "We agree to disagree". She will be sorely missed. May she rest in peace as she is now in God's hand. |
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Patrick ( S/N Justgreat) |
Much like Dan Cole I was lucky enought to get to know your Mom through the internet ( CBS Sportsline ) What an outstanding caring person she was. I knew she was i'll but many people who interacted with her had no clue because she remained cheery and never put herself before the needs of others.. I'm certain your loss is much greater than ours but I wanted to let you all know that we all do a major void here as well.. May she now reap the rewards of all her good deeds here on earth in Heaven.. God Bless your Family |
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Mike "Section_725" Porchik |
I met this great lady over on the cbs message boards as well. She always appeared cheerful, and would treat you with respect, even when she disagreed with your opinion. I will miss her.
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Mike Porchik |
Like Dan and Patrick, I only knew Freya (seventyplus) from the cbs message boards. She was always respectful of others, even when she disagreed with your opinion. She would only pop in every once in a while, but I was always glad to see her. She will be missed by many. |
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James "Frady" Morley |
Like the rest of the CBS message board posters I would like to send my condolences to all of Freya friends and family. She was a very nice sweet woman and will be missed by many. |
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Brian "hat6creek" Ballinger |
I'm another of those who counts himself as blessed to have gotten to know Freya through the CBS Auto boards. What a wise, caring and compassionate spirit she was! I still treasure her words of support and encouragement, offered when I lost my mother a little over a year ago. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. God bless. Psalms 17:15 |
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Russ Meador.....aka Plaid |
I too am another CBS message board member who is saddened by the loss of a wonderful lady. I only wish that I was able to thank her for the laughs and her honesty in person. Sometimes it's tough to convey your thoughts and their meanings while typing. With Seventyplus, it came naturally, and was never questioned by me or the other people there. It was always a treat to see her posts.
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Carol Whitman |
As I poured over this memorial, many memories flooded my mind from earlier days in Laconia. When I think of Freya, I can't help but remember the calm and steady influence she had on many of the young women at Laconia Christian Fellowship. She was so full of insight and understanding...the right thing said at the right time that made lasting impact, that "knowing" smile she would give that would tell you she really understood and that everything would be "OK". All this time has stretched toward eternity and I must say I have yet to meet another person kinder. Looking at all the pictures, I was warmed by the rich legacy Freya has left in her stead...a legacy that speaks of love. |