Louise A. Brehler

BREHLER, Louise A. January 21, 2018. Age 89. Beloved wife of the late Edward J. Brehler for 67 cherished years. Loving mother of Richard (Mary), Susan (Mark) Kopsch, Catherine (Charles) Peet, Patti Brehler (Andy) Andersen, James (Laurel), Anne Bicego, and Joseph (Karen). Proud and adored grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 12. A proud "Yooper" born and raised in Harvey on the shores of Lake Superior, Louise was full of spunk and opinion. Her love of slot machines came from when she was a little girl. To keep her occupied, her tavern-owning father would often give her a nickel to play in his bar-top machine. When she described the thrill of hitting the jackpot her eyes would light up like a child on Christmas morning. Louise traveled to the big city after high school to study cosmetology and afterwards roomed with her sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Arnold St. Onge. Their next-door neighbor, Edward, soon became the love of her life. A strong and capable woman, Louise took on motherhood as a vocation. Her firstborn son, Richard, described the life skills she modeled: "How to talk to kids, how to cut their hair, how to nurse them when they're sick, how to cook, how to take pride in having things the way I like them, how to worry, how to clean anything, how to save bits of information and knowledge to share with others, how to stay married, how to put the health and safety of babies before anything, and how to ask my own kids for advice." Louise was proud of the brood she raised and relished spending time with them. "I tried to give each of my kids even just 10 minutes a day of one-on-one time," she said, wanting each of them to feel as if they were the most special. Even so, all seven understood that the love between Louise and Edward came first - and was sacred. A storyteller, Louise loved holiday rituals. It pleased her to see her grandchildren continue with new traditions. Family was everything. Like her husband, Louise claimed the secret to a happy marriage was that "the couple who showers together stays together." Her recipe for a long life was one small glass of red wine a day (not a whole bottle) and one piece of dark chocolate (not the whole bag). "But in the end," Louise said, "the only thing that matters is love." Louise passed peacefully in her sleep to be with the love of her life. She has missed Edward terribly. A Memorial Service will be held in April, near to the date of Louise and Edward's wedding anniversary (this would have been their 70th year) at Resurrection Cemetery, 18201 Clinton River Road in Clinton Township. Details to follow. Please share memories with the family at the "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Elizabeth Brehler Scholarship Program at Wayne State University School of Social Work (on-line at: https://giving.wayne.edu/donate/socialwork, or send a check to: Wayne State School of Social Work, 5447 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, please indicate the Elizabeth Brehler Scholarship Program in the memo).

Louise A. Brehler

July 28, 1928 - January 21, 2018