Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Jean Marie (Funder) Brouwer was born to Marjorie and Fred Funder in Los Angeles in 1942. She was raised with one brother, Richard. Her father worked in the Aircraft Industry, while her mother was a homemaker. The family lived close to Margie's sister, so the kids were close with their cousins Lynn, Mike and Todd. They spent a lot of time together at the beach during the summer. During those early years, Jean played the accordion. She went on to graduate from Inglewood High School and started working as a Secretary for her father.

When Jean was 19, she met a young man who was working at the gas station and it changed her life forever. His name was Louis Brouwer and he remembers that Jean was really nice to him. The couple dated for two years doing things they enjoyed, such as going dancing, to the movies and to dinners together. Lou asked Jean to marry him and the couple wed in a lovely church ceremony on April 28, 1962.

Starting a family, the couple welcomed two sons born four years apart: Kurt and Jeff. As a mother, Jean was loving, giving and structured. She was very meticulous. She taught the kids how to be organized and gave them responsibilities around the home. Every morning she made a pot of coffee and kept it in a carafe so it stayed hot all day long. She loved drinking coffee. Dinnertime was family time, as they gathered around the dinner table every evening and started their meals by saying grace. The kids always knew how much they were loved as they were provided for and had everything they needed. As the kids were growing up, she enjoyed decorating the live Christmas tree each year in a traditional way. Doing things for the family was her greatest joy in life.

Jean volunteered her time for 12 years as the Secretary at the First Nazarene Christian School in Norwalk, where Kurt and Jeff attended private school. She was very detail oriented and dedicated to her volunteer work.

As the kids grew up and married, Jean was very supportive of their families. She was thrilled with the births of her grandchildren, Jakob and Tori. They were the lights of her life. She was proud of Jakob as he's involved in football, basketball and baseball. She liked going to his Christmas concerts where he played the trombone. For Tori, she was a very involved grandmother as she watched her sing in school performances and in dance recitals. She had special bonds with both Jakob and Tori, as their presence made her smile.

With a love of holidays, Jean colored eggs for Easter each year. She created baskets for the kids and when they had families of their own, she continued the tradition of baskets, not only for her grandchildren, but for her boys still. She loved the Fourth of July for its BBQs, outdoor fun and in attending the big fireworks shows. For Thanksgiving, she made a beautiful turkey and it was one of her favorite holidays. She had a creative way of making Jell-O salad with special recipes, adding Cool Whip, fruit, marshmallows, or her special, secret ingredients. For Christmas, Jean liked to shop for other people. She was practical and extremely thoughtful, thinking through what she would give to each person. She was fair and spent the same amount on everyone, but could have always gone over the limits she set for herself, because this was one way she expressed her thoughtfulness and love.

Over the years, there were great times and fun parties with neighbors Carol and Sanford. The foursome enjoyed the New Year's holiday together, going to the Queen Mary or other sponsored parties. For the family, there were wonderful vacations to a beach house in San Juan Capistrano. Jean and Lou also enjoyed trips to Palm Springs and a memorable visit to Hawaii in 1979.

Jean had many favorites. She absolutely loved songs by singer Barry Manilow. As a member of the Barry Manilow Fan Club, she received early mailings about his concerts. Jean, Lou and Jeff attended his concerts every year. In fact, they probably attended more than two dozen concerts of his in all. Jean and Lou saw Nat King Cole sing at the Hollywood Bowl, and many other legends over the years. They enjoyed shows at the La Mirada Civic Theatre once a month, as they owned season tickets. While she loved concerts and stage shows, for 12 years, Jean volunteered at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center as an usher. She loved it because she could see the shows and help people. Her favorite television shows in the 80s were "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest." Friday nights were special nights watching her shows. She also enjoyed watching the awards shows such as Oscars and the Emmys. She cried and laughed at the celebrity speeches, as she lived vicariously through their success. She enjoyed the first few seasons of "Survivor" and she liked watching "Dancing With the Stars." Her favorite magazine was People Magazine, as she was invested in the lives of the stars, and in others. Her favorite day of the week was Saturday. In fact, Saturdays were special as she got her hair done every Saturday and she'd go shopping afterward. Jean loved to laugh and enjoyed life with her family. She liked the beach, the outdoors and she liked gardening later in life. Her favorite flowers were irises and carnations, but she admired exotic flowers because of their unique beauty.

For wedding anniversaries, Jean and Lou celebrated each year by going to a nice restaurant. There were also special gatherings along the way. For their 25th anniversary, the entire family enjoyed a celebration at Bobby McGee's. For their 40th anniversary, the family rented a stretch limo for Jean's first limo ride. Then, the whole family enjoyed a special dinner at Captain Jack's on Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach. When Jean turned 50, the family threw a surprise party at Kurt and Teri's home. It was a wonderful party with her friends and family. She walked in and started crying, because she was overwhelmed with how much people cared for her and loved her, and wanted to be there for her. It was a memorable, wonderful time.

Although she faced health challenges since 1980, she repeatedly bounced back. Over the last decade, Jean became more demonstrative and ended phone calls with the words, "I love you." Family meant everything to her and it was important for everyone to get together. Her sons and their families always visited and called regularly. Known for her generous nature, Jean was thoughtful to everyone else's needs as she put those ahead of her own. Her purpose in life was to raise a family and she did that beautifully. She always cared and listened when her sons called by phone. She'd stop what she was doing and listen. It was admirable as she paid attention and tried to offer advice or help.

In her final days, her hope was to be at home and her family honored her wishes. She said, "I have to accept this," and she did. She also comforted her sons by telling them, "You'll be okay." She was proud that they both had families of their own. She even asked about Kurt's blood sugar and in every way, she was a mom until the end.

Jean Brouwer will be remembered as a generous and thoughtful wife, mother and grandmother. People truly appreciated her throughout her life. Her salon even sent a card that said, "It doesn't seem like Saturday without you." The family will miss everything about Jean. Lou will miss her presence and his loving wife. Kurt will miss the holidays and spending time with her. Jeff will miss calling her a few times a week and updating her on Tori and the latest in his family's life that week. As a mother-in-law, she was wonderful and caring. Her family will remember her loving habit of sending cards to all of them for holidays, birthdays and even St. Patrick's Day.

Jean will be laid to rest with her mother's ring and a beautiful God's Eye, handmade by her granddaughter Tori. The one Barry Manilow song that captures the family's sentiments now is "Can't Smile Without You." As she gave her sons wings to fly in life and create their own wonderful families, a spirit dove followed by a flock of doves will be released in her memory at graveside. With her beliefs in God and Heaven, the family feels she is now at peace and one day they will be reunited with her again. Memorial donations are welcome in Jean Brouwer's name to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org), or Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org).

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; brother Richard; and cousin Mike. She is loved and remembered by her husband Louis; son Kurt, his wife Teri and their son Jakob; son Jeff, his wife Mary and their daughter Tori; cousins Lynn and Todd; extended family, friends and neighbors.