Betty J. Breneman Brubaker

Betty Jane Breneman Brubaker, age 90, of Lancaster passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at Landis Homes in Manheim Township, surrounded by her loving husband and children. On June 3, 1950 she married Albert P. Brubaker, who still resides at Landis Homes. Born in Lancaster on July 30, 1927 she was the youngest of ten children of the late Charles C. Breneman and the late Flora (Eshelman) Breneman Shertzer. After graduating high school, her first job was “downstairs girl” for the Woolworth family in Lancaster. She worked several years doing bookkeeping and accounting. When her children came she became a homemaker. Betty loved babies! After having eight children, she helped two neighboring pregnant teenagers raise their babies. Then she took in a Vietnamese refugee family, a father and two young daughters, helping raise them. She also helped raise her first grandchild, Chloe, for two years. Big gardens—and lots of animals—were always part of her household. She was an excellent delegator: her children always had lots of chores! No one made more of a science out of laundry than she did. She was determined, stubborn, ferociously committed to her family. She was a Force of Nature in her love. In her later years, she loved to travel throughout the U.S. with Albert, visiting her far-flung kids and grandkids. She had a heart for the underdog. She could start a conversation with anyone anywhere. A lifelong traditional Mennonite, she joined Birth Right and loved finding friendships with many Catholic women. Her faith was abiding, incredibly important to her. Surviving in addition to her husband are her children, Paul, Rachel (Dennis Witmer), Lois, John (Carol Leaman), Carol (Luc Martin), and Beth Ann Brubaker (Tommy Johnson); sister, Grace Ebersole; and 11 grandchildren: Chloe, Hannah, Ben, Laila, Julian, Daniel, Grace, Peter, Jonathan, Laura, Leah. She was predeceased by sons, Daniel and Joseph Brubaker; brothers, Charles, Earl, Paul, Ralph, and Marty Breneman; and sisters, Ruth Hess, Emma Gochnauer, and Rhoda Breneman. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 6:30 PM at Landis Homes’ West Bethany Chapel, 1001 E Oregon Rd, Lititz, PA 17543. Family will greet friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Landis Homes Benevolence Fund.