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Lynn Brereton Rich passed away on November 20, 2015.
This was posted on Facebook by Lynn's son.
My amazing mother touched many lives through her example as a teacher, church leader and friend with her gentle, loving, and memorable personality. Since we may not be aware of all those who were blessed to have known her, this provides a venue for wide distribution. As we go into this Thanksgiving holiday, remember to be thankful for your mothers. Give them a call or a hug and tell them you love them. Although we may not have her with us at our table this year she will forever be in the hearts of the family she deeply loved and that loved her in return and continued to be cherished by all those lucky enough to have known her. The below was distributed by my father the night she passed.
"Hello all,
Very sad news.
Lynn passed away tonight, Friday November 20, 2015 at 7:08 pm due to complications caused by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) virus working on a weakened immune system she has had due to Schleroderma.
Two weeks ago she complained of lower abdomen pain. With her schleroderma, she would frequently have pains in various parts of her body. She was also feeling greater fatigue and resting in bed most of the day for about 2 weeks. Then on Thursday 11/12 she went to urgent care, and by 11/13 she was admitted to the Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla California overlooking the Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean. She always loved ocean views -- not so much golf courses, but she really liked the green grass. As the week passed her ability to absorb oxygen decreased to the point that she was admitted to ICU to obtain more oxygen. At the same time, the CMV virus had (probably) entered her lungs making it even harder to breath. She was put on a ventilator and heavily sedated on Tuesday morning 11/17 at 4 am and became totally under sedation -- never to be awake, or be conscious again, though supposed "comfortable" under all of the sedatives and pain killers. The virus continued to strengthen and her lungs and kidneys continued to weaken. Everything possible was done to help her recover without avail and she passed away tonight 11/20. She had great doctors, residences and nursing staff throughout her 9 day stay in the hospital. Our four children and her brother, Jim, were at her bedside as she passed into paradise.
We, like you, will miss her dearly.
Thank you for all of your kind words, deeds, visits, administrations, concerns and communications.
David"
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Karen Lindsay (Palmer)
I had the good fortune of being one of Lynn Brereton’s close friends as we made our way through junior high and high school. Lynn was a quiet, studious girl: she didn’t seek the limelight, but her own inner light shone brightly. Lynn saw the humor in everyday situations and had a ready laugh that I can still hear when I think of us walking together through Linton’s long hallways. Lynn was fun to be with; she was honest, open, fair-minded, and always, always kind. In all the years I knew her, I never heard her say a harsh word about anyone. She was academically brilliant, but modest about that too. While I struggled on a daily basis to understand the concepts Mr. Prindle was teaching us in our senior-year advanced math class (to me, even the name of that class—“12X”—was a mystery), Lynn caught on as quickly and easily as the class wizards—Lou Green, Chet Pach, Bob Westervelt, and Dan Garber.
Lynn was a gentle spirit and a loyal and true friend. I will always remember her with admiration and affection.
-- Karen Lindsay Palmer
Marcia Miller
Hello, Karen,
Your loving post about Lynn really touched me. I knew Lynn all the way back in elementary school and always admired her kind, gentle manner, easy smile, playfulness, and sturdy mind. Like you, I have only fond memories of her and was shocked to learn of her passing. Fortunately, her large and loving family will carry sweet memories of her, and do her friends, old and new.
All best,
Marcia Miller
Laraine Pacelli (Desmond)
I am so saddened to hear of Lynn's passing and the struggles her gentle soul faced as she moved forward into the great unknown. Like Marcia, I too knew Lynn in childhood, but knew her mostly from our days as Brownies with my mother as leader and then in Girl Scouts - Troop #258 - with Peggy Rotundo's, Elaine Biagi's, and Greta Paine's mothers as our leaders. Lynn was a truly lovely person, so contrary to the humor I and Rita Pigeon presented with - but Lynn, despite her quiet demeanor, knew a good laugh when she saw it, heard it. On one not so funny occasion that later became funnier when we told it - On one of our many overnights at Hidden Lake in Lake Luzerne, Rita and I came upon Lynn reading a book as she was precariously sprawled out on on a massive birch tree that leaned out over the water. No sooner had Rita and I taunted that she was going to fall, she did. OMG, she emerged from the lake drenched from head to toe, her book definitely worse for the wear. Dumbstruck, the 3 of us said not a word as Rita and I stared like the gawky adolescents we were and Lynn hightailed it back to her lean-to soaked to the bone dripping puddles with every step. Like I said, it wasn't funny at the time, but developed into a knee slapper after. Lynn was a beautiful, beautiful person whose light and graceful name suited her perfectly. I continue to wish her my love.
Susan (Sonya) Takaroff (Trevizo)
I was impressed by karen's heart-felt and beautifully written tribute. I remember Lynn from Oneida where we sat in the same group during Mr newell's English class. Her strong spirit shone through her soft, sweet, unassuming personality. Although I only knew her for a short time I was grateful that our paths had crossed