Vida Getrude Brill

She was born on June 18, 1936 to Walter and Edna Bruns – the youngest of their four children. She graduated from Crete-Monee High School in 1954 and then worked for the local telephone company.

On June 13, 1959 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crete, Vida married Martin H. Brill of Chicago Heights, Illinois. They were known to some as Herb and Gert. The family spent the first two decades of their life together traveling across the country and overseas, courtesy of the US Air Force. They had three children and a number of dogs.

In the mid-1970s the Brill family relocated to Tucson, Arizona where Martin retired. Vida worked in sales for many years, and later volunteered in various capacities, including rocking babies at the hospital and playing with dogs and cats at the animal shelter. She also sewed and crocheted baby blankets for a church outreach ministry.

She loved singing in her church choir and with her husband of 44 years. She enjoyed picnics and sight-seeing in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, bowling nights, hiking Picacho Peak (near Tucson, AZ), and treating her family to lunch or dinner at one of their favorite restaurants.

Vida is survived by her three children and their spouses: Debbie (Brill) Croft and son-in-law, Ron Croft, of Central California; Scott Brill and daughter-in-law Lori (Lichte) Brill of Surprise, Arizona; Becky (Brill) Zibert of Gilbert, Arizona. Also her 10 grandchildren (and spouses): Jeremy Croft, Emily Croft, Joshua and Chas Brill, Caleb and Kelly Brill, Nathan and Krista Lee Brill, Drema (Brill) and Mark Dixon, Hayden Brill, Andrew Gasparro, Kimberly Murillo, Kelsey Zibert, Zachary Zibert; seven great-grandchildren, in addition to a niece, Jo Eichler, and 3 nephews, Allen Harmsen, Rick Goncher, and Randy Goncher.

She was quiet, classy, feminine, a list-maker and prayer warrior, and grew more caring and generous as the years went by. She didn’t like cold, rain, clouds or snow, and now lives in the realm of eternal Day.

A memorial service was held at First Baptist Church Chandler on December 28, 2016.

Arrangements under the direction of Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, Chandler, AZ.