Brittany Ann Blumenthal-Hines

Brittany Hines departed from this life in the early hours of Saturday, 6-Feb-21 after a decades-long fight with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. She was 32 years old. Our family is now completely incomplete. Yet, all of the memories and stories of her shine upon us like a beautiful, warm Summer day.

During a hospitalization in her grade school years at Shriners Hospital Chicago, there was a poster that hung on the wall in the physical therapy department. It simply read “Disabled – yeah right”. This encapsulated her attitude. She was brave, adventurous, and never gave up.

She lived her life well. She was ambitious, she had goals, and she accomplished much. Brittany was pleasant, didn’t complain about her situation and cared about everyone. She had a great sense of humor and wit with the best laugh. Brittany was a loyal friend and those who met her were impacted by her amazing spirit. She enjoyed traveling (especially new adventures), preferred mountains over beaches, but loved Lake Michigan and the Ocean. She was a sun goddess and lover of flowers, animals, birds, and butterflies. She had the best hats. She loved reading, cooking/baking, entertaining, and especially eating. She was serious about her Birthday which she celebrated for 6 months and reserved the other 6 for celebrating Christmas. She spent many Christmas Eves at all day movie marathons with her family. Her dog Audrey was her most loyal companion.

Brittany graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. She lived in Chicago for four years and fondly called Buckingham Fountain her muse.

She married the love of her life and best friend Ryan Hines in May / 2016. The couple lived in Thomasville, GA for three years prior to moving to Phoenix, AZ in 2018. Together they co-owned Bear Paw Independence. A small business which designs and sells assistive devices for people with disabilities. Brittany enjoyed writing her adventures of two people who use wheelchairs falling in love in this crazy world in her blog “Love in the Land of Giants”. She was also an active member of Ability 360 - Phoenix, AZ.

As we pick up the pieces, we will carry on with Brittany-branded humility. She was a shooting star and we are lucky to have had her in our lives. We struggle with these words but know it to be true: Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

Brittany is survived by Husband Ryan Hines, parents Joseph & Cynthia Blumenthal, grandparents Tom & Mary Greenwood, great aunt Dolores Piggush, aunt Mary Beth Greenwood, uncle Jason Greenwood, aunt Sandra Stanley, mother-in-law Robin Cumbest, brother-in-law David & Whitney Hines, brother-in-law, Jon & Kristina Hines. Proceeded in death by great aunt Betty Jean Wilkens, great aunt Geraldine West, great aunt Carole Petross, and paternal grandparents Tim & Lori Blumenthal

Services will be at Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene on Friday February 26th. Visitation will begin at 2:00PM and the Celebration Service to follow 6PM-7PM. The Celebration Service will be livestreamed. Check FaceBook for details. Flowers and other donations should be sent in care of the family Hines/Blumenthal directly to the church at 1000 N. Entrance Ave. Kankakee

Please click on the link below to view the service live.

https://boxcast.tv/view/memorial-service-for-brittney-blumenthal-hines-398547