Elizabeth Bremer Behrends

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on March 26, 1928, she was the daughter of the late William Ulrich Bremer and the late Bessie Barden Bremer.

Mrs. Behrends was a long-time resident of North Raleigh where she was active in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and the Drewry Hills Garden Club. Caring deeply for her family and for the welfare and happiness of those around her, Mrs. Behrends raised two boys, kept a loving home, and adored her three grandchildren. Over the years she attended numerous church committees, school meetings and sporting events. She was well-traveled, visiting six continents and enjoying many summers and holidays at Wrightsville Beach with family. She graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington, where she was a cheerleader and a lifeguard. Betsy attended Lenior Rhyne College, and went on to receive a BA degree in psychology from Women’s College of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1949. Recently she had resided at the Magnolia Glen senior community where she was an avid and often victorious bridge player.

Betsy and her husband Samuel Behrends were married for 46 years and one day at the time of his passing in 1995. She was also preceded in death by a son Samuel Behrends IV, a grandson Baruch William Behrends, a daughter-in-law Suzanne McCanless Williams, brothers William Ulrich Bremer and John Henry Bremer, and a nephew.

Betsy is survived by a son William Bremer Behrends of Natick, Massachusetts, granddaughters Evelyn Elizabeth Behrends of Natick and Natalie C. Behrends of Takoma Park, Maryland, a brother-in-law Frederick O. Behrends of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a daughter-in-law Christine Pendzich of Takoma Park, and 6 nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue in Raleigh on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 2:30pm. A reception will follow at Holy Trinity. Interment will be Monday, September 23, 2013, at 11AM, at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27601.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Betsy’s name to Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607; or to the American Cancer Society, 8300 Health Park, Suite 10, Raleigh, NC 27615.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.