Elena Brasen

Pine Hill-

Today, April 11, 2020, Mrs. Elena V. Brasen, 86, of Bonnieview Avenue in Pine Hill, New York died peacefully from natural causes at her home after a short illness.  She was born March 8, 1934 in Valparaiso, Chile and in March of 1958 she married Rudolph Ludwig Brasen and a few months later they moved to Pine Hill on July 16, 1958 and has remained at the Bonnieview Avenue residence for the remainder of her life.  Elena and Rudy gave birth to a son, Walter Rudolph on April 7, 1959 and two years later they gave birth to a daughter, Katherine Rosa on May 31, 1961.  Elena received her final citizenship papers on December 14, 1962 which was one of her proudest milestones as well as passing her driver’s license test in January 1965.  She is predeceased by her husband Rudolph, he passed away in August 1974, and Elena never remarried.  She made sure her children knew right from wrong and raised them to be able to care for themselves at early ages.

Elena was devoted to her family in the early years and once the children started Elementary school, she worked at the Phoenicia School as a teacher’s assistant.  She was also a Den Mother for Cub Scout Troop 60 as the years went by.  She was involved with the Pine Hill Association, the Ladies Auxiliary Club as well as the Village of Pine Hill Board of Trustees and helped the Pine Hill community for numerous years volunteering whenever possible.  Gardening, music and sewing were her main hobbies and she took pride in her garden work on and around the sign “Welcome to the Village of Pine Hill”.   Once her children became adults, she spent a few years working for the Pine Hill Arms and eventually opened her own sewing and alteration business on Main Street called “La Pequena Shoppe”,  which she successfully and proudly ran for 28 years until 2019.

She is survived by her daughter Katherine (husband William), son Walter (wife Lylene), along with three grandsons (Vincent, Everett and Jacob), and three great grandchildren (Maximus, Castiel and Scarlett).  She also leaves behind many great friends and many great memories.  There will be a private service for her family and friends.  The family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Pine Hill Community Center.  Please share a special memory with the family on Elena's Memorial Page at www.gormleyfuneralhome.com  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the E. B.Gormley Funeral Home 87 Main St. Phoenicia.

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