Patricia "Pat" Painter (Howe) Brenner

Patricia Painter Brenner of Mesa, Arizona passed away July 21, 2018, at the age of 91. She was born May 11, 1927, in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Ralph and Edith [Ingalls] Howe. Patricia (Pat) was married to Kenneth I. Brenner on June 21, 1948, and they enjoyed their next 70 years together. Being a very social person, she enjoyed many friends and neighbors and typically befriended any and all she met. She enjoyed many activities during her life including gardening, camping, canoeing, ice skating, and tennis. In her later years, she tirelessly enjoyed sewing quilts for needy children. Patricia also enjoyed traveling the entire country in a travel trailer with her family as well as visiting both Australia and New Zealand with her husband. She and her husband were residents of Rockford, IL for over 50 years where she was a member of First Evangelical Free Church and the Friendship Sunday School class. In 1971, at the age of 44, Patricia graduated from Rockford College in Rockford, IL with a Bachelor's degree. Patricia loved helping children and taught grade school in Rockford. Later she volunteered as an assistant teacher in Arizona during the winter months. She was also an active member in the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and the Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) Patricia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be dearly missed. She is survived by her beloved husband, Kenneth I. Brenner; children, K. David Brenner, Brooks Brenner, Jonathan H. Brenner and Robin Brenner; half-sister, Laura Raff of Providence; half-brother, H. Thurston Howe of Maine; grandchildren, Andrea Brenner Aubert, Patricia Morton, Gordon Benjamin Ralston, Loren Giselle Brenner, Kenneth J. Brenner, Christopher T. Brenner, Jonathan J. Brenner, Michelle Sauve, Julia VanSteenwyk, as well as 9 great grandchildren. Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Edith Howe, her aunt Anna Howe, and her daughter, Polly Anne Ralston. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patricia’s name to: Broadway Christian Church, 7335 E. Broadway Road, Mesa AZ 85208. Arrangements entrusted to Mariposa Gardens (480) 830-4422.