Dawn Mary Brehl

Dawn Mary Brehl, 87, passed away peacefully of natural causes on September 27, 2022, in Edina, Minnesota, with family by her side.

Dawn was born to the late Otto and Alice Thomas on August 30, 1935, in Minneapolis. She attended St. Margaret’s High School and the University of Minnesota. Dawn married the late James William “Bill” Brehl in 1960. She is survived by their six children: Theresa Brehl of San Diego, CA; Michael (Susan) Brehl of Mt. Rainier, MD; Christine (John) Erickson of Deephaven, MN; Kathleen (Elwood) Jackson of Leesburg, VA; Mary Alice (Lynn) Brehl of Inver Grove Heights, MN; and Jennifer (Bill) Winter of Saint Paul, MN. She is also survived by18 adoring grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her loving husband in 2017.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 17, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at O’Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home, St. Paul, MN. Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. with Visitation for one hour preceding, at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Lake St. Croix Beach, MN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in support of NC Little Hospice at 7019 Lynmar Lane Edina, or Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis at 1615 Fremont Ave N, Minneapolis.

Dawn’s greatest joys were family, friends, the adventures of travel, and the comfort of a good book. In the earlier years of their marriage, she and her husband Bill often braved the complexities of traveling with six children. Their journeys included, among others, an ill-advised and comical road trip with a pop-up camper, a driving tour up the California coast, andannual trips to ski in Northern Michigan. As an empty nester, she found time to travel with Bill, and sometimes her adult children, within and outside of the States. Her many travels tookher to such far-flung places as Tahiti, Mexico, Vanuatu, Norway, Italy, China, India, Turkey, and many more. Whether on the go or at home, she always loved diving into a well-written book, be it one she chose herself or that she was reading for one of several book clubs she joined over the years. Weaved throughout the fabric of Dawn’s life was the love and support of her friends. They will surely miss her companionship, her laughter, and the knack she had for telling a funny story. She exemplified the adage that “the best way to have good friends is to be one”. Dawn shared many similarly sage gems with her family and friends over the years. Memories of her wise counsel and joyful spirit will be a great comfort as they mourn her passing.

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