Christine Patricia Brewer, 9/11/1937-11/17/2016

7-11 lost a loyal, coffee-drinking customer on November 17, 2016. Christine Patricia Brewer died after a battle with lung cancer that had metastasized to her liver and brain. Chris, Sparky, Mom, Aunt Chris, and Grandma, are a few of the monikers by which she was known. Christine was born on September 11, 1937, to her proud parents George James Goretsas (4/23/1896--4/15/1967) and Grace Louise Goodpaster (06/16/1912--12/17/1990). She evened out the mix of children, becoming the youngest of four. Her eldest brother, James George Goretsas (9/18/1928--11/18/2002), called her “Miss Missy,” her older sister Esther Louise Goretsas (7/7/1937--?/?/2016) was often tasked with braiding Christine’s hair, and Donald Lawrence Goretsas (12/23/33) used to tug her braids.

Christine met and married Donald Richard Brewer during her senior year in high school. Shortly after graduation, she married her Marine sweetheart. While they wanted to start a family right away, Christine's doctor told her she could never have children. Please understand, Christine had an iron will, and nothing felt better to her than proving the “experts” wrong. It may have taken seven years, but she did, indeed, conceive and give birth to a son, James Richard Brewer, (8/31/1961). Just to be sure the experts knew they were wrong, Christine gave birth to twins not quite one year later, Carl Lloyd Brewer and David Charles Brewer,( 8/9/1962). Three under two years of age, can you imagine? While Christine enjoyed her three boys, she couldn’t help wishing for a girl. She was thrilled when, three years later, her wish was granted. Patricia Kathryn Brewer was born on 6/28/1965. Four children might have been enough for other mothers, but not for Christine. Eighteen months later, Michael Lee Brewer was born, (1/18/1967). Christine loved her babies and enjoyed being a homemaker. She became an accomplished baker and an excellent cook, the smells of fresh baked bread filled her home on many a morning.

In the Spring of 1967 her beloved father, “Poppy” died of a heart attack. Three months later, her husband moved out of their home and filed for divorce. It seemed logical for her mother to sell her house and move in with Christine and her children, and that is what happened. Christine waitressed at Diamond Jim’s in Grossmont shopping center while she put herself through nursing school. Working full-time, going to school, and raising five kids is exhausting, yet she managed to not only graduate at the top of her class, earn a 1st place trophy in a national nursing interviewing contest, but ensure her children knew they were loved. Little things, for example sitting in the hallway between all of the kid’s rooms, strumming her guitar and singing folk songs, to big things, like renting a motor home and driving through many states and then to Mexico City, were how she demonstrated her devotion to her children. Today, it might not seem like a big deal to rent a motor home and drive to Four Corners or Mexico City. If you take into consideration Christine did just this in the late sixties, when women were not necessarily seen at the wheel of a motor home, you will probably get a better idea of the magnitude of Christine’s resolution to enrich her children’s lives.

Some say determination, other say sheer force of will, and still others will call it is sheer stubbornness, but the fact remains, Christine wouldn’t let her age, gender, or marital status keep her from learning or growing. While nursing in the Scoliosis department at Kaiser Hospital, where she worked for over 25 years, she observed the men in the cast room, applying and removing casts and braces, and assisting in surgery. She got it into her head she could do the same. When an opening for an Ortho Technologist presented itself, she applied. She not only broke into a male-dominated field, but she succeeded and was respected by her peers and the doctors she assisted. Many years after she became an Ortho Tech, she sat the initial Ortho Technologist exams and became the first female certified Ortho Tech.

Christine had a big heart and an open door policy. When her co-worker needed a place to stay after a messy divorce, Christine opened her home to both her co-worker and baby. When her son’s friends lived through traumatic experiences and needed refuge, Christine welcomed them into her home and counted them among her children. She offered guidance, support, and love along with a bed, couch, or floor on which to sleep, and dinner to fill their empty tummies. If someone in her sphere needed help and it was within her power to do so, she helped.

Between establishing herself in the orthopedic department at Kaiser as a nurse and becoming an ortho tech, her children graduated high school, went to colleges, married, and four out five of them had children of their own. She enjoyed being a grandma, especially when her grandchildren were young. Soon after her older grandchildren began graduating from high school, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She decided life was too short to spend the rest of her days working, so she retired, had surgery to remove the cancer, and took on the task of helping to raise her youngest grandchildren. She may not have been perfect, who among us are, yet she gave what she had to those she loved.

Any sendoff for Christine would not be complete without mentioning her friend and good buddy Sandy Vish and her children Julie and Jimmy, who saw to her comfort and care during the last weeks of Christine’s life. At one point during Christine’s stay at Hotel Vish, she got it into her head she wanted to walk to 7-11 for coffee, in her nightgown, at 5:00 in the morning. Even for those who are morning people, that’s a little early to be chasing a woman who was unstable on her feet down a steep driveway and then coax her back into the house.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society. https://donate.cancer.org/index.aspx?campaign=CY16MemPage&_ga=1.28982078.389908831.1479579652

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