Freya Gwendolyn (Brown) Bruington, 76, passed away April 12, 2008 at home, surrounded by her children and grand children in Chesapeake, Virginia. Freya was born on February 2, 1932 to the union of Henry and Delia Brown in Hinsdale, Illinois. She attended Lyons Township High School (LaGrange, Illinois) where she received a scholarship and attended Cornell College in Iowa. Freya inherited her parents' love for the spoken and written word and passed her gifts and appreciation for both to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many others. She was a kind and gentle soft spoken woman who shared her time and possessions freely with whomever had need of either.

She and her family moved from Illinois to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1970, where she lived until she moved to Laconia, New Hampshire in 1982 where she joined her three married children who were residing there with their families. She returned to Gainesville, Florida in 1993 to attend to her ailing sister Dena who predeceased her soon thereafter. In August 2007 Freya came to Virginia to reside with her son, Paul until her death.

She leaves behind to celebrate her life and cherish her memory a daughter Marcy Bergeron and her husband David in Salem, Massachusetts, a son William D. Hedges and his wife Nancy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and a son Paul R. Hedges of Chesapeake, Virginia.

She will be dearly missed as well by grandchildren Jesse M. Shefferman and wife Kate of New York, New York, Ryan Shefferman and wife Brandi of Danvers, Massachusetts, Jenna (Shefferman) Delgado of Salem, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Hedges of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Laura R. Hedges of Norfolk, Virginia, Rebekah (Hedges) McLamb and husband Richie of Chesapeake, Virginia, Matthew Hedges of Chesapeake, and David Hedges of Vermillion, South Dakota as well as great-grandchildren Andrew Shefferman, Audrey DelGado, Natalie DelGado, Jordan Shefferman, Nevaeh McLamb, Greyson McLamb, Abigail Hedges and Storr Shefferman.

The family and friends will be gathering on June 14, 2008 at 4pm at the Murphy Funeral Home 85 Federal St. Salem, Massachusetts to remember and celebrate her life. Her children gratefully acknowledge the many friends and acquaintances who have offered much support and encouragement upon her passing. Gifts may be made in lieu of flowers to the Freya G. Brown Scholarship for young writers. Her tribute and Fund information is posted online at http://www.americasmemorials.com/memorials/169