Mary Beth Brewster of Dana Point, California passed away on August 25, 2024 at Providence Mission Viejo Hospital after an acute illness.  She was surrounded by family and close friends. Mary Beth experienced the joy of teaching English to students at Woodridge High School in Irvine, California for over 30 years.

Mary Beth was born in Anderson, Indiana on January 5, 1953 to Walter and Esther Seipel Brewster.  During childhood she was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who celebrated holidays together.

She graduated from Madison Heights High School in Anderson, Indiana. Mary Beth then went on to attend Purdue University where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a major in German and minor in English.

Growing up, a week long road trip in a 1954 Chevrolet without air conditioning became a family tradition every summer. We visited Civil War battlefields, national monuments, homes of former Presidents.  One memorable night we slept in the car as no room was available in the Washington, DC area. (These were the days before advanced reservations!)

Years later we remember that call from Mary Beth during her senior year at Purdue when she was standing at the base of a hill struggling to move her big Samsonite suitcase up a steep hill to her homestay in Germany.

Travel was one of her greatest passions, so when she moved from Indiana to Los Angeles at the age of 30, she worked for a travel company. Mary Beth and her husband at the time traveled independently to Egypt so that she could represent these experiences to the more adventurous clients in the early 1980s.  Together they toured Europe for a couple months and we all marveled at their slide show! But Mary Beth's recent trip to Russia was the crown jewel of her travels. How she loved those Faberge eggs.

Mary Beth appreciated art and loved visiting fine art museums.  Along with her sister, Anne Marie, they toured London, Paris, Giverny, New York City, Boston, and Chicago together.  Plans were afoot to revisit the newly renovated Frick Museum in NYC.

Teaching colleagues, friends, and neighbors in Southern California brought her happiness without bounds as she had a circle of loyal, accepting friends.

Mary Beth was a passionate and unparalleled Aunt to Amy and Joseph, her niece and nephew.  She never missed a graduation or special occasion.  Holidays were always spent together. Thoughtful cards were sent (and saved) for every event.  She served as Joseph's home away from home during his 14 years in Los Angeles, and she even officiated Joseph's marriage to his wife Stephanie.  She was recently promoted to "Great Aunt" with the birth of two grand nephews and one grand niece.  Her love for family knew no bounds.

Mary Beth is survived by her sister, Anne Marie Herrold of Chicago, IL and her husband, Robert (Bob);  niece Amy Herrold McDaid of Chicago, IL and her husband, John, and children Oliver and Áine; nephew Joseph Herrold of Chicago, IL and his wife Stephanie Groman, and son, Max.; and cousins.

A Celebration of Life and luncheon will follow the service at the Sea Ridge Condominium Clubhouse at 24641 Evening Star, Dana Point, CA 92629.

Donations can be made to the World Wildlife Fund

worldwildlife.org or call 1-800-CALL-WWF

A special thank you to her kind and compassionate neighbors who always supported Mary Beth especially in her final hours. They have been a Godsend to our family at this time.

"...books can open magical doors to other worlds. They can transport the reader through time and place, teaching valuable lessons along the way." [Memories: Volume 01 by Mary Beth Brewster, 2022]