Elizabeth Anne Bruhwiler

Delaware - On Friday October 22nd, an incredibly bright light went out when our mother, Elizabeth Anne Bruhwiler passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69. She was born January 22nd, 1952 in Columbia, South Carolina and adopted shortly after by William and Annette Bruhwiler. Elizabeth grew up in Rutherford and later Mantoloking, New Jersey. She moved to Colorado with her first love, Michael Murray, where her daughter Amanda was born. A few years later, she and Amanda moved to Germany with her second love, Jim Ruterbories, where her daughter Amber was born. From there, they moved to Maine, where Elizabeth raised her family. Maine is also where, coming full circle, Elizabeth passed away. Elizabeth lived most recently in Delaware, where she moved to from New Jersey with her husband Dail, who passed away just seven months ago. Elizabeth lived an incredibly full life. She traveled the world- saw, and experienced life in a way most of us could only dream. She was amazingly and impressively well-read. Elizabeth had a vibrancy that anyone who knew her can attest to. She had a smile that could light up the world, an amazing sense of humor and an unmatched intelligence that lit her from the inside. She was incredibly wise, unequivocally kind and accepting. She loved with her entire being, and those of us who were lucky enough to have her light shine upon us will be forever changed and will always feel the absence her loss has left behind. Elizabeth is survived by her daughters, Amanda Klaus and Amber Holmes, her sons-in-law Kevin and Adrian, her bonus sons of her heart, Brandon and Jonathan, her grandchildren Ben Mestdagh, Zoe and Stella Holmes, whom she loved tremendously. Elizabeth was also incredibly excited to find her biological brothers, sisters, and cousins a few years ago. Finding them and getting to know them meant the world to her. Elizabeth also leaves behind her best friend/ brother Donald Roberts, and cousins and nieces and nephews from the Bose family who she cared for very deeply. There will be a celebration of life in Delaware after the holidays, and in lieu of flowers, anyone who would like to is invited to donate to Habitat for Humanity- a charity that meant a lot to Elizabeth, and one that she supported whole-heartedly. Elizabeth's love and light will always shine and will never be forgotten. We will always be better people because she loved us.