Brenda Ann Bidegain Braswell

b. March 28, 1945 Casa Grande, Arizona
d. June 13, 2024 Tucson, Arizona

 Brenda was a beloved teacher, homemaker, and the acting matriarch of her large blended family. Her father Pete Bidegain's first wife had died of polio and he and his two year old daughter, Page, had moved to Casa Grande where his wife's mother lived. About the same time, Brenda and her family were living in Japan; her father died in a fire on a US Navy ship, and her mother, Clorene moved back to Arizona to live with Clorene's mother in Casa Grande. When Brenda was seven and Page was five, Pete and Clorne met and married, and in the next several years had their three other children, Cathy, Peter, and Todd.

 In 1961, her parents and her four siblings moved to near Elgin where her father, Pete, had been hired to run the Brophy family's large cattle operation. She and her siblings quickly became friends with the large number of children who lived nearby and, as the eldest, Brenda loved her role as chauffeur. She graduated from Patagonia Union High School and earned both her undergraduate and master's degrees at Northern Arizona University. She dedicated her career to teaching Home Economics, profoundly impacting many students over the years.

 Brenda married J.D. Braswell (Braz) with whom she built a country home in Sonoita. They shared a love for travel, visiting numerous destinations in Europe, enjoying cruises, and making memories all across the United States. Brenda was also an avid photographer, a hobby that complemented her love for nature, as seen in her beautifully tended flowers and fruit trees and in her care for the wild birds she fed daily. Her culinary skills were renowned: Braz and their dogs were extremely well fed. During the holidays her extended family enjoyed many a grand feast at her table.

 In her final years, Brenda resided at the Cascades of Tucson, where she continued to embrace life, making new friends among residents and staff alike. As of June 2024, Brenda is survived by her brother, Peter Bidegain; sister, Cathy Dukes; and many nieces, nephews, and their children. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.D. Braswell; her parents, Pete and Clorene Bidegain; brother, Todd Bidegain; and sister, Page Gayler.

 Brenda and her siblings were all proud of their Basque heritage from their father, Pete.

Written and edited by Corbin Smith, from information provided
by Betty Barr and Gay Moss

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