Gretchen Broering Aug. 18, 1915 - Aug. 27, 2010

Born in Indianapolis on Aug. 18, 1915, Gretchen Broering passed away at her home on Balboa Island on Aug. 27, 2010, of natural causes and surrounded by family, friends and the family doctor.

Gretchen’s parents, Lawrence and Frieda Broering, moved the family to South Pasadena in the 1920s where Gretchen and her brothers attended South Pasadena High School. After graduation in 1933 Gretchen attended UCLA as a member of one of the first classes to enroll at the new Westwood campus. As a Bruin Gretchen earned her teaching credential and went on to teach elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District for more than 40 years.

Since the 1950s Gretchen was a resident of Balboa Island commuting to Los Angeles to teach school. In Newport Beach Gretchen was active in the Assistance League, Hoag Hospital Auxiliary and a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. She also served as a loyal participant in the Laguna Beach Methodist Art Assn.

An avid traveler, Gretchen is known for her love of leaving the comfort of home to explore the world. Her travels include trips to Europe, Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East and several times “around the globe.” This is her legacy to her many relatives and friends; to see other places and to experience foreign cultures as a way to appreciate God’s creation and other people.

A celebration of her life will be at the family home on Balboa Island.