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Brynhild de Veciana

2/21/1925 - 8/19/2020

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Obituary For Brynhild de Veciana

Brynhild (Bryn) Anderson de Veciana 95 ½ yo, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2020 at home. She was born in Denver, Colorado to Gustav Anderson and Ida Agnes Wilshire, the original owners of the Silver State Laundry which is now a historical landmark in Denver. After graduating from high school, her adventurous nature took her far from home to Oberlin College in Ohio during war time; she graduated early in 1948. Her unique gift for languages, her exceptional intelligence, integrity and impeccable organizational skills earned her a job with the U.S. Foreign Service and she moved to Washington D.C. for intensive training. In 1949, she was assigned to her first post abroad in Norway at age 24. Four years later, she moved to Madrid, Spain, for her second assignment when Spain was living through the dictatorship under General Francisco Franco post World War II. She was a highly independent, strong woman who insisted on always being true to herself. As a liberated American woman, she wore pencil pants in public and drove her convertible in Madrid proudly at a time when women in Spain were highly oppressed. She met and fell in love with Antonio de Veciana, a Spaniard, at age 31; He asked for her hand in marriage the night that they met. To marry this foreign national in 1956, she reluctantly resigned her position with the U.S. Foreign Service given her access to highly classified government information. She was an avid traveler and explorer in her lifetime, leaving very few countries in this world unvisited. Her life while married to Antonio de Veciana, a Spanish diplomat working for the United Nations, took her to reside in several places including Paris, France, Montevideo, Uruguay and Mexico City, Mexico, before she returned to the U.S. in 1982 when her marriage ended. She then spent 17 years in San Francisco, California and subsequently moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia where she resided the last 20 years of her life surrounded by her loving family.

She was thankful for all her life experiences (the good and the bad) as they helped to mold her persona into the remarkable, resilient woman that we all knew and loved. She was a precious “mother” to many and a devoted grandmother who was determined to hang on until her two grand-daughters were both in college. She was an excellent listener and a loyal friend to all those who knew her. She treated everyone with kindness and respect regardless of color or creed. She was blessed with an unwavering positive outlook on life, an infectious smile and wonderful sense of humor.

Bryn transitioned peacefully with her angels, holding her daughter’s hand and with a smile on her face. She is survived by her daughter, Margarita deVeciana Haugh and son in law, Barry F. Haugh, her son Gustavo Antonio de Veciana, her son-in-law Farid “Mike” Haddad, her loving grand-daughters Bryn Ann Haugh and Sarah Kathryn Haugh, several nieces and nephews and all their children. She was predeceased by both her parents and her brother Gustav Anderson, her ex-husband Antonio de Veciana and by her youngest daughter Theresa who passed away at age 35 due to complications of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

Per her wishes, a celebration of her life limited to close family will be planned when the COVID-19 pandemic permits travel. In the interim, her wish was for blue flowers to be planted in her memory. In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bryn’s memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDRF) an organization that strives to find a cure for T1D, a disease that took her beloved daughter Theresa’s life at such a young age.

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Condolences

  • 04/08/2021

    Anna Gyurjyan

    Dear Bryn's Family
    Dear Dr. DeVeciana , please accept our condolences..
    We are so sorry for your loss. Your mom was an exceptional person and her passing left huge void in your lives but her Love left memories to be cherished forever. She is loved and is resting in Peace.

  • 04/08/2021

    Linda Bennington

    Thinking of you at this time as we both know--life moves on with the energy of what was created left behind. She was an amazing woman and so are you, so much like her. Sending much love your way.

  • 04/08/2021

    Julianne Toohey

    Such a lovely tribute to your mom, Margarita! What a wonderful woman to celebrate-she sounds so much like you! All my love to you and the entire family during this difficult time.��

  • 04/08/2021

    Dr Thiendella Diagne

    Mes condoléances les plus attristées
    A la mémoire de votre chère maman disparue.
    Je ne lâ??ai jamais rencontrée mais câ??est une dame de caractère.
    En plus elle nous a donné une excellente professeur en vous.
    Je vous présente mes condoléances les plus attristées de la part de tous les anciens residents de lâ??Eastern Virginia Medical School.
    Que la terre de Virginia Beach lui soit légère.
    I wrote in French as a tribute to her love for foreign languages.
    May she rest in peace.
    Du Courage Professeur!!!

  • 04/08/2021

    Dick Willard

    Margarita; So sorry for your loss . My prayers for You and family. Dick Willard

  • 04/08/2021

    Shelby Lindsey

    Bryn was such a special lady and I loved hearing her laughter during our visits. I will always hold a special place for you in my heart. I enjoyed being your hospice CNA. Prayers to her friends and family.

  • 04/08/2021

    Sandra Hewlett , Montevideo, Uruguay

    Mis muy sinceros y sentidos pésames.

  • 04/08/2021

    Karen Andrea Yuhas

    Dr. deVeciana,
    Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your mom. She was truly an amazing woman, so much like yourself. Please treasure all the wonderful memories to a life well lived. My heart goes out to you and your family and her friends during this difficult time.

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