Althea Bremner

Althea Bremner passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 8 th at 1:20 PM in
Brewster, Massachusetts, surrounded by loved ones. She was 97 years old.
Born Althea Latham in Brewster, Massachusetts to parents Joseph and Althea, Althea
lived a beautiful life full of meaning, friendship, family, and helping others.
Althea was a caretaker by nature, so it was no surprise that she would go on to
graduate from New England Baptist nursing school and become an RN. Over the
course of her career, Althea would help save lives, working as a nurse at Elizabeth Lund
Home, the medical center at the University of Vermont, Special Nursing Care in
Orleans, and Brewster Manor.
On May 19 th , 1951, Althea married the love of her life David “Bear” Bremner. Their
relationship was fun, loving, and wonderful. After leaving Cape Cod and living in Kansas
for six years, they would eventually settle down in Hinesburg, Vermont in 1958, where
they would become pillars of their community.
Together they had three daughters, Susie, Sally, and Sandra. As a mother, Althea was
dedicated and loving. Althea’s nature was happy, inviting, fun, and open, and thus, the
spaces she occupied took on that same energy. All the kids in Hinesburg wanted to
come over to hang out at the Bremner household, if for no other reason than to hear
Althea’s infamously contagious laugh.
In 1979, Althea and David, seeking to return to their roots, moved back to their family
home in Brewster, Massachusetts. Back on the Cape again and now retired, Althea’s
propensity for living life to its fullest continued. Althea hosted Brewster White Caps
baseball players and J1 students from France, England, and Bulgaria. She frequented
Café Alfresca and spent time with her many friends including Melanie Gallagher and
Barbie Long. She hosted full family Thanksgiving dinners with her daughters and her
grandchildren. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, she confidently cruised around
Brewster in everything from a bright orange Vespa to a Toyota Camry which had a horn
that beeped consistently of its own accord. When her beloved husband David passed in
1996, Althea persevered, maintaining her independence into her elder years and
continuing her role as a supportive mother and grandmother.
At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, Althea was the greatest grandmother the world has
ever known. She made her grandkids laugh until they cried, took care of them when
they were sick, and supported them when they needed help or a place to stay. She went
to sporting events, participated in the “parent-kid” softball games, and even got a tattoo
with them. Multiple friends of her grandkids have independently described her as “a total
legend” and a better description does not exist.
And now for the part that Althea would want to see in here the most: Althea loved golf.
Some people love golf and that’s the end of it, but Althea also crushed at golf. Althea

has 9 club championships (4 at Rocky Ridge Golf Course in St. George, Vermont and 5
at Captain’s Golf Course in Brewster, MA). She hit four hole-in-ones over the course of
her life. Althea struck fear into the hearts of her opponents, but always played, won, and
lost with grace, a positive attitude, and a laugh.
Althea is predeceased by her husband, David “Bear” Bremner, and her five brothers,
Joe, Howard, John, William, and Tom. Althea is survived by her three daughters Susie
Bremner, Sally Mead, and Sandra Smith; her five grandchildren Shawna Mead, TJ
Mead, Nick Mead, Kristyna Smith, and Bremner Smith; and her six great-grandchildren
Jackson Mead, Cally Mead, Cooper Mead Agel, Calvin Mead, Bennett Mead, and
Cedar Smith. She was so, so greatly loved and she will be dearly missed.
A celebration of Althea’s life will take place at a yet to be decided date and time.