Jeanine Brendler Obituary

Jeanine Kay Brendler (nee Sofiak), 75, died peacefully at home in the presence of her loving family on October 5, 2023. She was an accomplished speech pathologist, beloved teacher, lifelong student and adoring wife, mother, and grandmother. Jeanine was born in Gary, Indiana to Mary Jane (nee Van Doren) and the late Michael Sofiak. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University in 1969 and a Master of Arts in French from Middlebury College in 1970. She later obtained a second Master's in Speech & Language from West Chester University. Mrs. Brendler worked as a Speech Pathologist for Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital and enjoyed many years teaching French at Friends Select School, Lawrenceville High School and the Walden School. Jeanine possessed an insatiable thirst for learning and traveling. She was always an avid reader and had a wide range of literary interests, extending from detective stories (a particular follower of Louise Penny), romance novels ("Gone with the Wind" being her favorite), classics, especially Jane Austen's novels ("Pride and Prejudice" her favorite), to historical novels dating back to long car rides with her father who, a history buff himself, would tell her stories about world history late into the night when other family members were asleep. One of her favorites was "The Three Musketeers. " Her reading interests extended to self-help books on healing (her favorite, "Rituals of Healing: Using Imagery for Health and Wellness"), to Feng-Shui books to organize and beautify our home. A favorite author on beauty was Alexandra Stoddard, whose books line her study book shelf, like "Creating a Beautiful Home," "Living a Beautiful Life," "The Art of the Possible," "Gracious Living in a New World," "Things I Want My Daughters to Know. " A lover of Paris, some of her favorite books relating to Paris were "French Chic Living" by Florence de Dampierre, "Quiet Corners of Paris" by Jean-Christophe Napias, and "Paris: An Inspiring Tour of the City's Creative Heart. " Jeanine is survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, John Brendler; her children Michael Brendler (Amy) of Bethesda, MD, Cara Wagner (Chris) of Rowayton, CT, and Rebecca Brendler of Wallingford, PA; 7 grandchildren Sammy, Zoey, Issa, Jackie, Lila, Benji and Kai; and her mother, Mary Jane Sofiak. She was the sister of Chuck Sofiak (Nancy) of Daytona Beach, FL and Michelle Stratmeyer of Ijamsville, MD and aunt of Keith Sofiak (Danielle) and Chase Sofiak (Brittany)Friends and family are invited to Jeanine's memorial service at Swarthmore Friends Meeting, 12 Whittier Place, Swarthmore, PA, on Sunday, October 8th at 2:00 pm. ____Arrangements: Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Homewww. haganfuneralhome. com