REMEMBERING
Michele Firebaugh of Winnebago passed away Nov. 20 following a brief illness. A member of Freeport Church of the Brethren, Michele had been involved at all levels of church life—most recently including serving as financial secretary for the Camp Emmaus board and as vice chair of the Bethany Theological Seminary Board of Trustees. Michele also was an accompanist at the Freeport church and volunteered in a variety of other ways. A graduate of Manchester University and the University of Notre Dame, she retired from an accounting and finance position with Thermo Fisher Scientific in Rockford in 2022. She is survived by her parents, Doug and Audrey Firebaugh, who are also members at Freeport, as well as a sister, two nieces, and other relatives. A celebration of life service was held Dec. 4 at the Freeport church. Our thoughts are with the Firebaugh family, the Freeport church, and all those who knew Michele in this time of loss. More details are at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/michele-firebaugh-obituary?id=56832690.
Donna (Butterbaugh) Lehman died Nov. 29 at the Pinecrest retirement community in Mount Morris. She was 95. Donna grew up in Dixon Church of the Brethren, served in Brethren Volunteer Service in the early 1950’s, and was a long-time member of the Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin. She served as Illinois/Wisconsin District administrative assistant for more than 25 years while the district office was in Elgin. We are grateful for her long service to the district, and our prayers arce with her family (including Dixon members Duane & Janis Butterbaugh) in this time of loss. A memorial service was scheduled for Dec. 12 at the Dixon church. Her obituary is at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/michele-firebaugh-obituary?id=56832690.
Dale McBride, a former member of the now-closed Decatur Church of the Brethren, passed away Nov. 30. He was 95. Dale and his wife Jean were active members at Decatur and in district life. A funeral service was held Dec. 6 in Decatur. Read more at https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com/obituaries/Dale-Mcbride-3/#!/Obituary.
Jennifer Quijano West, 39, passed away unexpectedly Oct. 31 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was for a time coordinator of SeBAH-CoB, a training program for Spanish-speaking ministry students, and was a leader in Atlantic Northeast District. Early in her career she served as a ministry intern at the York Center congregation. On the denominational level she had been a popular speaker at National Youth Conference and National Junior High Conference, as well as serving on groups working on racial justice including the initial Standing with People of Color Committee. She was a graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary and a member of Brooklyn First Church of the Brethren. She was a teacher of science at Xaverian High School, Brooklyn. A memorial service took place Nov. 8 in Brooklyn and Nov. 30 in Lititz, Pa. Her obituary is at www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/33606013/jennifer-quijano-west.
Donna (Butterbaugh) Lehman died Nov. 29 at the Pinecrest retirement community in Mount Morris. She was 95. Donna grew up in Dixon Church of the Brethren, served in Brethren Volunteer Service in the early 1950’s, and was a long-time member of the Highland Avenue congregation in Elgin. She served as Illinois/Wisconsin District administrative assistant for more than 25 years while the district office was in Elgin. We are grateful for her long service to the district, and our prayers arce with her family (including Dixon members Duane & Janis Butterbaugh) in this time of loss. A memorial service was scheduled for Dec. 12 at the Dixon church. Her obituary is at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/michele-firebaugh-obituary?id=56832690.
Dale McBride, a former member of the now-closed Decatur Church of the Brethren, passed away Nov. 30. He was 95. Dale and his wife Jean were active members at Decatur and in district life. A funeral service was held Dec. 6 in Decatur. Read more at https://www.gracelandfairlawn.com/obituaries/Dale-Mcbride-3/#!/Obituary.
Jennifer Quijano West, 39, passed away unexpectedly Oct. 31 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was for a time coordinator of SeBAH-CoB, a training program for Spanish-speaking ministry students, and was a leader in Atlantic Northeast District. Early in her career she served as a ministry intern at the York Center congregation. On the denominational level she had been a popular speaker at National Youth Conference and National Junior High Conference, as well as serving on groups working on racial justice including the initial Standing with People of Color Committee. She was a graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary and a member of Brooklyn First Church of the Brethren. She was a teacher of science at Xaverian High School, Brooklyn. A memorial service took place Nov. 8 in Brooklyn and Nov. 30 in Lititz, Pa. Her obituary is at www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/33606013/jennifer-quijano-west.
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