Anne Brosio, 70 Farmville Native Dies February 16

Published 4:38 pm Sunday, August 15, 2010

CALIFORNIA, Feb. 19 – Anne Landon Brosio, 70, a loving wife and mother, an avid equestrian, a music enthusiast and a retired nurse, quietly passed Monday, February 16, 2009 at her South Pasadena home.

Born in Farmville on June 30, 1938, her sense of adventure motivated her throughout her life. Anne was taught in a small rural schoolhouse where, determined to move on to bigger things, she trained herself in biology to gain a scholarship to college. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia in June of 1960.

She met her husband, Robert Louis Brosio, while he was attending the Army Judge Advocate General's School at UVA. Their connection was instantaneous, as they were married within a year and remained together more than 47 years.

Following graduation, she was a head operating room nurse at the UVA hospital, later working as a public health nurse in Washington, D.C.

In 1963, they headed west to Robert's native Southern California where they settled into South Pasadena. There they oversaw construction of the family home where they raised two children and lived for 42 years. In 1967 she was selected as one of the “Outstanding Young Women of America” in recognition of her service work.

Equally committed to her family and profession, Anne remained active in the nursing community even with a busy home life. She served in various roles at the Pasadena Chapter of the American Red Cross, including for a time Chairman of Nursing and Health Services. Her dedication was recognized when she received the Clara Barton Commemorative Medal, the highest award given by Red Cross for volunteer service. She also worked as a part-time school nurse in Alhambra, South Pasadena and Pasadena.

Her appreciation of history and the arts was manifested by her active involvement in a wide range of cultural institutions such as the Pasadena Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera Associates, The Committee of Professional Women for The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, the Coleman Chamber Music Association, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and as a library and art docent of 20 years at the Huntington Library.

Anne battled Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer for over 20 years. Despite repeated bleak diagnoses, she persevered to overcome the odds and continued to live a full, active and spirited life. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and will be dearly missed.

Anne is survived by her husband Robert, and their two children, Hilaire Alexander Brosio and Serena Louise Brosio; brother, James Edward Harris Jr. of Richmond; Virginia.

Her beloved mother, Nell F. Harris Sr. also passed away on February 16 in Chesterfield.

A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 20 at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena.

The family asks that donations be made to the American Red Cross or the Coleman Chamber Music Association.

Cabot and Sons Funeral Home, Florida, is in charge of arrangement.