Brigitta E. Aumen

Brigitta Elisabeth Aumen (Friese), age 95, died peacefully in her sleep in Omaha, Nebraska with her son Mark by her side. She was a devoted wife to her husband Thomas for over 64 years. She was a loving mother of four children. ‘Oma’ was a joyous grandmother of nine, great-grandmother of eleven and great-great-grandmother of three. Her sincerity and love always tried to promote harmony to her family and friends alike. Brigitta was a gifted and accomplished artist. She loved to share her beautiful and creative work with others. She excelled in oil painting, china painting, sewing, knitting and interior decorating. Brigitta was also an avid swimmer. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining friends and family in their home. Many organizations were blessed with her volunteer work. Brigitta and Thomas traveled extensively together throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Australia and New Zealand. Brigitta Elisabeth was born to the late Julius and Natalie Friese in Marienwerder, East Prussia, at the beginning of a great worldwide depression. At a young age the family moved to Angerburg, East Prussia. Her father was a furniture designer and man of influence in the city. She was the third of four children and ten years old when war once again ravaged Europe. Her father was pressed into military service in September 1943 and as the Russians advanced westward, a mass migration of East Prussians began in January 1944. Brigitta and her family were among them, walking over 700 miles in the next four months of winter and war to Elsfleth, Germany. Julius was reunited with the family from the Russian POW camps in 1950. After the war ended, Brigitta worked as a telephone operator and night nurse aide. She sought work in England for one year and was introduced to dentistry. Upon her return to Neustadt, Germany, she was formally trained in dental hygiene and began work at Ramstein Air Base. There she met USAF Sgt. Thomas Aumen of New Oxford, Pennsylvania and they were united in Holy Matrimony on April 4, 1956. Shortly thereafter they moved near Thomas’ hometown in Pennsylvania for a year before he reenlisted. They were subsequently stationed at Selfridge AFB, MI, Woodbridge RAF, England and Nellis AFB, NV. While Thomas served a one-year tour of combat duty in Vietnam and Thailand, Brigitta moved the family to Marine City, MI until he retired from the military at Wurtsmith AFB, MI. They then owned and operated, together, the Fairview Garage in Fairview, MI for fifteen years. After tiring of the snow, they moved to Newport News, VA for six years. They moved to Hamilton, OH in 1996 and made many friends and associations through the German-American Club. During the last year of her life, she lived with her son and his wife, Carl and Lois Aumen in Omaha, Nebraska. Brigitta Elisabeth was gracious to the end. She remained close to God and The Church, receiving Anointing of the Sick, an Apostolic Blessing and Viaticum on Christmas night. Thomas preceded Brigitta in death on January 7, 2021. Brigitta is survived by three children, Carl (Lois) Aumen, of Omaha, NE; Ulrica (Thomas) Bowen of Zeeland, MI; Mark (Laura) Aumen of Larkspur, CO; and son-in-law Terry Headlee of Kimball, MI. They have nine grandchildren: Christy (Chris) Berdan, Jim Headlee, Matthew (Mary) Aumen, Laura (Dominic) Dougherty, John (Anne) Aumen, Mary Aumen, Paul (Jillian) Bowen, Rachel (Jean) Jean-Pierre, and Allan Aumen. They were blessed with eleven great-grandchildren: Nichole and Tyler Berdan, Bradley Hunter, Luka and Xander Bowen, Blaise and Genevieve Aumen, Kristin and Dominic Doughtery, Leo Aumen, and Beau Philippe Jean-Pierre; and three great-great-grandchildren: Cali, Thomas, and Brody Mertz. Also surviving are her in-laws: Adrian (Leslie) Aumen of Spring Grove, PA; Bertha Kuhn of New Oxford, PA; Charlotte Hull of York, PA and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Julius and Natalie Friese, dear daughter Angelika Headlee, brother Oswald Friese, and sisters Renate Friese and Gisela Häring. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 24, at St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church, 382 Liberty Avenue in Hamilton, Ohio. Visitation will also be on Friday, January 24 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. The burial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 24, at Dayton National Cemetery where she will be buried with her beloved spouse. Please consider donations in her name to Wreaths Across America www.wreathsacrossamerica.org or to St. Jude Hospital www.stjude.org.

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Brigitta E. Aumen

October 7, 1929 - December 28, 2024