Brigitte Marie Coan
July 21, 1933 - April 14, 2019
Brigitte Marie Coan, 85, of Michigan City passed away at her home in Michigan City on Sunday, April 14, 2019 with her loving family by her side.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at noon at First United
Methodist Church in Michigan City. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:00 am to noon at the church. Brigitte will be laid to rest at a private burial at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens.
Root Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Brigitte was born July 21, 1933 in Stuttgart, Germany to the late Karl Wilhelm and Luise (Kromer) Gotz. After World War II, Brigitte moved to England for 3 yearsbefore immigrating to the United States. Upon arrival, she worked as a nanny for Dr.s John and Charolette Kerr. While working for them in Long Beach she met a handsome Air Force boy next door named Alan Coan.
On June 25, 1960 Alan and Brigitte were married at First United Methodist Churchin Michigan City. Alan M. Coan, who is surviving in Michigan City, deeply misses hiswife of 58 years.
Also surviving are her 6 loving children, Carl Coan of Michigan City, Heidi (Randy)Carter of Sandy, Utah, John (Cindy) Coan of Michigan City, Ralph (Jenny) Coan of Redondo Beach, California, Susan (Jason) Geddes of West Lafayette, Indiana and Mark (Roxanne) Coan of Orlando, Florida, fourteen grandchildren, 2 brothers, 3 sisters, and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by one sister, Erika Hesselberth, and one brother,
Wolfgang Gotz.
Brigitte worked for JC Penney in the Men's Department as an Associate Manager. She retired in 2000 and then again in 2003. Prior to that she provided home day care to Michigan City area children. Her greatest joy was being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and Tante.
Brigitte was a member of First United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir for 51 years. She was also a member of the Ruth Circle and SPC Great Banquet.Brigitte was a talented cook and baker. She loved traveling the world, reading German magazine, playing cards and Yahtzee, knitting Christmas stockings, playing classical piano and violin, and being a host family for foreign exchange students.
Brigitte lived with an adventurous spirit. She was a survivor of World War II. After the war, she was the classic immigrant who took a boat to America with nothing more than her suitcase and a few dollars. Brigitte went on to travel the world including numerous trips back to Europe, cruises to the Caribbean, and trips to the Middle East and China. She enjoyed roller coasters, hot air balloon rides, and even zip lining down a mountain at age 75. The way she lived her life and the memories she created for her family and friends will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Choir.
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Visitation Period:
Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 12 Noon
Type of Services:
Funeral Services
Burial Location:
Swan Lake Memorial Gardens
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