It is with sadness she is gone and joy that she has moved to a kinder place, that we announce the passing of our mother, Darlene Rae Brewsaugh, of Greensburg, Indiana on Friday, January 13, 2023. Mom was born on October 2, 1943, in Greenville, OH to Vernon and Lillian Poling (both deceased). Moving often in Ohio as her dad found work in the construction industry, her solace was always horses. She loved to ride.
In her senior year of high school in 1960, mom moved with her family, including her brother Phil Poling (Margie, who survive her), to Greensburg, Indiana. She was unhappy to leave friends and cousins, but quickly made friends in her new school, and got a job waitressing at Pasquale’s Windrift Inn on the East edge of town. It was there she met Don Brewsaugh, who wooed her with his fast car and charming good looks.
On February 10, 1963, mom married Don in Greensburg. They quickly grew their family, welcoming Deanna Lynne (Hookway–Scott) in December of that year, and Brian Scott Brewsaugh (Melissa) 18 months later in March (who survive her).
Mom enjoyed makeup and hair and attended beauty school before marriage and began working at salons while having and caring for her children. She also worked in the Merle Norman makeup studio in Greensburg, which was opened by her mother.
Later, mom would work in the cafeteria at North Decatur High School, working for her mother-in-law (Lucille, Orville Brewsaugh—deceased), who managed it. Later in life she would work in other retail settings, including CVS, always making great friends along the way.
Mom played golf at the Greensburg Country Club both in a women’s league and a couple’s league with dad. She enjoyed that very much and the good friends she made there.
She also was a crafter, sewing many articles of clothing for her kids, and for her kids Barbie dolls, cross-stitching, and crocheting. She also loved to play cards, spending many hours playing with family and friends and neighbors in her North East St. and Crown Pointe neighborhoods.
Her husband Don Ross Brewsaugh, preceded her in death in 2009 and was greatly missed by mom.
Mom dearly loved her grandchildren, Lauren Brewsaugh, Dylan Brewsaugh (Larissa), Nicholas Hammerstrom, Anna Hammerstrom, Ashley Gilland (Pete), Samuel Hookway (Amie), and her great grandchildren, Colten Dyer, Raelynn Brewsaugh and Astrid Gilland (who all survive her). She also has a niece and nephew Poling, and many nieces and nephews on the Brewsaugh side and many, many more grand nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 19 from 4:00 to 7:00 at Porter-Oliger-Pearson Funeral Home in Greensburg, IN. There will be no funeral service. A graveside service for family will be held at a later date.
In remembrance of mom, a donation to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks go to this organization and also to the kind and wonderful staff at Aspen Place in Greensburg, as well as her doctors who worked hard to make her quality of life better. We can’t thank you all enough.