Joann Brenner

Joann ("Nina") Brenner, Mother of seven, grandmother to eleven, and great grandmother to two passed on December 15, 2023. She began life as a mischievous and feisty child in Sardinia, Italy, surviving through the ravages of World War II. She yearned for a better world that only she could create, and as a young woman left her family to move to Rome to begin a better life. Working as a nurse and, at times singing in coffee shops, she lived the life of an iron willed, independent woman. At a party, she met a young medical student, Max, a holocaust survivor. They married, and as they started their family, she and Max boarded other medical students to support themselves as Max worked through medical school. With friends they began a tradition of dinner table debates that carried over to family dinners amongst their seven children. The family dinner table was always lively to say the least. Although Max loved Italy, they chose to immigrate to the United States, hoping for a life of greater possibility for their family. Sometimes the world is not as we wish, but Nina tenaciously, at times mythically, molded her world to meet her expectations. She loved babies, her gardens, antiques and works of art that reminded her of the palaces of Italy, Italian opera, singing, cooking, and traveling. When visiting Italy she was proudly American, when home in the United States she was proudly Italian. Of all her joys, her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, brought her the most. That joy and love was expressed in how she encouraged, nourished, and molded them to achieve their highest potential. Those who had the pleasure of loving her will miss her deeply. Joann Brenner is survived by her children Marilyn and Pitman Baker, Robert and Bin Brenner, David and Karen Brenner, Jeff and Melinda Brenner, Steve and Jennifer Brenner, Andrew Brenner, and Elizabeth Brenner; grandchildren Richard Schaper and Becky Starnes, Charlie Baker, Rachel Brenner, Jimmy Brenner, Aron Brenner, Kaleia Brenner, Jake Brenner, Seth Brenner, Emi Brenner, Arabella Brenner and Alessandra Brenner; and Great-grandchildren Max Schaper and Simon Schaper. Siblings Adriana Fanari, Silvio Ledda, Gabriella Fanari, and a multitude of nieces and nephews who called her Zia Nina. Funeral Services will be held at 9 o'clock in the morning on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at the Agudas Achim section of Austin Memorial Park. T'hi Nishmato Baruch - May Her Memory be for a Blessing. A live stream of the service will appear on the Austin Natural Funerals Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/AustinNaturalFunerals, a few minutes before the service begins. A Facebook account is not required to watch. If a pop-up window appears asking you to log in click "not now" and the live stream will be available for you to watch. If the "not now" button does not appear, scroll down on the page and it will come up for you to select.

Joann Brenner

June 22, 1934 - December 15, 2023