Brigitte Mariani

Brigitte, 82, died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family on June 29th. Brigitte is survived by her children Tania, Ezio (Barb), Elio (Georgia); six grandchildren Miguel, Joshua, Marcello, Mia, Isabella, and Abrianna; and her sister, Edith Nendl. Brigitte was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, Ennio Mariani; her sister, Ursula Hofaker and brother, Bodo Hellweg.

Brigitte was born in Germany to a family of bakers in Vegesack, Germany. As one of Erna and Wilhelm Hellweg’s four children, and as a child, Brigitte could often be found in the family’s bakery sneaking sweets. She met her life-long partner and future husband, Ennio, while working at a hotel on the North Sea Coast of Germany. They travelled and worked together in various hotels in Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, and Montreal, Canada before marrying and moving to the US in 1964. She lived in Arlington, VA for over 30 years before retiring and moving to Yanceyville, NC. Together, Ennio and Brigitte built a beautiful house and garden at the edge of Farmer’s Lake.

Brigitte was a baker, nature-lover, chef and lover of good foods, penny-pincher, polyglot, accountant, dancer and music-lover. She loved having a garden of flowers and organic vegetables, traveling, the beach, her toes in the sand and searching for shells, and, most of all, her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Sarcoma Foundation of America. https://curesarcoma.org/ways-to-help/donate/