Monday, January 23, 2023

The Passing of Guardianship Reform Advocate Debbie Berendt Trew

There are no words to effectively express our deep sorrow. This past week, the guardianship reform movement lost an exceptional advocate: Debbie Berendt Trew.

Long before NASGA was formed, Debbie was watching out and advocating for the elderly and disabled. She had been speaking up and standing tall for those mistreated or ignored for years. She understood how the system worked and didn’t work. When she met and joined NASGA, we were sure she was heaven sent.

Debbie worked mostly behind the scenes, heading up our Research Department and working with new members. She always did more than we asked of her. Her heart was full of an abundance of empathy and she had an uncanny sense of digging deep into her research.  She was absolutely committed to reform.

She was a person of great faith. She loved her God and her family and friends intensely. She often entertained us with stories about her grandchildren, whom she adored of course. They gave her joy and purpose and she felt so blessed to have them.

Likewise, all of us at NASGA felt blessed to have Debbie in our lives and working closely with us in this cause. She was a good friend and is missed beyond words.

 Godspeed, Debbie.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please no, not Debbie Trew. She talked to me when I first joined NASGA and was very patient and kind. I'm sorry NASGA. My condolences to her family.

Anonymous said...

This evil cannot be allowed to be contained. Like a mighty fortress is our God!

Sylvia said...

Rest in Peace Debbie. You will always be remembered especially as an important member of Team NASGA.

Sara said...

God Bless Debbie. We will always be grateful for her hard work in the guardianship advocacy. There are no words to express the sadness and loss of this heroic woman. She will truly be missed. You will always be in our hearts. You’re our guardianship angel 😇.

Anonymous said...

Debbie was a steadfast true-blue person. She was a beloved pal for many of us. She was like a detective when it came to research. She could find just about anything! We miss you, Debbie. Rest in peace.

Anonymous said...

Rest in Peace Debbie!

Coz Whitten Skaife said...

I am so honored to have known Debbie. This is a tragic loss for so many of us. Sending special thoughts and prayers to her family especially her little miss Ivy.

NASGA said...

Debbie was a good friend and I especially hate to see her go so young and without being able to watch her beloved grandchildren grow up. Those kids brought her so much joy.

We will all miss her and we will never, ever, forget her.

Catherine Falk said...

Debbie and I shared a treasured friendship through Facebook, by phone, and texting since 2015. She was one of the very first to reach out to me via Facebook regarding the advocacy work she and I were both focused on. We shared our investigative nature of seeking the truth in others and we both admired that about one another. The most remarkable quality in Debbie was her unwavering loyalty to those she loved and trusted. She never deviated from her trusted moral compass and it guided her towards the most authentic relationships/friendships. Debbie always did what was most challenging, in difficult times she rose to the occasion with determination and perseverance, never shied away from the challenges or adversity she would face in seeking truth, information that helped others! Debbie was and is a remarkable human being who was always there for me, putting others ahead of herself always living in the moment being the best version of herself. I cannot even describe in words what a loss of a beautiful life and soul Debbie is now and forever in my heart. She guided me through some tough times, was my biggest champion, and a dear friend. Debbie's fierce LOYALTY is what I will remember most and cherish deeply. I was honored to share such a treasured friendship with her. Even though we had completely different political views, we had the most constructive and thoughtful conversations honoring each other's differences with grace and respect because our friendship was deeper than what was at the surface. While I am not a religious or spiritual person,I believe angels are put on this Earth for a brief period on a mission to make a difference, and when the time is up, the special angel leaves us the most indelible footprint in our hearts and minds as a way of giving us that roadmap into our own souls and how we navigate our future here on Earth. I will miss you so much. I wish you were still here, because you were such a bright light as a mother, grandmother, and friend. Rest easy, Debbie. Much love now and always to my loyal friend, Catherine Falk

StandUp said...

Debbie's death leaves a big hole in the hearts of all who loved her. She will be missed as long as anyone who knew her still lives.

Finny said...

She did her angel work during her life and now she can celebrate that life with the angels above.

My condolences to her family.

Elaine Renoire said...

One of the last things Debbie posted on her FB page was a picture which appears to have been taken Christmas day. The room was a mess with wrapping paper everywhere and evidence of a wonderful day spent with her beloved grandchildren. Her son teased Debbie with a post saying it looked like a bomb had gone off and Debbie responded, "Best bomb in the world!"

That's how I will remember Debbie. She loved her family with her every breath. She loved them fiercely.

We miss her so much...