Kathryn Jane Brew

Surrounded by the love of her family, Kathryn Jane “Kathy” Brew passed away on August 22, 2026, in Sarasota, Florida. She was 78 years old. 

Kathy was born on April 21, 1948, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to William and Jane (Powers) Smith. She moved with her family to Garden City, NY, where she grew up alongside her brother, James Smith, and sister, MaryAnn Sullivan, and across the street from the love of her life, Jim Brew. Years later, Kathy and Jim would marry, beginning a remarkable love story that lasted 54 years and remained at the heart of her life. 

Kathy began her career as a flight attendant with TWA, where she was among the first flight attendants to fly the 747 out of JFK. Her love of travel and adventure stayed with her throughout her life. As a military wife, she made a home in North Dakota, and in the years that followed, Jim’s career took them to Chicago and Hong Kong before eventually returning them to Garden City. 

Amagansett, NY, held an especially meaningful place in Kathy’s heart. For many years, she and Jim spent their summers there, creating some of her happiest memories surrounded by family and friends. Kathy loved to entertain, and Amagansett became a place where her door was always open, the table was always full, and there was never a shortage of family, friends, laughter, and parties. After retirement, Kathy and Jim made Amagansett their year-round home before eventually moving to Sarasota, Florida. Wherever life took her, Kathy had a remarkable ability to turn a house into a home and make the people around her feel welcome and loved.

 Being a mother to her three sons was one of the greatest and most defining parts of Kathy’s life. She was endlessly devoted to her boys and was always there, from the countless lacrosse games she attended over the years to the everyday moments in between. She was there to pick them up, lend a helping hand, bend an ear, and, when the occasion called for it, deliver a swift kick in the pants. She was their biggest supporter and took tremendous pride in the men they became. 

Kathy was a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, and truly one of a kind. She was the person you could always count on. She had a smile that could light up a room, an unforgettable sense of humor, and a mischievous streak that made her so much fun to be around. She loved bringing people together and had a gift for making everyone feel like they belonged. 

But above all else, Kathy loved her family. Her love was fierce, unwavering, and unconditional. She adored her four granddaughters, Elle, Grace, Avery, and Charlotte. The family dogs, whom she affectionately called her “grand poopies,” brought her endless joy and held a very special place in her heart. 

Kathy is survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, Jim Brew; her three sons, James and his wife, Venessa, Patrick and his wife, Tina, and Brendan and his wife, Jacki; and her four granddaughters, Elle, Grace, Avery, and Charlotte. She was predeceased by her brother, James Smith, and her sister, MaryAnn Sullivan. 

There are no words that can fully express how deeply Kathy will be missed. Her love, her laughter, her strength, and her unmistakable spirit will live on in her family, her friends, and in the countless memories shared by all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.