Brenda K. Azinger Obituary (1942 - 2020)

Brenda K. Azinger, 78 of Bloomington, IL. passed away at 1:20 pm Monday March 9, 2020 at her residence. A service celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 am Monday, March 16 at First Baptist Church, Bloomington, Illinois. The Rev. Brian Hastings will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday, March 15 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm at the church. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, Illinois will assist with arrangements. Brenda was born February 4, 1942 in Hannibal, Missouri, the daughter of George Arthur & Jesse Faye (Shadwell) Johnston. Brenda attended Culver-Stockton College, where she earned her B.A. in music education. Her first job after graduating from college was as a music teacher in Warsaw, IL, where she met the love of her life, Albert Azinger, an English teacher there. They were married on January 1, 1965 in Hannibal, Missouri. Throughout the years, Brenda and Albert lived in Kirkwood IL, Iowa City, IA, Lawrence, KS, and then Bloomington, IL. Brenda earned a M.A. in music education and taught for over 35 years. She was an innovative music educator recognized nationally for her work with MIDI technology. Her favorite age to teach was middle school-aged teens. Brenda often taught private piano lessons to neighborhood children and was a church organist. Brenda and Albert loved traveling and went on many adventures during their 55 years together, including traveling to four continents, 49 states, and more countries than they could recall. Brenda also loved spending time outdoors, gardening, playing the piano, with friends, and wherever her kids and grandkids were. Brenda struggled valiantly with metastasized serous cancer in her last months, cared for lovingingly, at home, by her husband, daughters, alongside amazing hospice and private caregivers. Her faithful friends provided invaluable love and support during this time, too. Her husband, Albert, survives. Also surviving are their two daughters: Natalie (Daniel) Eness of Ankeny, Iowa & Catherine (Terrence) McAlister of Homewood, Illinois, 8 beloved grandchildren, whom she found great joy in: Garrett McAlister, Hilary McAlister, Maxwell Eness, Nicholas McAlister, Grace Eness, Joshua McAlister, Ella Eness, and Samuel Eness, and 3 step-siblings: Diane Crow of Jacksonville, NC; Terry Smith of Cape Girardeau, MO; and Lyle (Mariana) Smith of Springfield, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents; a stepfather: Floyd Smith; and a sister and brother-in-law: Ardith (Robert) Hansen. Brenda was active in a variety of areas at her home church, First Baptist Church of Bloomington, including youth and music ministries. She was also active on the board and guild of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra as well as the Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter of McClean County for many years. Memorial donations may be made to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra or to the First Baptist Church in Bloomington, Illinois.