Brigitte Rosemarie (Franz) Beehler, 87, formerly of Sidney, NY, died in hospice care in her beloved home in Oneonta, NY, on January 10th, 2026, with her loving daughters by her side. When diagnosed with multiple myeloma in March 2025, Brigitte's first reaction was, "I have had a good life." All through her years, she embraced adventure and challenges alike with courage and grace.

Brigitte was born on June 4, 1938, in Quedlinberg, Germany, to Julius Wilhelm Franz and Anna (Janek) Franz. After WW2 she fled what became East Germany to live with extended family in Bad Harzburg, West Germany.

She became a photographer at age 19, working in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where she met her husband, Ron, of Niagara Falls, NY, on the ski slopes. They married on May 21, 1963 in Bad Harzburg, and set up life together in Bern Kastle, Germany.

When Ron's job called him back to the US, they moved to the Syracuse area. Brigitte proudly became a US citizen in 1977, and always had a copy of the US Constitution in her home. In 1980, the family, now including two daughters, Heidi and Monica (Mony), moved to Sidney, NY, where Brigitte quickly became invested in her new community. Working as a library clerk at the Sidney Memorial Public Library was her favorite job in her life, helping others researching and finding books to read, using her language skills to help people translate letters and other documents, and giving cooking demonstrations. Her efforts with the Tree Committee (1981-2003) led to the planting of over 500 trees in the Town and Village. For this work, The Village of Sidney proclaimed July 11, 2004 as Brigitte Beehler day, "for her efforts and accomplishments that have culminated in the betterment of the quality of life of the Sidney Community."

In 1993, Ron died suddenly; Brigitte, Heidi and Mony built a new family structure that carried them through the next thirty-three years. Brigitte's love of travel led her to take over forty trips with the Elderhostel/Road Scholar organization; some of her favorites included trips to the Faroe Islands, Greece and Turkey, the Channel Islands, rafting the Grand Canyon, and excavating fossils in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Her joy in travel and wandering wasn't only in faraway places; one of her favorite ways to spend her time was exploring New York's beautiful Southern Tier with friends, going on drives and enjoying meals in towns and villages along the way. When given the option, Brigitte always chose to take the back roads.

Brigitte moved to Oneonta in 2006, collecting new friends while maintaining ties to Sidney. Especially important to her was her breakfast group, who met weekly for over forty years. She was a valued member of the "DLV," a German reading group, and the U.U. Fellowship, both in Oneonta. During her later years, when she traveled less, she enjoyed being an Omi to granddaughter Clara (born 2008 to Heidi and Peter Serrano), sitting on her sun porch enjoying the view of the birds at her feeder, her small garden, and the wooded hills.

Brigitte is survived by her daughters Heidi Serrano and Monica Beehler (Brian Ladd), her granddaughter Clara Serrano, and her legion of beloved friends. She will always be remembered for being undaunted by challenges, perpetually curious to learn something new, and embracing friendships. She will also be remembered for her strong coffee and warm hugs. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Brigitte's name to the Arbor Day Foundation or Habitat for Humanity.