Gretchen passed away at her home on Balboa Island, August 27, 2010 of natural causes, and was surrounded by family, friends, and the family doctor.  Gretchen was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 18, 1915 and moved with her parents, Lawrence and Frieda Broering, to South Pasadena in the 1920s where Gretchen and her brothers attended South Pasadena High School.

After graduation, Gretchen attended UCLA as a member of one of the first classes to enroll at the new Westwood campus.  As a Bruin, Gretchn earned her teaching credential and went on to teach elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District for over 40 years.  Since the 1950s Gretchen was a resident of Balboa Island commuting to Los Angeles to teach school.

In Newport Beach Gretchen was active in the Assistance League, Hoag Hospital Auxiliary and a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.  She also served as a loyal participant in the Laguna Beach Methodist Art Association.  An avid traveler, Gretchen is known for her love of leaving the comfort of home to explore the world.  Her travels included trips to Europe, Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands, the Middle East, and several times "around the globe".  This is her legacy to her many relatives and friends; to see other places and to experience foreign cultures as a way to appreciate God's creation and other people.

The Orange County Register, September 12, 2010