With greatest sorrow we announce that our dear daughter Elisif Janis Bruun died on February 11, 2014. Elisif struggled with strength and bravery against a variety of cruel challenges over the years, but in spite of the loving support of the CooperRiis Healing Community, and the strides she was making toward recovery, the undertow of heroin overcame her. We hope everyone who would like to join us will come to a celebration of her life on Sunday, March 30 at 1:30pm at The Park School, 2425 Old Court Rd., Baltimore, MD 21208.

Some of you may have reflections or memories you want to share, and we want to hear them all.  However, we are unsure how many might want to speak or how much time there will be during the celebration itself, so we invite you to send your words to us ahead of time at: mail (35 Running Fox Rd., Glen Arm, MD 21057) or email (peterbruun1@gmail.com or smak1@mac.com). We will compile them and make them available to everyone at the ceremony. We hope there may also be time for sharing during the celebration, but if there is it will be limited.

We are deeply grateful for the CooperRiis Healing Community in Mill Spring, NC where Elisif lived and thrived at the time of her passing. For us, finding CooperRiis was like coming out onto a hilltop with a view after stumbling around in woods and underbrush.  We had appreciated aspects of other institutions. But never before had Elisif experienced such thoughtful, thorough, and loving support for every aspect of her well-being. We, too, learned from their program and were buoyed by the hope that is a core aspect of the CooperRiis philosophy. In the days after Elisif's passing, the residents and staff came to feel like family as they shared our grief and supported us with such open hearts.  In honor of Elisif’s life and spirit, we have created a memorial fund in her name at CooperRiis. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Virgil Stucker, CooperRiis, 101 Healing Farm Lane, Mill Spring, NC 28756. Checks should be made out to “CooperRiis” and “Elisif’s Fund” written in the memo section. Virgil Stucker is pleased to receive calls at 828/899-4673 should there be any questions, or if any wish to make a stock gift to the Fund.

We hope you will carry beautiful Elisif in your hearts, as well as some prayers for the many other dear souls that have fallen to addiction and mental disturbances.

Sincerely,

Peter Bruun & Serafina Krag