Genevieve Bredesen's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Genevieve Bredesen, age 96 and lately of Charleston, Illinois, died Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.Born January 6, 1922 in New York City, to Russian immigrant parents, Maxim Korik and Sophie (Lenkevich) Korik, Gen grew up on the lower West Side of Manhattan with her five older siblings. Her fondest memories of her early years were the happy summers spent with a host family in upstate New York, sponsored by the Fresh Air Fund. After finishing high school she worked as a secretary until 1945, when she began her studies at Zion Bible Institute in Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating from Zion in 1948, Gen returned to her secretarial work and active church involvement in NYC. In 1954 she met Reverend Harald Bredesen and they married on October 16, 1954 in Queens, where they began their family. In 1957, Harald was called to pastor the historic First Dutch Reformed Church in Mount Vernon, New York. Gen and Harald ministered there for the next twelve years. During that period, Gen was the primary caregiver for their growing family and assisted in all levels of pastoral ministry. In 1970, the Bredesens relocated to Van Nuys, California for a year's sabbatical before moving to Victoria, British Columbia where Harald pastored Trinity Christian Center. In 1977, they moved to North San Diego County, California and Harald continued to minister there until his death on December 29, 2006. Gen resided in San Marcos until 2014, when she moved to "The Towers" in Laguna Woods. For the next three years she took great joy in volunteering with the Foundation For His Ministry, which supports charitable institutions on Mexico's west coast. In 2017, Gen moved to Brookstone Estates in Charleston.Gen is survived by her four children, Dagni, Meg, Chris and David; five grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and a host of friends.A Memorial Service, honoring and celebrating her life, will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 30, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church, 311 7th Street in Charleston with Pastor Mary Wright officiating. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in her honor be made to (Foundation For His Ministry) ffhm.org. SERVICES Memorial Service Monday, April 30, 2018 3:00 PM First Presbyterian Church 311 Seventh Street Charleston, IL 61920
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