Brienne Rochelle Giddens departed this life on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the age of 41 years. She was born on February 23, 1982 to Tammy and Brett Giddens in Rolla, Missouri. She was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Norma and Max Hoffman and paternal grandparents Mary Jane and Gene Giddens and cousin Carrie Snyder.

Brienne was a precocious child, with an inquisitive and perceptive mind. School came easy to her, often acing tests with very little preparation. An old friend and classmate, an accomplished student and professional woman herself, described Brienne as the smartest person that she had ever met. A gifted conversationist, Brienne could interact with anyone, no matter what walk of life they came from. She could also put heartfelt feelings and deep thoughts onto the page. As a sophomore in high school, her poem “Promises” was included in a national publication. Her words are more beautiful and poignant today than when she composed them in 1997.

Brienne graduated from Rolla High School in 2000. She became a licensed practical nurse after the near fatal delivery of daughter Ramona in 2003. She was inspired by the dedication and skill of the nursing staff who took care of her and Ramona during and after her daughter’s premature birth. Brienne was a caring and very proficient nurse. If you were her patient, you wanted for nothing as Brienne would move mountains to see that you had everything you needed for a full recovery. Brienne also proved adept at administration, eventually moving into a management position at an area skilled nursing facility.

Brienne was born under the sign of Pisces, just a day before her mother Tammy’s birthday. She was a true fish, a natural swimmer who spent many days at local rivers or the city pool. A few trips to Florida confirmed her love for the ocean as well. After a brief detour into gymnastics, Brienne gravitated to the local swim team, the Rolla Swim Fins. She made new friends and quickly mastered all the strokes, soon beginning to compete in meets. Many times, the family was on the road before the sun came up on the way to St. Louis for competitions. Brienne was a Fin for over a decade, always giving her best and often placing highly. She never lost her passion for the water, even after she stopped competing.

Brienne was a lifelong Cardinal fan. She was always up to date on the highs and lows of her team, and she stuck with them thick and thin. It was a natural outgrowth of her love for baseball that attracted her to softball. Brienne was a founding member of the first Junior Olympic fastpitch team in the Rolla area. She played throughout her youth and through high school. Her love of the game continued after her school days as she transitioned to Co-ed slow pitch softball, putting together local teams with her sister Alanna. They had a lot of fun playing ball together.

To know Brienne Giddens was to love her. She had a wonderful personality. Her sense of humor was one of greatest attributes- she had an outsized, infectious laugh and when she smiled, which was often, her eyes twinkled like the brightest stars in the night sky. Brienne treated her friends like family and her family as jewels to be treasured. She loved arts and crafts and would shower those closest to her with her latest creations. These gifts were like the young lady herself, lovely and thoughtful. She was a light in the darkness- especially to her daughters Ramona Lela Belle Giddens and Ryanne Leora Rochelle Giddens and her nieces Fiona Rayle Night Giddens, Tallulah Mae Whitehouse and Genevieve Faith Norris.

Brienne’s unselfish nature has been deeply woven through the fibers of her life and, true to form, her giving has continued despite her tragic death. She had signed up for organ donation as a young person and reaffirmed her commitment as recently as 2021. Her gifts will assure that that many peoples’ lives are changed forever for the better, and in some cases, giving life itself. A truly heroic gesture that will be an enduring legacy for Brienne Rochelle Giddens, her family and those who loved her.

Brienne Rochelle Giddens is survived by her parents, Tammy and Brett Giddens, her sister and best friend Alanna Whitehouse and her significant other Michael Norris, daughters Ramona and Ryanne Giddens, nieces Fiona Giddens, Tallulah Whitehouse and Genevieve Norris, Aunts Maxine Hoffman, Patricia Hoffman, Cathy Siehr, Amy Giddens- Lyons and husband Randy Lyons, Uncles Robert Hoffman and John Hoffman and wife Margie, Cousins Jason Hoffman and wife, Vicki and daughters Gemini and Olivia Hoffman and sons Demcie and Jaoquin Hoffman, Jacob Siehr, Caitlin Siehr and significant other Joe Kurtz, Max Hoffman, wife Amber and daughter Mya, Trevor Hoffman and significant other MacKenna Graham, Brienne’s fiancé Gabe Lewis and sons Devin and Dawson Lewis, Ramona’s significant other Wyatt Cox, Ryanne’s significant other Xander Haven, longtime family friends Rick, Nancy and Ryan Robertson; the Snyder family; and many, many friends and acquaintances.

A funeral service for Brienne R. Giddens will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at the Null and Son Funeral Home in Rolla, Missouri. Interment will follow in the Rolla City Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Null and Son Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses.