Brandi Lynette Colonnese

Brandi Lynette (Thompson) Colonnese was born on January 2, 1983, and passed away on July 10, 2015. She was one of six children born to Darlene and Kenneth Thompson. Even as a child, Brandi displayed a fierce loyalty and caring nature, once fearlessly defending her younger sister from a playground bully, a trait that would define her throughout her life. Brandi was always the mother hen of our family, our beloved "wild cat." From as far back as we can remember, Brandi always took care of us all.

When Brandi was young, she loved playing with her Cabbage Patch dolls, and she was their "best mom," as we fondly remember. She also loved making mud pies with her siblings. They were the best, especially with fried worms on them (as she would jokingly say). Brandi was always defending her family and friends, whether it was standing up for them against bullies at school, home, or work.

Brandi never knew a stranger, and she didn't have to know you to help you. She was such a kind, loving, and free spirit. Her pride and joy were her children: Bree, Katy, Michael, and Randy. She loved taking them on adventures, including camping, swimming, and canoeing with her family. Brandi loved celebrating birthdays and having family outings at parks and the skating rink. Her children meant more to her than anything in this world.

She was also a great aunt. Brandi loved all her "babies," her nieces and nephews. She was always looking for an opportunity to spend time with them and spoil them. Brandi also loved watching Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order, the Divergent movies, and so many more. She truly enjoyed family time at home with her kids, siblings, and parents.

Brandi enjoyed putting together all kinds of concoctions, one of which was a chicken taco meal made with all her favorite Doritos. She loved cooking for large groups of people and always had an open door. If someone needed a place to stay, they were always welcome at her house. She loved going on road trips with her kids, her sister Mary, and her niece Morgan. It didn't matter if they were going to the store, another town, or state; she was always eager to get out on the road and enjoyed "booney cruising" with friends.

Brandi enjoyed going to McDonald's with her kids. She would always get a McChicken with cheese or a Quarter Pounder with cheese with rehydrated onions. She also loved her spicy foods, a trait she got from her dad. She inherited her kind, warm, forgiving, and loving soul from her mother, whom she loved very much.

Brandi also loved lying under the stars and looking at the clouds, always amazed by nature's beauty. She enjoyed visiting her Grandma Etta and Grandpa Vernon's house and loved playing with her cousins. She cherished family reunions and the chance to visit with everyone, reminiscing about the good old days.

She loved listening to music, especially Patsy Cline's "I Go Walking After Midnight" and Loretta Lynn, particularly "Fifth City" and "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)." She loved every song by Toby Keith, especially "Red Solo Cup," and Kenny Chesney. She simply loved music. Although she couldn't carry a tune, she didn't care; she would sing loud and proud every time. She was always singing and dancing with her children, sisters, and cousins. Brandi was always the life of the party. To know her was to love her. She also loved the Fast and the Furious series.

Brandi Lynette leaves behind four beautiful children: Bree, Katy, Michael, and Randy; her parents, Darlene and Kenneth Thompson; and her siblings: Kenny Jr., André, James, Marie, Misty, Kristy, Veda, Lance, and Mary Lou. She also leaves behind her nieces and nephews: Kaitlyn, Heavily, Payton, Lil Eddie, Morgan Faye, Ronnie, Mikkie Wayne, Thomas, Michael, and Jacob.

Brandi is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Leona and Kenneth Thompson; her maternal grandparents, Etta and Vernon Brant; her nephew Roy; her baby cousin Tyler; and her Aunt Martha, as well as many other aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and great-grandparents.

Memorial services were held at 2:00 P.M., on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at Koup Family Funeral Home, Eureka.

She will be loved and missed forever... Until We See You Again...