Obituaries

Mildred I. Brhel Regan

Photo of Mildred I. Brhel Regan
Mildred (Millie) Regan passed away on November 27, 2017 at her home in Hope, Arkansas, surrounded by her family. Originally from Stickney, and North Riverside, Illinois, she moved to Columbia, S.C., with her husband, Robert (Bob) Regan, and the first two of what would later total nine children. Somehow in the course of raising nine children, Millie found time to complete the requirements for a BA in English and then earned her Master's Degree in Spanish at the University of South Carolina. In 1972, Bob and Millie, along with their four youngest children, moved to Hope, Arkansas, where Millie became a teacher, first working with the Hope School District and later with the Red River Community College. Millie and Bob, an ordained Deacon, were active members of Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church in Hope and regularly ministered to the elderly. Along the way (as if raising nine kids was insufficient) Millie found time to take in at least a dozen international exchange students over the decades and found time to travel and, in doing so, fostered a love of adventure in her children. Millie placed an emphasis on the education of her children, and regularly taught the values of hard work, persistence, and determination that she learned from her parents. Millie's parents, Frank and Mary Balaja Brhel, were first generation immigrants from Czechoslovakia to the United States and Millie's first language was the language which was spoken in her home, Czech. She later learned English upon attendance at school. Millie had one brother, Walter Brhel, and one sister, Marion Brhel Jacobs. Mllie was predeceased in death by her husband, Bob, and is survived by children Mark Regan of Chattanooga, Tenn., Mary Jo Powers of Galveston, Texas, Rosanne (Dave) Hansel of New Hope, Pa., Janice (Joe) Mullinax of Texarkana, Ark., Richard Regan (JoAnn Mahar) of Mableton, Ga., Peggy Wright of Richmond, Texas, Carol Sullivan (Mike) of North Little Rock, Ark, Daniel Regan of Hope, Ark., and John Regan of Darien, Ill. Millie has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Kevin Regan, Theresa Presley, Amanda Smothers, Sarah Regan, Zoey Taylor, Marcus Alex Presley, Olivia Jordan Presley, Robert William Presley, Jonathan Regan, Andrew Smothers, Allison Smothers, Katie Powers, Anne Powers, Michael Powers, Lauren Powers, Amber Hansel Walton, Emily Hansel Engel, Dagan Engel, Jesse Mullinax, Christy Mullinax Hibbs, Taylor Breiby, Tyler Breiby, Ian Hibbs, Noah Hibbs, Kyle Wright, Lyla Wright, Eleanor Wright, Amy Wright Simmonds, Jaclyn Wright Grant, Jacelyn Grant, Jadyn Grant, Ivan Grant, Ian Grant, Susan Sullivan Miller, Eden Demirel, Brody Miller, Aiden Miller, Brinley Miller, Kelly Sullivan, Amelia "Millie" Sullivan, Michelle Sullivan Bruzatori, Joseph Regan, Joey Regan, Stephen Regan, and Robert Regan. Visitation will be at Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Homes 403 South Main Street, Hope, Ark. 71801 on Thursday, 11/30/2017 6 p.m.-8 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Nirmalraj Kambala at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, 301 South Walker Street, Hope, Ark. 71801 on Friday, 12/01/2017 at 11 a.m. A graveside service will be held at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 4101 South Oak Park Ave., Stickney, Ill. 60402 on Monday, 12/04/2017 at 11 a.m. with Father Bob Regan Celebrant. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, Religious Education Fund or Food Pantry, P.O. Box 517, Hope, Ark. 71802.

Published November 30, 2017

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