Gretchen Brobst

Gretchen Victoria Brobst (née Coleman)

June 7, 1984 – May 9, 2025

Gretchen Victoria Brobst, of East Petersburg, PA, passed away peacefully at home on May 9, 2025, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 40 years old.

Born on June 7, 1984, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Gretchen was a graduate of Manheim Township High School and Millersville University. While she held various jobs throughout her life, her greatest and most sacred work was the life she built with her family. She devoted herself fully to giving her children the best lives possible—rooted in love, joy, curiosity, and connection.

She is survived by her husband, Eric Brobst, and their three daughters: Eliza (12), Fiona (10), and Edith (7), who were the center of her world. She is also survived by her loving parents, Gary and Vicki Coleman, and her brother, Ed Hahn, and his wife, Betsy. She was preceded in death by her sister, Wendy Bender (Hahn); her aunt, Janis Herr (née Krause); and her uncle, Louis Christian Krause.

Gretchen’s family was her heart and soul. She poured herself into motherhood with fierce love and quiet grace, raising her daughters with laughter, honesty, and deep intention. She created a home full of music, hugs, hard truths, and endless encouragement. Being their mom—and Eric’s partner—was the great joy and purpose of her life.

Gretchen was sweet, gentle, and deeply authentic; the kind of person whose presence instantly put others at ease. She moved through the world with a bubbly spirit, a mother’s heart, and an unshakable sense of purpose. Her smile could light up a room, and her kindness was the kind that lingered long after a conversation ended. She was funny and silly, always finding ways to lift spirits even in the hardest moments, and she had a gift for making others feel seen and loved.

She was passionately devoted to her daughters and all they did; cheering them on at softball games, school events, and other activities with the same joy she brought into everyday life. Gretchen cared deeply about the world and the people in it. She was a fierce believer in human rights and women’s rights, always reading, learning, and educating herself. She loved to cook thoughtful meals for her family, explore ways to become the best parent she could be, and nurture her own spirit through meditation and quiet moments of reflection.

She was, in every sense, an earth angel—a deeply spiritual, intuitive soul who made the world softer and kinder simply by being in it. Even through her long battle with cancer, she radiated grace, humor, and realness. Her legacy will live on through the love she gave, the laughter she inspired, and the countless lives she touched.

A celebration of Gretchen’s life will be held on Sunday, June 1st, at the Lancaster Toyota Amphitheater and East Petersburg Community Building. Guests are invited to begin arriving at 11:30 AM, with the ceremony starting at 12:00 noon. Please bring lawn chairs or blankets, as the event will be held outdoors. All who loved Gretchen—from near or far, closely or in passing—are welcome to attend and share in a day filled with love, remembrance, and community.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Living LFS, an organization close to Gretchen’s heart. Gretchen was passionate about raising awareness and supporting others affected by Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS)—a rare hereditary cancer syndrome that her daughter Fiona also lives with. Living LFS provides community, education, and advocacy for families navigating this diagnosis.

To make a donation in Gretchen’s memory, please visit www.livinglfs.org/donate/. When filling out the donation form, you’ll have the option to give “in honor or in memorial”—you can include Gretchen’s name and, if you wish, a message that will appear on their donation page in her honor.