Birgit Maria Retson

Birgit Maria Retson (Abromaitis), was born on March 26,1955 in Elgin, Illinois to Gerhard Abromaitis and Luise Abromaitis (Knefely). She has one older sister, Karin who resides in New Jersey with her daughter Lindsay.

Birgit spent most of her childhood on Crystal Lake in Illinois, where her family resided for many years. She enjoyed swimming, water skiing and overall spent lots of her time in the water. She attended Ripon College in Wisconsin where she played her cello and met some of her nearest and dearest life-long friends, her sorority sisters. She also went to George Mason University where she received her bachelor’s in nursing.

In 1977 she married Colonel Nicholas “Chip” Retson, and her family grew with the adoptions of her three children, Philip, Nick and Katie and their family dog Kramer.  Chip and she divorced many years later. She spent her career in Nursing working trauma units, neo natal units, supervising floors and eventually working for the school system in Fairfax County. She was heavily involved in the PTA at Westfield High School, which is where she also met some of her closest friends.

Her life revolved around her three children who she loved immensely. When she retired in Williamsburg, Virginia she opened her heart to her beloved dog, Ava.  Sadly, in December of 2019, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Her illness progressed rather rapidly and in April of this year she was informed her cancer had progressed to Stage 4. She was hospitalized due to her lung function declining rapidly and she informed her daughter Katie of her wishes.

Katie brought Birgit home to her house in Williamsburg so that she could be surrounded by the wildlife and birds that she was mesmerized by in her back yard. She found great joy being home and having her dog Ava with her where, together, they could observe the flowers and nature all around. Her sons came to surprise her for Mother’s Day and just a few days later on May 11th, 2021 she passed away in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loved ones.

She is survived by her older sister Karin, her niece Lindsay, her sons Philp and Nick and her daughter Katie. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26th at the Everly Funeral Home in Falls Church Virginia, where friends and family will gather from 12:00-4:00PM. The family would like to thank the Amedisys Hospice Care in Williamsburg for their care and help to aide her through her final days. If desired friends may make memorial contributions to the Barker Foundation, 2955 Monticello Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042, which helped make her dreams of becoming a mother possible.

“Our hearts still ache in sadness and secret tears still flow, what it meant to lose you no one will ever know.”

Livestreaming of the service will be available via One Room. 

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