Pilar Lourdes Brehm

Pilar ''Lourdes'' Brehm, 60, of Monroe, New Jersey, passed away on Friday, March 6, 2026, peacefully and surrounded by family, after a long, hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Born on September 3, 1965, to Elvira Alegria Macay and Vincent Buenano, Pilar, known to her family and friends as Lourdes, was raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador with her eight siblings. She graduated from Unidad Educativa de la Providencia High School in 1983 and then attended the University of Vincente Rocafuerte Lay in Guayaquil where she studied Accounting. After working in accounting for a few years, Lourdes decided to move to the United States where she met the love of her life, Peter Brehm. Soon after they married, they welcomed their only child, Andrew. Lourdes was a devoted mother and put her career on hold to be an incredible stay-at-home mom. When Andrew was a bit older, Lourdes worked doing what she did best, caring for others. She babysat in her home, became a teacher's assistant at a local elementary school, and later, she worked as a home health aide to the elderly. In all roles, the people she worked with loved her for her kindness, care, and attention to detail. She had a knack for making people feel special, appreciated and heard. Most recently, Lourdes shifted careers and worked at the Costco warehouse in Monroe, New Jersey as a machine operator. She loved her job which appealed to her innate ability to work hard and organize anything put in front of her. Although she preferred to be called by her middle name, Pilar was a perfect name for Lourdes in that Pilar means pillar in English, and Lourdes was undeniably the pillar of strength, love, and resilience to her many family members and friends, who could count on her always being there for them with kindness and grace. A Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Friday at John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals & Cremation Services Inc. located at 111 Main Street Matawan, New Jersey 07747. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals & Cremation Services Inc., 111 Main Street, Matawan, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to Mary's Place By The Sea 22 Main Ave Ocean Grove NJ 07756, info@marysplacebythesea.org

Pilar Lourdes Brehm

September 3, 1965 - March 6, 2026