Obituaries
Helen Brakemeier, Animal Services Worker, Dies at 45
A captain with the Los Angeles Animal Services department, Brakemeier will be remembered for her fight to find loving homes for abandoned animals.
Helen Brakemeier, a Chatsworth resident and longtime employee of Los Angeles Animal Services, died on Feb. 20. She was 45.
Brakemeier, who devoted 26 years to Animal Services, worked in both the West Valley and East Valley shelters. She had two pets of her own, and cared for thousands more in her position at the facilities.
As captain of those shelters, she was essentially “in charge of everything,” said Sergio Rios, supervisor of the West Valley animal shelter, who worked with Brakemeier for three years.
“She worked with the commissioners and sponsors and made sure everything was working properly,” Rios said.
“There was nothing she couldn’t do,” Rios said. “She was the first to come in and the last to leave.”
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He described Brakemeier as motivating and happy, with a deep devotion to animals.
Rios was not the only employee of Animal Services who was touched by Brakemeier's kindness and strong work ethic. Both the West Valley and East Valley animal shelters closed their facilities on Saturday, Feb. 26, to hold a memorial service for her.
Rios said about 100 people attended the service, which included a church ceremony, in Camarillo. Family, friends and co-workers had the opportunity to give testimonials on Brakemeier’s life.
A press release by the West Valley Animal Shelter stated, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, colleagues, and friends and we salute her years of service to the community.”
