Monica Ann Brisbon Kudrna

Monica Ann Brisbon Kudrna, 57, went to be with our Lord and Savior in Heaven on January 9, 2025. With her close family by her side, Monica passed at Kaiser Hospital Vallejo after a 3-month battle with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Enteroviral Pneumonia.

Monica was born on December 24, 1967, at USAF hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany. Born to Larry O. Brisbon and Margaret Mary Brisbon Aguirre, Monica was one of the three children in this marriage. While growing up in an Air Force family, Monica lived in many different places, including Okinawa, Japan, Monterey, California, San Antonio, Texas, San Diego, California, Klamath, Falls, Oregon, Napa, and finally making a home in American Canyon. On May 13, 1973, while overseas in Okinawa Japan, Monica’s dad, Larry, was injured and became permanently disabled in a diving accident. At this time, the family relocated to Napa Valley to continue Larry’s recovery. Helping to take care of her dad was where Monica’s journey in caring for others began.

Monica had 3 siblings. Sister, Rita Faye Brisbon, Brother, Monty Brisbon, and half-sister, Roze Miller. She loved her siblings and treasured the years they had together. She was always there for them when they needed her.

Monica went to school in Napa where she attended DT Davis Elementary, Ridgeview Junior High and graduated from Napa high School. Monica and Jeff met when she was 16 and Jeff was 18. They began hanging out together and decided they wanted to be together for the rest of their lives. They got married at Grace Church Napa Valley on February 14, 1987. Together they raised two wonderful children. Their son, Daniel Owen Kudrna, was born on May 5, 1989, at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo. Jeff and Monica were so happy to have a son to carry on the family legacy. Five years later, their daughter, Elisha Elaine Kudrna, was born on May 19, 1994. She was also born at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo. Elisha must have been in a hurry to arrive as she was born in the front seat of their old beat-up Volkswagen rabbit, where she was delivered by two podiatrists that we’re walking into the hospital to start their shifts. What a joy to have two beautiful children to raise in the Napa Valley. During the first year of Elisha’s life, they were told that she was born with a terminal illness called Niemann Pick Disease. Even with her challenges and living a good part of her life in and out of the hospital, Elisha greeted this world with a huge smile and love every day until she went home to live with Jesus in 2014. Elisha was 20 years old.

Monica was so moved by their daughter’s special needs that she went on to work with other special needs children and had been doing so for the last nine years of her life. She had a special kind of love for them, and this had become her passion. For the last seven years, Monica has worked in Marin County with autistic K through 12 children at Oak Hill school in San Anselmo. She mostly focused on helping to transition young adult children with their lives after they aged out of school. Monica made such a difference in so many lives. Jeff and Monica’s amazing son, Daniel, also has a passion for nurturing special needs children. He lives in Marin and works tirelessly with these special needs children, giving from his big heart every day. Jeff is so proud of his wife and son for making a difference in the lives of children with challenges every day. It takes a special person with a big heart to do this kind of work.

Monica was the kind of person that most people liked immediately. She loved to give money to the person at the stoplight with the cardboard sign or just someone who looked a little down in spirit. She would always have a kind word for strangers who needed a smile as a pick me up. Monica thought of others before herself. For over 42 years Monica has been Jeff’s best friend and encourager in this crazy world. For the last 39 years, she was his wife. In this world, there are many challenges. Jeff and Monica picked up their share of scars along the way, but they never gave up on each other. Their love and loyalty was always committed to one another from the day they said their vows before God, their family, and friends at Grace Church Napa Valley. Monica was extremely kind, smart, hard-working, funny, resilient, loyal, and creative, making everything she touched beautiful. She loved her family and friends so much. Monica made a huge impact in the lives of others, and we are thankful for her example to us.

Monica is proceeded in death by her daughter, Elisha Elaine Kudrna, sister, Rita Faye Brisbon, father, Larry O. Brisbon, her grandparents, Ralph and Bulah Brisbon, her aunt Sue Cone. Along with many other aunts and uncles.

Monica is survived by the love of her life, and husband, Jeff Kudrna, son Daniel Kudrna, half-sister Roze Miller and husband (Ivan) mother, Margaret Mary Brisbon Aguirre, brother, Monty Brisbon, aunts, Deb Nance and Leoda Brisbon, stepmom, Chloe (Kaster) Brisbon, stepsister, Kelly Cunha, sister-in-law, Stacey Glenn, and husband (Gary), brother-in-law, Scott Kudrna, and wife (Maggie) along with too many nieces and nephews to mention.

Monica loved the Lord and wanted to please Him in her marriage and life. Besides her love for family and friends Monica enjoyed gardening and made a beautiful garden at Oak Hill school in San Anselmo. Monica also enjoyed taking pictures of beautiful flowers and putting them in frames. She loved organizing anything. One of Monica’s favorite things to do for relaxation was to watch movies. She even enjoyed the bad “B” grade movies. She was a simple woman that enjoyed life and made the best of every opportunity or challenge that came into her life. She also enjoyed writing letters and stories that Jeff will treasure in the years to come.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to the place that Monica treasured so much. Oak Hill School at 300 Sunny Hills Drive in San Anselmo, CA 94960. Be good to the people around you, share your smile wherever you go, give to the less fortunate people that you meet. That is what Monica would have done. Let’s carry on the legacy she left us in giving without expecting anything in return. It is amazing how a simple random act of kindness can change someone’s life for the better.

We love you so much sweet Monica. Rest in Peace!! You will be greatly missed as we carry on this life without you in it. We will never forget the impact you made in this world, and we will strive to live our lives, giving, loving, and serving others like you did until the day we see you again in Heaven.

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