Brandee Leigh (Perrett) Borneman

Never did I ever in our whole lives until today conceive I would be crafting into a few simple sentences the complex life of my twin sister, Brandee Perrett Borneman. Our sweet and beautiful mother, Patricia Perrett, planned on delivering only a baby boy, yet on December 19th, 1967, Brandee was the first of us to receive -by 3 minutes - the love (and glares) of our mischievous, controlling, loving middle sister Crystal Perrett Dickinson and our skeptical, bossy, talented oldest sister Loree Perrett as they gazed upon us, thinking we were dolls for them as we lay on the fireplace in our holiday stockings that carried us home from the hospital.
Brandee received the blessings of our mother’s beauty and her loving heart. I got our Dad’s, Stanford Calvin Perrett Jr., lack of height and short temper.
Brandee protected me in school, was Crystal’s best friend and stole her clothes, and scratched Loree’s vinyl albums.
Brandee’s love for her husband, Eric Borneman, knew no bounds. They traveled the world, literally and in the menus they prepared for themselves and family.
Her care for all of their many pets and for our Dad was limitless and unending.
Brandee was educated in anthropology and geology. She was a skier, soccer player, trail guide, an aquarist, scuba diver and adventurer.
Brandee was a self-taught chef, contractor, mechanic, electrician, and designer. Her immense strength was her gift, and her unconditional love was her grace, all shared with our Nanny Mildred Glass, nieces Blair Dickinson and Presley and Jacy Croy Perrett and nephews Chase and Thatcher Croy Perrett; and with her brothers and sister by marriage Joel Dickinson, Bradley Campbell and Brenda Croy.
Brandee and I were fortunate to celebrate our 40th birthday together and she was my bestie in my wedding festivities on our birthday on a rooftop in NJ during a winter storm. She was fearless and untiring in her comfort, support and aide to help all animals, her family, and for standing up against untruths and hate to support equality for all.
Our birthday will always stay OUR birthday. This introverted, emotional, unreasonable twin brother is panicked at life ahead without her physically here. Brandee is in our hearts for always and forever. For those who wish to express love for Brandee, please hug your family and friends, have zero tolerance for hate, go to the doctor, travel, eat good food, learn something, have a different experience, and cry, laugh and love.
Or if you are able and inclined, please save a life and donate in Brandee’s honor to your local no-kill animal shelter or rescue. Or be like Brandee and Eric, and scoop one up with a broken leg off the median in traffic, like their Pedro. A private family celebration to take place at a future date.