Remembering Alexander Brenchley (Sasha/Olek)

On Saturday, March 21, our good friends Preston and Anita Brenchley lost their youngest child, Sasha, to suicide. As a parent, I don't even like to think about the type of grief this would cause. It is truly unimaginable. This fundraiser was created in response to the tremendous outpouring of love and concern the family is receiving.  So many are asking what they can do to help! Assisting with the costs of an unexpected funeral is one way you can help. Another way is to contribute your thoughts, memories and photos to the Celebrating Alexander Brenchley Facebook page. Your words and memories are priceless. We know the Brenchleys have friends around the globe.  All are invited to attend a Facebook Live event Thursday, March 26th @ 2:00pm Celebrating Alexander's  Life.

Obituary

Alexander Vasil Brenchley, AKA Sasha and Olek, a Senior at Riverbend High School and resident of Spotsylvania, VA, ended a valiant struggle to find peace and happiness in this world when he took his own life on the night of the 21st of March, at the terribly young age of 18. 

Alex was born the 23rd of May, 2001, in Ternopil, Ukraine.  No stranger to hardships, the first couple years of his life were spent in an orphanage, learning to survive, wrestling with loneliness and missing the love of a family.

In 2002, an eager Preston and Anita Brenchley traveled to Ukraine, the land of Preston’s ancestors, hoping to adopt two children to their young family. They found an adorable 1 year-old boy then known as Oleksandar, or Sasha, and a sweet 8 year-old girl named Olena, and happily traveled back home, excited to give these children a bright future in America and a chance to truly be loved by new parents and three siblings.

Over the next seventeen years Alex and his new family grew together and forged a deep family bond. However, despite their efforts, some of those wounds from his early life couldn’t be healed. Some of that loneliness never left. Some of those scars, although hard to see, carried with them a burden that was too much to bear.

Although his relatively short stay with us prevented him from realizing many of his dreams, he found fulfillment in inventing and designing anything from cylinder puzzles to aircraft. He was quick to pick up on things he was passionate about and even taught himself to play the guitar. He wanted nothing more than to make his many visions become a reality. He had recently started a new job at the Spotsylvania Mall Chick-fil-a which he absolutely loved, and raved about the people he worked with. He had an insatiable appetite for gaming (specifically the Destiny and Call of Duty games), and was an avid consumer of music. His favorite bands being Linkin Park and Bring Me the Horizon. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he participated in the Young Men's and Scouting programs and was preparing to serve a two year proselyting mission.

Alex left behind a mournful mother and father, Preston and Anita Brenchley; three loving sisters, Tatiana and husband Josh Crandall, Anika and her husband Heath Whittier, Olena and her husband Austin Wessels; and his brother and closest friend, Preston Brenchley II. 

A memorial service will be held at the Brenchley home, this Thursday, March 26th at 2:00pm. Due to current COVID-19 concerns, the service will also be live streamed to the Facebook group “Celebrating Alexander Brenchley”. His burial will take place for family and close friends on Friday March 27th at Laurel Hill funeral home.