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Brenda Jean Abari made it her mission that no child ever felt unwanted or alone.
The former teacher's generosity and love for children extended beyond the classroom, adopting foster kids here in the Twin Cities and sponsoring poverty-stricken children in Africa.
Her husband, Dola Abari, and family say her humanitarian spirit and her gentle ways with children made everyone around her feel special.
Brenda Jean Abari died Jan. 15 at her Minneapolis home surrounded by family after a brief struggle with stage 4 kidney disease. She was 75.
"She was very quiet and very generous," Dola said. "She always gave so much love to people and children."
Abari was born and raised in Texas and graduated from high school and college there before following her best friend to Minnesota. She earned her master's degree in special education from Mankato State University in 1989 while living in the Twin Cities.
For nearly four...