'Breezy was a strong spirit': Friends and family remember Breanne Pennington

Her nickname since childhood was “Breezy,” but those who were close to Breanne Pennington knew not to be fooled into underestimating someone known by such an easygoing term of endearment.

“Breezy was a strong spirit,” said Brenda Hull, her aunt. “She had opinions, she had a mind of her own, and she was very, very smart. (Breezy) was going to blow through a room and you were going to know she was there, for sure.”

The nickname, Hull explained, came about because of her niece’s love of riding horses. The sight of Breanne on horseback was a common one throughout her entire childhood.

“She had long blonde hair as a child, and she would ride her horse running through the neighborhood, and that hair would go flying in the wind,” Hull said. “’There she goes, there’s Breezy.’”

Mallory Yslas, who knew Pennington when they both lived in Arizona, described her friend as a “vibrant” person.

“She was kind, and she had a way of making you feel you were the most important person in the room,” Yslas said. “I loved hanging out on her couch while our kids ran around. She was easy to talk to; you could find yourself spilling out your entire history to her without even meaning to.”

Aaron Pennington, 33, is accused of shooting his wife Breanne in their Gardner home Sunday, Oct. 22, and is still being sought by authorities.

Breanne Pennington considered motherhood her 'profession'

Pennington considered being a mother to her four children her most important role, Hull said, adding that her family was her world.

“Her mindset was definitely, ‘My profession is my family and my children, and I’m going to make sure I’m successful at it, and this is what I’m going to be until that job is done,’” Hull said, adding that she believed her niece would have returned to school after her children were grown and pursued a career as a genetic counselor, a field she had loved since she began breeding horses as a child. “She really became fascinated with the genetics of that process. She was too smart to be idle.”

Pennington’s children are safe and being well cared for by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Hull said.

“They have done a meticulous job in being protective of the children,” she said. “The children are safe; they have access to their nanny, who they know. People can rest assure that those children have a wonderful future ahead, and that they’re going to be protected and loved.”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the children, Hull added. Money raised through the account will be used to provide for the children’s physical, emotional and educational needs.

Yslas said Pennington would want to be remembered for the love she had for her children and her family.

“She really did focus her entire self on her kids,” Yslas said. “I hope that as they grow, they are reminded every day how much she loves them.”

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Breanne Pennington 'loved' Gardner

Pennington had grown to consider Gardner a place to call home after living here for a little over a year, Hull said.

“She loved it, she loved the people, she loved the seasons, she loved the colors – she was very happy there,” Hull said, adding that she was somewhat taken aback by how quickly her niece took to living in New England. “Because of the snow.”

Yslas remembered her friend as someone who was funny, fascinated by astrology, and loved Halloween and all things spooky.

“She was so excited to be moving to Gardner because of all of the history in Massachusetts,” Yslas said. “First thing she did was check out Salem. We used to talk about that kind of stuff, so she sent me pictures and videos to share it. She was so happy.”

Hull said the family was grateful for the outpouring of support on display in the community for her niece and her four children.

“We’re impressed with how many people have expressed concern, love and generosity, so that helps,” she said. “Everybody being so willing to love and offer condolences has been lovely.”

Pennington was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Gardner. Hull said her niece’s faith was a very important part of her life.

“She always had a very strong faith in Christ and was very knowledgeable about his teachings and wanted that very much to be instilled in her children,” she explained.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Breanne Pennington of Gardner remembered after her murder