Adrienne Spencer

Adrienne Spencer - July 2, 1944 - December 20, 2025

Adrienne Spencer (nee Brula), age 81, was the beloved mother of James D. DeYoung of Shaker Hts., OH and Lorne D. DeYoung (Stacey) of Beachwood, OH and dear grandmother of Lily and Samuel DeYoung.

Adrienne always loved the arts and creative endeavors. Her first passion, ballet, was discovered at an early age. She studied dance and journalism at Ohio State, and danced professionally until physical limitations ended that career. She had her children in her early twenties, entered the business world a few years later, and worked tirelessly to provide the best life possible for her children.

A number of years later, she was incredibly fortunate and grateful to pursue her second passion as an interior designer. She went back to school in the 1980's to study interior design and after receiving her degree, opened her own firm, Adrienne Spencer Interior Design. She had a very successful career completing many projects in Ohio, Florida, and Chicago. She found great joy in this new career, and her designs earned her recognition and awards.

Adrienne also enjoyed needlepoint as a hobby and part time career. While working at several shops in the Cleveland area, she was often sought out by fellow needlepointers to help them plan and execute their projects. That led to her teaching stitch classes at the local shops, as well as at shops nationally and at conventions, eventually leading her to write her own stitch guides.

Always a lover of beauty and creativity, her talents extended to all aspects of her life. She had an innate sense of fashion, great culinary skills, and created a warm, welcoming atmosphere when entertaining. Adrienne also took great pleasure in gardening and garden design. She was a longtime member of the Layweeders gardening group at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights helping to plan the design of the annual gardens and planters. In addition, she always made it a priority to have a beautiful garden wherever she lived.

Adrienne was also an avid reader and early adopter of books on tape, listening to numerous books while engaged in any number of creative projects. Adrienne enjoyed sharing all of these passions with others, leading many of her friends and acquaintances to reflect on how much they had learned from her.

The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in her name to The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, 8085 Saltsburg Rd., Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15239 or to the Layweeders fund at St.Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44106. A private family service will be held at a later date.