Breven Mae Laabs, 18, passed away early Wednesday, December 17, 2025, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was born in a snowstorm on April 10, 2007, to Jeremiah (J.C.) and Renee Laabs.

Breven was a proud graduate of West De Pere High School where she graduated with honors in June 2025. Breven was accepted into the Business School at UW-Madison for Marketing and was looking forward to getting healthy and attending as soon as she could.

Breven was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in May 2023. She fought hard and managed to finish her Junior and Senior years of High School while going through heavy chemo and radiation. She initially had some success before it came back in May 2025. She longed to be "normal" and just wanted to do high school things like everyone else.

Breven had a love for art and fashion and was looking forward to utilizing those skills with her Marketing degree in the future. She loved doing anything "crafty" including pottery, sketching, painting, and sewing. Her house was filled with her projects and had a space dedicated to her crafts. Breven also loved spending time with her cousins "Up North" in Goodman and Shawano. She also loved to travel. During her treatment, she had the opportunity to go to Paris, NYC, Chicago, Florida, North Carolina, and the Bahamas on a cruise. Let's not forget her favorite place in the whole world – Mall of America – where she loved to shop. Breven was always up for a good movie or show and always wanted to have her whole family watch them with her. She was also always working on perfecting the best homemade fettucine alfredo.

Breven was always concerned about others' feelings, especially other children with cancer. She wanted to raise awareness for children's cancer funding and started "Soaps to Smiles" to provide gifts to the wonderful nurses at St. Vincent's and the teenage cancer patients, who she felt often got overlooked.

Breven was especially fond of her brother Beckett and was so proud of everything he was doing. She often encouraged him from afar when she couldn't physically attend his games / matches and often gave him advice on his school schedule or how to handle issues. She also loved her dog, Chloe.

Breven was a confirmed member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and she enjoyed a few talks with Father Jim as she was going through treatment.

Breven is survived by her parents J.C. and Renee (Brudnicki) Laabs, brother Beckett Laabs, grandparents Lenny and Dori (Anschutz) Laabs, Ron and Jody (LaMarre) Brudnicki, aunts and uncles Lance (Michelle) Laabs and Danielle (Tom) Joslin, cousins Liam and Gavin Laabs, Zach (fiancée Olivia) Skubal, and Madison, Zach, and Megan Joslin.

Friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home 305 N. Tenth Street, De Pere on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 4:00PM – 7:00PM. Visitation will continue Tuesday morning at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 1305 Lourdes Ave., De Pere from 9:00AN – 10:45AM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM with Fr. James Baraniak O.Praem. officiating.

The family would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of support over the past 2.5 years including friends and family for all the food, gift cards, hugs, and prayers; our employers and co-workers from ThedaCare and LAS for the unwavering understanding, support, and gifts; West De Pere High School staff for all the love, understanding, and support; Make-a-Wish Wisconsin for Breven's trip to Paris, Sunshine Kids for her trip to NYC, and Believe in Tomorrow for her trip to NC – these are truly amazing programs; all the donors to Breven and to the hospital; the other "Rhabdo Moms" that offered each other support; and the staff at HSHS St. Vincent Children's Hospital (Dr. Long, Dr. Hill, all the wonderful clinic nurses and the 10th floor nurses). You are part of our family now, and your support for Breven and our family was truly amazing.