Oakmont nurse was on her way to help covid-19 patients when she tragically died - TribLIVE

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An Oakmont nurse who lived to help others spent the last moments of her life on her way to do just that.

Brianna M. “Bea” Kimmel, 28, died April 26 from injuries she suffered when her car collided with a tractor-trailer in Union County.

A licensed practical nurse, Kimmel had been driving to the northeastern part of the state to help care for patients with covid-19.

“She was super excited,” her brother Mitchell Kimmel said. “She had always wanted to do traveling nursing.”

Bea Kimmel had been recruited to temporarily help health care facilities in the Wilkes-Barre area that had been hit hard by the coronavirus, her brother said. She was supposed to spend two weeks there.

Mitchell Kimmel, who is a year older than Bea and lives in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, said it wasn’t surprising his sister wanted to help people battling covid-19.

“If she knew that someone needed help, that was her main priority,” he said. “(She was) just a very selfless person.”

Bea Kimmel was born in New Kensington and grew up in Spring Church, Armstrong County.

A 2010 graduate of Apollo-Ridge High School, she continued her education at Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center’s Monroeville School of Nursing, where she obtained her LPN license. She was attending Community College of Allegheny County to obtain her registered nursing certification when she died.

“She loved nursing,” Mitchell Kimmel said.

Bea Kimmel worked as a licensed practical nurse at Oakmont Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Oakmont and Corner View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh. She also was a caregiver to her dad, who had advanced stage multiple sclerosis.

“On top of working more than 40 hours a week, she would drive out to our house four or five times a day to take care of my dad,” Mitchell Kimmel said. “She would drop everything for people that needed help.”

Markeshia Harris used to work with Bea Kimmel at Oakmont Center. They remained friends even after Bea Kimmel stopped working there.

Harris said Bea Kimmel was a smart woman who always gave 100%, but she still liked to have fun. She recalled her friend’s signature high bun hairstyle and fondness for pizza.

“I used to be surprised how much she ate,” said Harris, 32, of Monroeville. “She used to say, ‘I got a grown man appetite.’ We would laugh at that.”

Harris said her friend worked hard and inspired Harris to work hard, too. She always pushed Harris to do more, no matter how tired she was, Harris said.

“She was in it for all the good reasons,” Harris said. “She really was a good woman.”

Mitchell Kimmel said his family plans to hold a memorial service for his sister once the pandemic eases down. Because of the state mandates regarding covid-19, they decided not to hold a public visitation.

“We are planning something in the future more encompassing so that all the people that knew her could come,” he said.

In addition to nursing, Bea Kimmel enjoyed being outdoors and going to the gym.

“(She was an) absolute free spirit. She loved nature,” her brother said.

Madasyn Lee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Madasyn at 724-226-4702, mlee@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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