Celebrating AAPI Heritage at Gilman Grove Assisted Living
Written by Adam Roes, Life Enrichment Director, Gilman Grove
Since 2005, Gilman Grove assisted living has been fortunate to count Anna Brittner among its most dedicated caregivers. To meet Anna is to feel instantly welcomed — by her warm presence, infectious smile, and a quiet strength she attributes to her Balinese heritage.
“People from Bali are friendly and family-oriented,” Anna says with a laugh, “and we’re strong-minded too — just like me.”
Rooted in heritage
Anna was born and raised in Kuta, a seaside town on the Indonesian island of Bali. For the first 25 years of her life, the rhythms of the island shaped her view of the world. Though Bali is primarily Hindu, Anna notes its remarkable religious diversity, a quality reflected in the island’s cuisine, festivals, and traditions.
“In Bali, everything is connected to community — food, rituals, even grief. We don’t cry at funerals — we celebrate life.”
Bali traditions
One of the most sacred ceremonies in Bali is Ngaben, the island’s elaborate cremation ritual, believed to be essential for reincarnating the soul of the deceased. Anna shares: “They build a bamboo bed covered in flowers, and we dance to live Hindu music as we carry the body to the fire.” In Kuta, the ceremony is peaceful, culminating with the ashes being released into the ocean. “It’s one of the most important parts of being Balinese,” she says. “Tourists come from around the world to witness it.”
Another deeply rooted tradition Anna cherishes is Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence. “For 24 hours, everything stops. No school, no business, no talking. Even the ocean seems to rest.” This day of reflection and fasting is observed island-wide, and tourists are encouraged to join. “It’s like the world breathes with us,” she says. Connected to this is Omed-Omedan, or “The Kissing Ritual,” performed by young people to usher in good fortune.
Anna’s life and family
Anna’s love story began in Bali too. While working as a lawyer (she holds a law degree from a Balinese university), she met her future husband, a second commander and Navy SEAL stationed in Indonesia. They married on the island, then lived across the world — Germany, Italy, Greece, and Singapore — before finally settling in Portland, Oregon to raise their daughter. There, Anna pursued a graduate law degree and worked as a legal assistant for five years.
“But something was missing,” she recalls. “I wanted to stop working with papers and start working with people.” That calling led her to Gilman Grove, where caregiving quickly became her passion. “This is where I make a difference. I see it in their eyes, I feel it in the smiles. This is my heart’s calling.”
Adventures beyond the workplace
“Everyone knows our food. Tourists come just to taste it!” she says. Her top recommendations?
- Rendang: a slow-cooked beef curry rich with coconut and spices, known across Sumatra
- Nasi Padang: rice served with an assortment of spicy side dishes from the western city of Padang, including mie Aceh, a spiced noodle dish
- Ayam Betutu: a whole spiced chicken baked in banana leaves, authentic to Bali, served with white rice and sambal, a fiery chili paste
- Steamed water spinach: a local variety unique to Balinese cuisine
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Anna Brittner is more than a caregiver. She’s a bridge between cultures, a bearer of stories, and a living example of the beauty and strength found in community and care. Her life reminds us that heritage is not just remembered — it’s shared, celebrated, and lived every day. We’re proud to recognize her during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.