Brenda O’Keefe (née Brett) died in Ross Memorial Hospital on Sunday, November 15, 2020, with her good friend and neighbour, Cameron Topping, by her side. Brenda came to Lindsay from England in 1947 and shortly after married Leo O’Keefe. She and Leo built and periodically extended their house on St. Paul Street where they raised four children, Michael, Ellen, Christine, and Elizabeth.
Her belief in the importance of community was shown through her service to Lindsay on the town council, with the Victoria County Historical Society (she had a stint as president and subsequently sat on the executive committee), on the Parks Board committee, with the I.O.D.E., and on the Library Board. She received a Fellowship in Applied Education Award from Sir Fleming College.
Brenda wrote for the Lindsay Post for many years. kept a detailed and interesting journal for over 40 years, and loved to write verse for special occasions, including meetings of the Red Hat Society. She read voraciously and widely and enjoyed studying the history of art, philosophy, and religion.
After the death of Leo in 2006, Brenda continued to welcome people to their home, which she shared with a succession of student boarders, Labrador retrievers, and hobo cats who decided to stay. The house was always a place of warm, stimulating conversation, laughter, music, stories, and happy, vivid memories.
As well as her children, Brenda leaves nine devoted grandchildren, Matthew, Mary Ellen, Julia, Laura, Dominic, Emma, Nadine, Christopher, and Lesley, one daughter-in-law, Gladys, two sons-in-law, Romeo and David, seven great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces, of whom the Lindsay contingent (notably Paula and Michelle) were frequent visitors.
Brenda’s family is most grateful for the care she received from the staff at Ross Memorial Hospital, particularly Brenda’s nurses on Surgical South, Dr. Marina Pretorius, Lindsay paramedics, her community care workers, the Lindsay O’Keefes, and Brenda’s loyal and kind friends and neighbours, especially Cameron, Pat, Eric, Sharon, Ria, and Tom.
Donations may be made in Brenda’s name through Mackey Funeral Home to Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation (she graduated from the hospital’s nursing program, worked there as an RNA, and was a patient there on a number of occasions in recent years), or to the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mackey Funeral Home, 33 Peel Street, Lindsay (705-328-2721) www.mackeys.ca