BRENDA JOYCE (JOHNSON) BRUYNEEL

ORWELL — Brenda Joyce (Johnson) Bruyneel, 82, passed away at her home in Orwell with family by her side on May 23, 2024. Brenda was born Oct. 20, 1941, the daughter of Robert B. and Beatrice Eleanor (Reade) Johnson Sr. She was born in Goffstown, N.H. and raised in East Deering, N.H. She attended grade school in Deering and later attended middle and high school in Hillsboro, N.H.

In her early career, she worked for Hambulton Insurance Agency of Goffstown, then for Goffstown News as a secretary and layout designer for the paper and later in the Quality Control Department at Sylvania Electric of Hillsboro. She most enjoyed the ten years that she was the treasurer and manager of the Contoocook Valley Federal Credit Union in Hillsboro, N.H.

She was engaged to Stephen Bruyneel of Weare, N.H., and was married on Oct. 20, 1962. In 1973, she and Steve purchased a 150-acre tract of land in Orwell, Vt. Over the next many years, Brenda helped with the daily operation for the milk herd and raising their two daughters, along with supplemental employment with the Ayrshire Breeders Association of Brandon, but the job she loved the most came from providing early child care for her two grandsons, Zachary, and Levi. In addition to childcare, Brenda later provided adult living assistance to several local individuals as well as care for both her mother and Steve’s mother in their time of need.

Throughout her life she made numerous new wool braided rugs and collected fine china and other antiques. Brenda was a fiercely patriotic and enjoyed seeing the American flag flying on their farm. She spent a lifetime privately studying the bible and worshiping our Lord, loved her family and was extremely proud to tell everyone she was married for 61 years.

Brenda is survived by her husband, Stephen Bruyneel of Orwell; daughter Jennifer Morse (Tim) of Orwell; daughter Stephanie Corey (Rex) of Orwell; grandson Zachary Booska (Brittany) and great-granddaughter Oakley Booska of Orwell;  and grandson Levi Booska (Samantha), and great-grandson Bohannon Booska of Troy, Vt.

A graveside committal service and interment will take place on Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m., at the Mountain View Cemetery, Orwell, followed by a gathering of family and friends at the farm thereafter.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home, Brandon.◊