Brenda Armstrong

Graveside Service

(Bring A Lawn Chair If You Wish)

Hamiota Cemetery

Hamiota, MB

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

2:00pm

Following the service a reception will be held at the Midwest Art Centre.

Brenda was born on February 2, 1954 in Dryden Ontario to Ray and Louise Armstrong.    

Shortly after her birth the family, including brothers Pat and Mel, and sister Lorna, moved to Manitou in Southern Manitoba to be closer to family.  She spent her primary schooling years on a farm in Manitou, Manitoba

The family then moved to Hamiota, Manitoba, where Brenda attended Junior and High School.  While attending Hamiota Collegiate, she was a member of the quilting club and played basketball for the Hamiota Huskies.

In 1972 she moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Manitoba majoring in Microbiology.  It was while attending University that she met Bob Myhara.

In 1975 both Brenda and Bob graduated with BSc degrees.  Bob got a job as a microbiologist with Maple Leaf Foods.  Bob and Brenda married in 1978.

After Brenda graduated in 1975, she applied to and was accepted into the Law Faculty.  In 1978 Brenda graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree and was admitted to the Manitoba Bar in 1980

In 1980, Bob left Maple Leaf Food and was accepted into the MSc and PhD program at UBC.  We moved to Vancouver in 1982.  Brenda articled in Vancouver and was admitted to the BC Bar in 1984

In 1986 Brenda left private practice and started working for the Federal Government; the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in Vancouver.  In 1988 Bob was offered a job at the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and so we then moved to Edmonton.  There, Brenda continued working for the CRA in Edmonton.

In 1995 Bob was offered an academic position at the University of Oman as Professor of Food Science.  We moved to Oman where Brenda became reunited with her ability to make wonderful quilts at the University quilting Club.  She also began to draw using pen and ink, charcoal and water colours.  Brenda participated with many short trips, organized by the University, such as watching the Sultan’s spinning Dolphins in the Sea of Oman and learned how to ride a camel.  As a couple, we also were able to go camping with friends both in the Omani mountains as well as spending peaceful nights camping on the shores of the Sea of Oman.  No one around for hundreds of miles of wonderful beach.

While in Oman Bob and Brenda were able to travel widely having wonderful holidays in Europe (Greece - Meteori, UK - Stonehenge, France - Eiffel Tower, Italy – St. Peters, Germany, Poland) as well as Thailand and Jordan (Petra).

I have fond memories of Brenda sipping a cocktail on the Via Veneto in Rome, watching all the beautiful people of Rome walk by. 

After 5 years in Oman, Brenda returned to Canada and settling in Ottawa.  Bob worked at Carleton University while Brenda went back to the Federal Government, this time with Agriculture Canada.  She directed programs between Provincial Governments and the Federal Governments.

During this time (2000-2008) we spent our holiday time in Europe and Cuba.   Brenda continued her drawing hobby.

In 2008 Bob was asked by the Canadian Government to coordinate development projects being carried out in Ghana.  We moved to Ghana for 3 years.  While in Ghana, Brenda continued to pursue her love of quilting and drawing.

We travelled the length and breadth of Ghana as well as visiting Czech Republic, Togo, Tanzania and Senegal.  Our trip to Tanzania was especially memorable; travelling by 4x4 on the Serengeti plain, watching elephants, Cape buffalo, rhinoceroses, leopards in the Ngorongoro crater.  While in Zanzibar were watched the brilliant sunsets over the Indian Ocean.     

In 2011 we returned to Ottawa where Brenda worked for Agriculture Canada until her retirement in 2016.  While in Ottawa, we were able to Holiday in Cuba and Barbados with friends and relatives.  We also took pottery courses together.

We loved our time in Vancouver (1984-88) and dreamt of returning to the West coast.  So in 2020 we left Ottawa and moved to our dream house in Parksville, BC.

Unfortunately in 2021 Brenda was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to go for treatments in Victoria.  Brenda passed away peacefully with me by her side on June 14, 2023 after a courageous fight with her cancer.  She was 69 years old.

Brenda was knowledgeable, friendly, understanding and especially calm when everyone else around were in panic mode.

She really was my best friend.  I miss her a lot.  She will be remembered by Brenda’s brother Pat (Nadine), nephews John and Willy; brother-in-Law Ryan Hamilton, nieces, Sheena, Lisa and nephew Brad; Mel’s children niece Nicole and nephew Stefan; as well as all of the great friends and colleagues we met at work or in our travels.  Also all of Brenda’s many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Canada.