Obituary of Brenda Katherine Grantmyre

There will never be another like her. Brenda Katherine Grantmyre (1937-2022), crow whisperer, kindred spirit to all beings in the natural world, mischievous prankster, special Aunt and great ‘Antique’ Brenda to many, beloved by all who were lucky enough to be included in her circle of two- leggeds. She was the daughter of Tommy and Barbara Grantmyre, and youngest sister of Gretchen Dawe, Merritt and Leigh. She was a lifelong resident of Elmsdale. Brenda lived life on her own terms, hunting with her brothers in her early years, and later pursuing a career in the air force at a time when diversity was neither acknowledged nor accepted. In her later years, Brenda often spoke about her joy in being able to freely identify as a lesbian, industriously building many garden-sized rainbow fences for herself and many others to proudly erect and enjoy. Brenda was a generous spirit in the truest sense of the word, noticing when someone was in need, and quietly acting in small but practical and meaningful ways to make a difference in their lives. She had a brilliant mind and was famous for her quick, dry, razor-sharp wit, fuelled by the occasional rum and milk or glass of merlot. She was a lover of opera and music of all kinds, with a knack for joining in singsongs with spontaneous, subtle, pitch-perfect harmonies. Brenda was a gifted and thoughtful gardener, creating beauty for its own sake, and sharing seedlings and plants that continue to delight so many of us. She had a breadth of knowledge that was unparalleled and understated and was also a grammatical aficionado, ruing the day that Webster’s proclaimed ‘irregardless’ a word and calling out hapless CBC radio announcers and politicians who insisted that “the proof was in the pudding” when, in fact, the proof of the pudding was in the eating – as we all know. Brenda was a sparkling presence in our lives and was loved beyond measure. She will be missed.

A celebration of Brenda’s life will be held at Riverview United Church Hall from 2-4 on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Burial to follow at Elmsdale Cemetery.

Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Brenda may be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com