Brenda Doreen Callaghan, only daughter to Gladys and William Callaghan, was born on January 14, 1951 in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. After a difficult struggle with Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy (PSP), Brenda passed away peacefully in Invermere this week at the age of 67. Her family was at her side.

Brenda is survived by her mother, brother Graham (Sandra), daughter Natasha, and Tim, husband and loving partner of more than 27 years. Brenda is remembered by those who knew her as an adventurous soul with a soft heart and passion for lifelong learning.

At age 24, Brenda and her first husband, Peter, immigrated to Canada from England in search of new challenges. Brenda worked as a teacher in Prince Rupert and Kitimat, where Natasha was born in 1978. After Peter’s sudden death from cancer in 1981, Brenda and young Natasha embarked on a year-long tour of Australia and the South Pacific. Brenda learned to scuba dive and developed a life-long love of travel and the outdoors.

Brenda later enrolled at the University of Victoria, ultimately earning her PhD. in History. In early 1991, while doing historical research in Cumbria, Brenda met and fell in love with Tim; three years later she returned to live with him in England.

Brenda worked as a sessional instructor at universities on both sides of the Atlantic. She was also a popular guest speaker at local historical and other society meetings in Cumbria. In the 1990s, Brenda and Tim spent many hours buzzing along windy, English country lanes in search of the site for Brenda’s next lecture. In Canada, Brenda devoted herself to research for a book about a young British immigrant to the East Kootenays.

Brenda and Tim had a home in Fairmont in 1994 and became full time residents in 2002. Soon after, they bought a river canoe and planned the first of many annual wilderness paddling expeditions in the US whilst visiting friends and local folk festivals. Brenda really loved to dance. Holidays took them to much of Europe, visiting Natasha at her home in Germany and England for Brenda’s mother’s 90th birthday.

At home, Brenda enjoyed gardening, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. She was a lifelong correspondent with friends and developed strong bonds within the Fairmont €community through her involvement with the book club, Lions, coffee mornings and cancer fundraising. Brenda hopes she will be remembered as a kind and loyal friend.

A Celebration of Life for Brenda will be held at the Lion’s Den, 5003 Hot Springs Road in Fairmont, at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 3rd, 2018. All are welcome.