Mrs. Brenda Joyce McCutcheon

Brenda Joyce Steele was born at Wyandotte General Hospital on November 2, 1948. She died on March 23, 2014 at Southshore Medical Center in Trenton, MI. Brenda graduated from Allen Park High School in 1966. She attended David Libscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee for one year and then transferred to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, where she graduated in 1970. Her first year of teaching was in "dust- covered" Fabens, Texas on the Texas/Mexico border. She returned to Michigan and received her Masters' Degree in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University. She then began teaching for Wayne County RESA programs. However the bulk of her teaching occurred at Jo Brighton Skill Center in Wyandotte, Michigan. During that time, she oversaw the cafeteria and catering programs, where restaurant and catering skills were taught to her students. At the end of her career, she participated in a program at Southland Mall, which allowed her students' opportunities to take part in actual work experiences. Brenda loved her students and was a great advocate for them and their families. After her retirement, she continued working, by volunteering with school children in Romulus. She helped develop and facilitate an after-school drama program and a peer to peer group to allow students with challenges to engage in activities with fellow students. She also volunteered time, assisting with a pre-school reading club at Barth Elementary in Romulus. Brenda was married to Ed McCutcheon. They had two wonderful children, Amanda in 1981 and Nicholas in 1983. They lost Ed in 1993. Brenda was very proud of Amanda and Nick. They have both received their Masters' Degrees in social work and journalism, respectively. In addition to loving her children, Amanda and Nicholas with all of her heart, retirement allowed Brenda the time to assist her nieces, Myra and Katie with their children and she became the "bonus grandmother" and Grandma Sandy became the "other one." All family gatherings were enhanced by her sense of humor, love for children, and her great cooking skills, especially her famous taco pie. Brenda 's ability to make others laugh, often at her own expense, continued through the last week of her life, as she attempted to console her family, friends and medical staff. The nurses, doctors, and the care management team at Southshore Hospital were of great support not only to her but to her family and friends as well. Brenda is survived by her children Amanda McCutcheon, (33) and Nicholas McCutcheon (31), her sisters Sandra (Sandy) MacDonald and Beverly (Glendon) Williams,as well as 6 nieces and nephews, and 17 great nieces and nephews who adored her. She will be missed.