Brenda Lorna DeVuyst

Brenda DeVuyst, 79 from Fairport, NY, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025, in hospice care (Advent House) after a hard-fought battle with colon cancer. Brenda was born in Plainfield, NJ on March 19, 1945, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Erasmus High School and graduated in 1963 before relocating to Rochester, NY in 1963 where she got married and had her 2 children, Richard in 1964 and Dawn in 1966. Brenda worked as an executive assistant at Digital Equipment Corporation and built many lifelong friendships in the Rochester area, most especially her best friend and second husband, Ronald Jay DeVuyst. Brenda and Ron enjoyed a full and happy life in Fairport, NY until 1994 before relocating to Largo, Florida to help with Brenda's Mom and Dad. She soaked up the sunshine in Largo, FL until 2011 and after the death of her husband, dad and mom, she relocated back to Rochester with her son to be near her daughter and grandson.

Brenda was a social butterfly that was always up for a party. She nurtured numerous life-long friendships that knew no state boundaries. She supported her family through all stages of life, providing full-time care for her parents in their later years and eventually her son in his last decade of life. Brenda loved to entertain and cook for family and friends. Her entertaining skills knew no bounds. She cared deeply about people wanted them to feel special whenever they were in her home. She also had a true passion for home making with immense talent in decorating. Despite many moves, she made every new house feel like a true home. When she wasn’t actively decorating her own home and her daughter's home, she was watching HGTV to gather more ideas for her next project. Brenda loved music and to sing, frequently referencing her claim to fame that she would hear Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand singing in the halls of Erasmus High.

Brenda is survived by her daughter Dawn Gerlach, grandson Noah Gerlach (fiancée Hailey Niles), brother George (Andy) Ware, sister-in-law Wendy Ware, sister Peggy Martin, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is predeceased in death by her husband Ronald DeVuyst, parents George and Lorna Ware, brothers David/John/William (Bill) Ware, twin sister Brita Ware, son Richard Congdon.

A funeral service will be held later in the spring/early summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Advent House, https://theadventhouse.org/make-a-donation/