Brenda Kay Standberry

Alfred B. Simpson and Janice L. Dyson Simpson welcomed their daughter, Brenda Kay, into their home on November 22, 1955.

Brenda was educated in the public schools of Indianapolis and graduated from Harry E. Wood High School in 1974. Brenda was briefly married to Johnny Standberry II and from this union their daughter Rochelle Denise Standberry was born.

Well known as a hard worker throughout her career, Brenda entered the healthcare industry after leaving high school. She worked for several area hospitals including Wishard, Winona, and Women’s Hospital. By March of 1982, she returned to Wishard (Eskenazi) as a Nursing Technician on the Burn Unit. She retired from nursing after 37 years of service.

Brenda’s protective nature and generous spirit characterized the way she cared for her daughter and granddaughter. After retiring from nursing, she became a willing caregiver for her parents, Alfred and Earnestine Simpson, until their deaths.

Brenda was known to family and friends as an avid shopper. She was ever conscious of her personal appearance which was always on display through her monochromatic color schemes and matching accessories. Few of us ever saw Brenda without her hair and makeup in place!

After the unexpected death of her daughter in 2020, Brenda found physical and emotional support from her granddaughter, Michelle Alexander. Michelle checked on Brenda daily and was instrumental in helping her get her smile back. Her greatest aid to emotional recovery was her return to her faith. Brenda made time to pray, read her Bible and attend the Glendale and Meridian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Christian meetings whenever possible. One of her favorite scriptures was Psalm 34:18 “Jehovah is close to the brokenhearted.” It helped to wipe away some of her tears.

Brenda Kay Simpson Standberry passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents Janice Simpson (mother); Alfred Simpson (father); Earnestine Simpson (stepmother); Evelyn Simpson (sister); Rochelle Standberry (daughter)

Brenda will be remembered by her loving granddaughter Michelle Alexander (Gregory Ward); her sister and friend Patra Johnson; two nieces Natalie (Bill) Gordon and Ebony Simpson; one nephew Desmond (Camille) Johnson; two aunties Shirley Simpson and Bobbie Green; and cousins in Indianapolis and Detroit.

Friends and family are welcome to gather for a visitation on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, at Indiana Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis, IN, 46250. Funeral Service to be held at 12:00pm following visitation at the funeral home. 

 Indiana Funeral Care is honored to be assisting the family with the services. 

It Was Just Yesterday

It was just yesterday sixty-one years ago we first met

It was just yesterday we walked to school together

It was just yesterday we would party every weekend

It was yesterday we grew apart for a while

It was yesterday we started our lives as adults

It was just yesterday we both celebrated the birth of our children

It was just yesterday I moved 500 miles away

It was just yesterday you shared your and your daughter’s health challenges

It was just yesterday we had a conversation on the phone

It was just yesterday I prayed with you

It was just yesterday I received a phone call that changed our friendship forever

The angels said, “Brenda It’s Time to Rest”

Rest in Peace My Friend, Rest in Peace