Brenda J. Jenkins

1940 - 2018

Brenda J. Jenkins

Granville - Brenda McDermott Jenkins of Granville, formerly of Byesville, passed away at Select Specialty Hospital in Newark, Ohio on January 1, 2018, with her loving family by her side.

Brenda was born on April 13, 1940 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Robert and Rose (Constable) Hoffmann. She was unnamed for days before the family decided to name her after the actress Brenda Joyce-- the second Jane of the Tarzan movies-- who was hospitalized at the same hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa, while on tour with a show. When Brenda's mother passed away after childbirth, she was raised by her paternal Grandfather John Hoffmann (Pop Pop to the family) and his larger than life second wife Margaret (known as Nanny to all) who set in place a positive force of love and caring that has now continued for generations. She also had a sister, Diane Duncan (Burt), half-brothers Brian (Sandy), Gary (Karen) and Bobby (Janet), and a younger aunt that she considered her sister, Linda Drexler (Tom).

Brenda met a wild Irish boy, Michael (Mike) McDermott, and eloped. The children came, fast and full of life. First came Sharon, then Michael, Colleen, David and Maureen (Buffy). When a management opportunity arose, Mike took her away from her dear neighborhood of East Liberty in Pittsburgh, Pa to Guernsey County, Ohio; the city girl came to love the rural beauty of Southeastern Ohio and it became her lifelong home.

She worked a lot to support the family; most might remember her as the meat department lady at Byesville IGA where she had an incredible work ethic, providing friendly and cheerful service to the community.

Life took her first husband early, but she became one of those rare individuals blessed with a second love of life and her second husband, Bill Jenkins, became part of her family, and extended her family with a son Jon and a daughter Becky. Brenda enjoyed camping and travel, most recently enjoying a family trip to San Francisco for her granddaughter Brianna's wedding. She was a rabid football fan of the Meadowbrook High School Colts, The Ohio State Buckeyes and her dear Pittsburgh Steelers. Bill and Brenda enjoyed riding his Harley and they acted like teenagers a good deal of the time during their 30 strong and committed years together. She was a master card player, teaching her kids to play poker at an early age, with euchre being a big part of her social life till the end, especially at her weekly card party at her church in Johnstown. The Band Boosters at Meadowbrook High School, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Cambridge and her bowling teams occupied a great deal of her social life. Brenda was loved by so many and touched many lives. She did a lot of babysitting; if someone needed help with their child, she always took them in. She taught her grandchildren so much by playing board and card games and baking with them. She never judged anyone and was the friendliest person you could ever meet. She loved working in her flower garden or sitting outside listening to the birds singing. She loved cooking for her family no matter how many showed up.

The rich texture of her life was woven with family and community, church and committees, friends and neighbors all combining to create a life of meaning, caring and commitment. She didn't have a mean bone in her body, and would help anyone in need no matter what sacrifices she had to make for herself. She will be truly missed by all, but most deeply by her family.

In addition to her loving husband Bill, Brenda is survived by her loving daughter Sharon McDermott (Bryan Walker) and their children Neal Walker and Brianna Schaaf (Alan); son Michael McDermott and his sons Brendan and Trevor; daughter Colleen McDermott and her sons, Greg Haberfield and great-granddaughter Madison (and his partner Tera Spencer Rollison and her son Klayton Rollison) and Earl Haberfield (Lindsey); son David McDermott (Deci) and their son Coulter (and great-granddaughter Ava) and daughter Emily; daughter Maureen Huss (Todd) and their sons Nicholas, Noah and Nathan; son Jon Jenkins (Penny) and their sons Wesley, Drake and Max Jenkins and Bailey Lee; and a daughter Becky Kern (Brad) and their daughters Allison and Sadie Wentz, Alyssa and Alayna Kern and sons Ryan Wentz and Kirk Kern. There are also many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and cousins from the Hoffmann, Constable, McDermott and Jenkins families who will miss her dearly.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 7 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm and 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Black-Epperson Funeral Home, 231 E. Main Avenue, Byesville, Ohio 43723, and one hour before Mass at the church. The funeral Mass and service will be on Monday, January 8 at 11:00 am at St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church, 701 Gomber Ave, Cambridge, Ohio, 43725. Burial will follow immediately after at Greenwood Cemetery, 410 West Spruce Ave, Byesville, Ohio 43723. And lastly, we will gather together at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1930 E. Wheeling Ave, Cambridge, Ohio 43725.

Flowers may be sent to the funeral home, or memorial donations may be made in the name of Brenda Jenkins to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, ATTN: Giving Page Gift Processing, 660 Ackerman Road. P.O. Box 183112, Columbus, OH 43218-3112.