Brenda Gayle Pirie

Brenda Gayle Pirie (Born Symonds)

June 16, 1958, to August 9, 2022

After an eight and one-half year battle with metastatic breast cancer, Brenda passed away at home with family at her side as was her wish. She was a dynamic, caring person who loved family, the outdoors and Christmas celebrations. Brenda never let the disease hurt her spirits, enjoying life to the fullest during exhaustive medical care. From the beaches of Hawaii and Broadway shows in New York to snorkeling in the Caribbean and swimming with sharks in Bora Bora as well as kayaking and camping at Yellow Point plus many other excursions, she stayed active while undergoing demanding treatments.

Brenda was dearly loved and is survived by her husband of 38 years Kim, son Bradley, daughter Lindsay, mother Mildred Symonds, sister Patricia Sharpe (Ross Bremner), bother Brian (Diane) Symonds, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was preceded by her father, Edward (Ted) Symonds, in 2011.

Born in Victoria British Columbia, Brenda moved with her family at a very young age to Burnaby, where she spent her childhood. She graduated from Burnaby Central High School in 1976 and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in urban geography at Simon Fraser University in 1982. Brenda and Kim were married in 1983 and lived in Burnaby and New Westminster before moving to Nanaimo in 1990. Together they had a son, Bradley James, in 1988 and a daughter Lindsay Anne, in 1993. In 1999 these four moved to their house in Cinnabar Valley where Brenda loved to garden and be with family. Brenda was a 40-year employee of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)working at various branches in Vancouver, Burnaby and Nanaimo.

Many thanks to those in our health care system that provided excellent care to Brenda over the years including Dr Layher and the team of doctors and nurses at the Nanaimo Cancer Clinic; Dr Sally Smith and Dr David Fenton and those at BC Cancer Agency in Victoria; Dr Danielle Downe, of Nanaimo Palliative Care Unit and the Public Heath Team of Nurses and Home Care Workers who came to our house and assisted greatly in the later months.  

Donations to the BC Cancer Foundation - http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/Brendapirie   - 150 – 686 W. Broadway Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1G1made in the memory of Brenda Pirie are greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers and it is hopeful that the work of this organization will one day contribute to a cure for cancer.

Please join us for a celebration of the life of Brenda, on September 10, 2022, 1:00pm at the Moose Hall 1356 Cranberry Rd, Nanaimo, BC followed by an open house at the Pirie residence - 124 Stacey Crescent, Nanaimo BC