Diane Davis (Sharpes)

In Memory of Benda Berlin:

We can shed tears that she is gone, but

We smile because she lived.

We can close our eyes and pray she will come back;

We choose to open our eyes and see all she left.

Our hearts can be empty because we can’t see her;

However, we are full of the love we shared with her.

We can turn our back on the future and live in the past,

But we are happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

We can remember her and only that she is gone; but

We will cherish her memory and let it live on.

Loretta Burgess (Thompson)

I am so saddened to hear of Brenda's passing.  We were good friends during the Jr. High years. We lost contact after my family moved out of state.  But I will always remember the fun times we had and what a sweet girl she was.   To her family, I am so very sorry for your loss.  God Bless and keep you all.  Loretta Burgess Thompson

Roland Schinbeckler

very sorry to hear about Brenda's passing....it was so quick.  

was good to see her at the Reunion Sept 2014, however;  she seemed to have a wonderful time.

reading thru the obit, i didn't realize she was born in Greencastle (my alma mater DePauw), nor did i realize Dan Root, with whom i used to pal around with in HS, was her half brother.  

Nor that she was a member of the Plainfield Christian Church (my/my mother's church)......guess that's what happens when one is away from Plainfield for so long.

but i hope Brenda rests in peace.

Roland

Karleen Frakes (Cole)

Could not believe that she was gone so quickly....  I second Roland's comments--I knew none of those details either.  And I, too, was born in Greencastle.  Not something we talked about back then.

Peace to all of her family...  Karleen

Judy Case (Mize)

Rachel Maxwell (Johnson)

Losing another classmate so suddenly is difficult. I'm glad we at least were able to send our comments after finding out about her cancer diagnosis via Carol. Rest in peace, Brenda. We will miss you when our class gets  together the next time. 

Dee Bell (Becker)

May Brenda rest in deep deep peace.  It seemed quite the sudden end, but perhaps not so sudden for those who knew her daily suffering.  I hope she did not suffer too much and that she had time to process leaving. I did not know Brenda well. I think the larger part of our interactions were in Middle School.  What I recall most of all is that I never saw her without a smile on her face.

My sympathy goes out to her family.  Losing one's parents is always difficult.

Dear Brenda, may the angels carry you swiftly home.

Warm regards,

Dee Bell

Carol Wendt

How do I say good-bye to a classmate I have just gotten to know?  Brenda – your spirit, enthusiasm and love for everyone and anything going on with the class of ’68 was amazing.  Your answer to the profile question which asks about your School Story is priceless.   When we talked about the 45^th reunion, your voice, face and eyes would light up.  You were the first one to arrive for our Saturday night gathering.  We missed you at the dance on October 2^nd and when I called the following week to find out why you weren’t there, you told me you had a cough that was being treated by antibiotics.   I couldn’t reach you for your November 8^th birthday and thankfully got a message with your new telephone number.  Our conversation on Friday, November 13^th was shocking as you told me you had just been diagnosed with lung cancer 3 days earlier.  Second opinions were being sought the following week,  and then on November 18^th comes the message to the class that confirms you have lung cancer.  Six days later, I am at Hampton Gentry Funeral Home.

I got to meet your son, Anthony and his wife, Leslie, at the Funeral Home.  He tells me you didn’t suffer and days earlier while in St. Francis Hospital, you were joking and laughing with the nurses.  While fighting to breathe, you reminded him that you were going to the dance on December 11^th.  I am sorry I didn’t get to meet your daughter, Traci.  Anthony and Leslie are so caring, just like you.  He wants to make sure he keeps up on all our class happenings, in honor of you.  He even volunteered to help with the next reunion.  They are now honorary members of the class of ’68.  God bless him as he said he knew this was something that would make you happy.  He and Leslie were phenomenal at keeping the class updated and frankly, I don’t know how they did it with so much to think about during the last week with your move from Hospital to Hospice to Hampton Gentry.   He knew that the class was important to you and so we became important to him, also. 

I and the class of ’68 is sad with your sudden death and that you have left us way too young.  We will honor you, as you requested in your Memoriam titled AFTER GLOW –

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.  I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways - of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun - of happy memories that I leave, when my life is done. 

Kathryn Robbins (Arrington)

Thanks so much to Carol who continues to keep us all connected; even when those connections are about sad news like Brenda's passing they feel important! I just spent a brief 2 days in Plainfield and Indy over the weekend and smiled each time I was near the reunion site. Brenda sure did have a great time that evening as others have mentioned  - it was great to read classmates' comments and I join others' in knowing that she will be missed.

Linda Walton (Ellis)

How saddened I was today to learn of Brenda's passing. I remember her smile and humor so well. We were good friends in Jr. High and she will be missed by many.  Sending my heartfelt condolenses to her family.