Brenda Reynolds

Although her life ended much too soon, Brenda Reynolds squeezed every last drop out of the life that she was given. She was vibrant and full of life with a fun-loving spirit that was contagious to those around her. Brenda was a devoted wife and loving mother who provided her children with everything they needed and more. She was confident and independent with energy that never ran dry. Brenda was driven to succeed and never backed down from a challenge - even when engaged in the fight for her life. She wasn’t afraid to fight for what she believed in, yet she never compromised what she stood for while carrying herself with such poise and finesse. Life will never be the same without Brenda here, but the memories she left behind will live on in the hearts of her loved ones and many friends.

It seems only fitting that Brenda’s story begins during a time that was as vibrant as she was. Barbie dolls, coon skin hats, and silly putty were all the rage while Elvis Presley transformed the world of rock ‘n roll. Television shows like I Love Lucy made us laugh till we cried, and James Dean became a household name. It was on September 14, 1956, that Frank and Jeanette (Derhammer) Pontious welcomed their new baby girl in Kalamazoo. Brenda Joyce was the oldest of three children in her family, raised alongside her siblings, Gregg and Linda. She learned to play the accordion while growing up, and she was quite the tomboy who was happier catching salamanders and frogs while being surrounded by the beauty of nature than she was playing dolls or having tea parties. Brenda loved picking cherries on her grandpa’s farm in addition to sailing on their sunfish, snowmobiling in the winter, and being with her beloved dogs. She was a student at Haver Hill Elementary and then went on to Mattawan Consolidated Schools. She was very talented on a pair of water skis, and she really perfected her skills once they moved to Crooked Lake in 1966. Brenda was a cheerleader, and later in life she used these skills to coach the pom pom squad at Mattawan.

After graduating from high school in 1974, Brenda entered the workforce at American Cyanamid, which later became CyTec. She worked her way up there, working as an administrative assistant and later as the assistant to the plant manager. Brenda was tireless when it came to her work, and she loved her job. With her drive to succeed combined with other traits like her stamina, perfectionism, and her ability to multitask like no other, this job was a great fit. Brenda’s career there spanned 33 years.

Not to be forgotten during Brenda’s years as a young woman was her blossoming romance with the man of her dreams. His name was Todd Reynolds, and they had known one another since they were in the same sixth grade class at Mattawan. They began dating while in junior high, and with a desire to make a new life together Brenda and Todd were married on April 16, 1977, at the Mattawan Congregational Church. The newlyweds took a honeymoon to Rocky Mountain National Park where they stayed in a pup tent that was so small that Todd’s feet hung out the door! However, since they were both into the outdoors, that suited them both just fine. Together they were blessed with the births of four children in the years that followed: Nicole, Krista, Ryan, and Renee.

Daily life was a bustle of activity in the Reynolds home with Brenda running the show. She worked outside the home, but still managed to make home cooked meals and be there for all of her children’s activities. Brenda insisted that they eat every meal together around the table, not in front of the television, and the evenings often found them playing board games or charades. Countless memories were made at the family cottage in Parry Sound, Ontario, where they had no power and used propane lights, but it provided Brenda with the opportunity to read novels or Reader’s Digest. Of course being at the cottage was the only time Brenda slept in. At home she also found time to keep a garden, do yard work, and take care of the pool, too. Brenda was always close with her father, and they enjoyed working together on various projects. She liked relaxing at the movies on Sundays, and she was a music lover whose favorite songs included “Proud Mary,” “Brown Eyed Girl,” and “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman. Dancing the polka at weddings was another favorite pastime, and Brenda was quite good, too. As an adult she taught accordion lessons for a time.

Life become more difficult for Brenda and her loved ones when she was diagnosed with CADASIL in 2000. She also suffered a stroke. When grandchildren began arriving in 2005, Brenda turned much of her attention on spoiling them, especially with countless presents for Christmas. The past four summers she and Todd had the time of their lives on four different two-week road trips to Yellowstone National Park, Nova Scotia, along Route 66, and to Glacier National Park this past summer. Not only did Brenda and Todd have plenty of adventure, but the time on the road gave them time to talk, mainly about their family. She was diagnosed with breast cancer this past May, and it was untreatable because of her previous health conditions. Throughout her illnesses Brenda cherished the support she received from family and friends, and Todd had no problem focusing his attention on caring for his wife.

A nurturing, selfless, and compassionate woman, Brenda Reynolds was a gift given to those around her. She was the classic overachiever who earned her degree over a period of eight years and fought her illnesses with a courage that provides us all with much to aspire for. Brenda was the matriarch of her family who always knew what was going on with everyone. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished by all who were blessed to know and love her.

Brenda Joyce Reynolds died November 4, 2013. Brenda’s family included her husband, Todd Reynolds; 4 children: Nicole (Duane) McCollum, Krista (Ryan) Cramer, Ryan Reynolds and Renee (Andrew) Stevens; 5 grandchildren: Aiden, Carson, Claire, Evan and Hannah; mother, Jeannette Pontious; 2 siblings: Gregg Pontious and Linda (Steve) Ballina; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Brenda was preceded in death by her father, Frank Pontious. Learn more about Brenda and visit with her family and friends while sharing some food and refreshments Friday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive; 375-2900. Services will be held Saturday 11:00 a.m. at the Mattawan Community Church. Burial at Maple Grove Cemetery followed by a luncheon in the Life Story Center. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo. Memorial contributions may be made to CADASIL Association.