Brenda Tran

When reflecting on the life of Brenda Tran, it is easy to see her unconditional love for her family. Nothing brought Brenda greater joy than spending time with her loved ones, no matter how simple the moment. Forever loved, Brenda will be deeply missed by those who knew her best.

During the 1940’s there was a ray of light for Ronald and Blanche Mahar as they awaited the arrival of their baby with breathless excitement. On September 14th, 1945, they welcomed their daughter, who they named Brenda Elaine, into the family.

Brenda was raised in the family home on Ann Street in Belding, Michigan, alongside her sister, Becky. Both of Brenda’s parents, along with her Uncle Bub, owned a family grocery store. Brenda's parents taught her many lessons in life, particularly her father, an entrepreneur at heart. He taught Brenda how to bargain to get the best price on whatever you were trying to purchase. Until the day she died, if you told her you were going to give her something, she would always ask, 'How much does it cost?” Her dad owned racehorses and many other animals. This created a lifetime of Brenda loving horse racing. She also had no fear of animals and loved dogs. She always talked about her beloved dog, Gidget. Brenda’s parents owned several carnivals and a hot dog wagon. Through these ventures, Brenda, Becky, and their families created countless memories together. When the carnival was in town, you could always find Brenda and Becky selling snow cones.

Exciting changes were on the horizon for Brenda as she met the man who would quickly become the love of her life. His name was Alan Tran Jr., and the two first met while attending Belding High School. The cheerleader and football player soon became high school sweethearts. Brenda and Al were married on January 26, 1963, at seventeen years old. The newlyweds lived in Brenda’s childhood home for a short time. When Al began attending Western Michigan University, they moved into married housing. Brenda and Al were always a team, and she cherished the time as a stay-at-home mom with their son Ron, and later Brent, despite their meager beginnings.

Of all the things Brenda loved in life, she cherished her family above all else. Over the years, she and Al were overjoyed to welcome five beloved children. After Al graduated from WMU, the Tran family moved back to Belding to be closer to family along with their third son Dana. There, they had their last son, Torre, and their only daughter, Britt. A job offer in Kalamazoo had the Tran family moving again and they settled down in Plainwell, Michigan. Brenda thrived in her role as a mother, and she worked tirelessly to raise her children. She was very involved in their lives, and she never missed a chance to cheer them on at a school activity or event. Later in life, Brenda was thrilled to become a grandmother and even a great-grandmother. She adored her children and doted on them whenever she could. Brenda was known by her grandchildren as “Nana Bling Bling,” or “Bling” for short due to her love for all things sparkly and bedazzled. Her family also grew to include many nieces and nephews, as well as several close friends. Brenda always considered herself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Brenda was never afraid to work hard. She got her first job at Gilmore’s Department Store in downtown Kalamazoo at the age of 20, she enjoyed interacting with the customers and working with the various beauty products. She was known at Gilmore's as the "Estée Lauder Girl." She adorned her home with perfumes, makeup, and colognes. Brenda also worked at JCPenney’s, Plainwell Lanes, Bittersweet Ski Area, and Montgomery Wards, where she met a lifelong friend, Barb Vernia. Barb’s daughter, April, grew to be like Brenda’s own daughter, she was an honorary member of the Tran family. April was at all important family events, including Brenda’s final moments here on Earth. Brenda was also very active in Plainwell Public Schools. She was involved with the founding of the Plainwell Athletic Boosters in the 1980s. Later, Brenda put her entrepreneurial skills to use and opened her second-hand shop, Turn It Around Secondhand Retail Store. She ran the business for the next 10 years, first in Plainwell and then in Otsego.

Throughout her life, Brenda loved traveling and experiencing as much of the world as she could. The Tran family enjoyed annual trips to Cedar Point, numerous vacations to New York City and Washington D.C., and spring break trips to Cocoa Beach, Florida. The trips usually included Brenda's sister Becky and her family. Brenda and Becky, known as Dixie and Daisy, loved celebrating St. Patrick's Day and all things Irish. Brenda once traveled to Ireland with her sister Daisy and kissed the Blarney Stone. After retiring at the age of fifty, Brenda was able to travel with Al for his work trips. They visited Hawaii, Mexico, and they loved going to Las Vegas. Brenda adored Elvis, and she and Al renewed their vows for their 40th and 60th anniversary with Elvis officiating. Celebrating their anniversary in Las Vegas had become a cherished family tradition for Brenda and Al, who had taken over 150 trips to the city together. Once Al retired, they moved to Cape Canaveral and then Stuart, Florida, where they have lived for the last 15 years.

The Tran family owned several lake properties, which were the backdrop for countless family memories. Their property on Eagle Lake in Bloomingdale was the official Tran compound. Brenda loved skiing, riding in the speedboat or pontoon, and using the wave runner. She affectionately called her friends at Eagle Lake her “summer sisters.” Brenda was known for her great sense of style and always ensured her hair, makeup, and nails were put together. She cherished trips with her grandkids to the Amish Store and Swan Lake for treats. She will also be remembered for her “creepy crawling” adventures.

Whether you called her Nana Bling, Dixie, Aunt Dix, Lil’ Tran, Sandra Dee, Juicy Girl, Summer, or Mom, we can all agree that she truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of laughter and love. Brenda was a friend to many and beloved by all who knew her. Throughout her battle with Alzheimer's, she received tremendous care from her husband, Alan, the love of her life and her primary caregiver. Her family and friends also played an active role in her care, ensuring she had a good quality of life until her last breath. Though she will be dearly missed, Brenda leaves behind a legacy that her loved ones will be proud to uphold.

Brenda Tran passed away on September 6th, in her daughter’s home, surrounded by her loved ones after courageously living with Alzheimer’s for many years. Brenda was born on September 14th, 1945, to Ronald and Blanche Mahar. She and her husband, Alan R. Tran Jr., were married on January 26, 1963. Together, they were blessed with 5 children, 17 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. Brenda leaves behind her sons: Ron (Jan) of Gobles, MI; Brent (Jamie) of Palm City, FL; Dana (Jamie) of Plainwell, MI; Torre of Holland, MI; and her daughter, Britt (Brian Baldridge) of West Bloomfield, MI. Additionally, Brenda leaves behind a very dear family friend, April Vernia, of Otsego. Brenda leaves behind her 17 beloved grandchildren: Tyler (Veronica), Aubrey, Cameron, Ashley (Jimmy), C.J., Madison, Meagan, Taylor, Jalyn, Braylon, Makayla, Sean, Griffin, Ava, Layna, Reese, and Emery. Brenda also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and cherished in-laws. She is survived by her sister, Becky Mahar VanSprange (Jim), along with Becky’s children, all of whom held a special place in Brenda’s heart as “Aunt Dix.”

Brenda is preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Alan Sr. and Lorena Tran; her brother-in-law, Tom Tran; her nephew, Luke McNinch; and her infant siblings, Robert and Bonnie Mahar.

Please join us for a Life Story Celebration where food, drinks, and stories will be shared on Thursday, September 26, from 5-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A memorial service will begin at 7 PM. Celebrate Brenda’s life online by sharing stories and photos on her personal webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.