Obituary of Brenda Ivy Land

Brenda Ivy Land (nee Wright) passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, on Tuesday June 30, 2026 at Alexandra Hospital in Ingersoll shortly before her 95th birthday. Brenda is predeceased by her husband Martyn (2020), son Christopher (2017), her parents, William and Hilda Wright and all of her siblings: Leslie, Leonard (Rene), Hilda (Lewis) and Jean (Albert). Brenda is survived by her loving daughter Julie Croteau (John) and grandchildren: Jonathon Laurenzi (late Wendy), Emily Spurgeon (Anthony), Madeline Klassen(Greg) and her great granddaughter Vera Ivy Spurgeon. She also leaves many much loved nieces and nephews in England and the USA. Born the youngest of five children in Norwich England in 1931, Brenda was a petite, platinum blonde girl with a loving family. A large part of her early years were spent standing in long lines with her ration book for food and other essentials or in an air raid shelter, which was buried at the bottom of their garden, while her father was putting out fires and helping others as an ARP warden. At the end of WWII, with her school bombed out and only 14 yrs old, Brenda started working in the office of Laurence, Scott and Electromotors Ltd. She continued her studies at night school and also became proficient in typing, pitman shorthand, cooking and sewing. Petite Brenda met very tall Martyn, the love of her life, in a dance class held by their work when they were 15yrs old. They waited until they were 21 to marry so that there would be no objections. Brenda got a job with the British Rail and, once Martyn finished his two years National Service in the Royal Air Force, they bought their first home and started a family. Ballroom dancing remained a favourite activity for the rest of their lives. In 1969, they immigrated to Canada and settled in Scarborough and later moved to Cambridge when they retired. Brenda found it hard to find employment in Canada because she didn’t have any Canadian work experience. After working the night shift at a bank, she found a job at Neon Products (now Jim Pattison) where she made some life-long friends. Once the grandchildren arrived, Brenda and Martyn spent many hours teaching them to play tennis, riding their bikes and going on adventures as well as hosting Teddy Bear Picnics. One adventure was standing outside Zehrs collecting grocery store receipts from customers to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. Grandma even went to a ballet class with Madeline for ‘Bring a Friend to Dance’ day. Brenda was also involved in the start-up of a Muscular Dystrophy Chapter for the Kitchener, Cambridge & Waterloo Regions. Brenda spent many years lovingly caring for her son, Christopher, who had Myotonic Dystrophy. We truly believe his life was longer and of better quality because of her dedicated care. When she retired, Brenda loved reading, knitting, sewing, jigsaw puzzles and music as well as Tai Chi, badminton and walking. Her grandchildren often called her the ‘Energizer Bunny”! In 2021, Brenda moved to Dorchester with her daughter, son-in-law, and their dogs and cats. She loved to share her lunch with Oliver, Gracie and Jaxon while watching Family Feud or Cash Cab. She said the shows kept her brain active and she was correct. Still enjoying an occasional cigarette and a shot of Brandy she almost made it to 95!! Cremation has taken place. Donations in her memory to Muscular Dystrophy Canada would be appreciated. “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.” Winnie-the-Pooh