Obituary of BRENDA HOWISON

BRENDA HOWISON August 31, 1960 - July 12, 2013 It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce that Brenda Howison, beloved mother, daughter, sister, partner and very dear friend has died. Brenda died exactly one month after she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer of an unknown primary origin that had already spread to her liver at the time of her diagnosis. Brenda was brought up in the North Kildonan area of Winnipeg by a close and loving family who treasured her individualistic nature and encouraged her passion for life, love and adventure. Upon graduating high school, Brenda travelled with her brother through England and then Israel where the two of them worked on a farm. She then returned to Winnipeg to pursue her glamourous trade of choice: hairdressing. When Brenda was 23 years old she married Jamie Howison and together they had two daughters: Jessica and Margaret. The young family moved to Winnipeg's North End and Brenda quickly became a neighbourhood treasure, as she started her own hair-cutting business out of home in 1989 and worked out of it until her illness. Brenda and Jamie went their separate ways when the girls were still young and Brenda and the girls remained living in their beloved home. She was a wonderful mother, having devoted her deepest love and care to the girls who adored her profoundly and miss her deeply. She touched the lives of many in both her personal and entrepreneurial life. She was a determined individual who returned to complete her Post Secondary education at Red River College in order to fulfill her business administrative ambitions and to provide for herself and family. After her education Brenda worked for both North West Company, and Red River College all while maintaining her salon business on the side, and maintaining connections with people wherever she went. Brenda had the rare combination of being both pragmatic, and romantic. While she had extraordinary resolve towards hard work and the maintenance of a good home life, as well Brenda had a strong commitment towards indulging the senses in the unknown and in the lovely, whether it be red wine, chocolate, or the spiritual side of life. However, above all Brenda's strong connections with people were her joie de vivre', and it is no surprise that during her illness her friends and family surrounded her, intoxicating her with their love and support. Brenda, accurately known by a dear friend as "sweetness itself", remained perfectly graceful until she was taken from us. Although the tragedy of her illness was undeniable, Brenda only became more graceful in the face of death. In her last days she was often found smiling at her daughters as she told them that she still felt okay, asking visitors to stay over for supper, and falling asleep in the arms of her very best friends. She leaves behind her two daughters Jessica Howison (Ryan Trudeau) and Margaret Howison (Caley Smith), her parents Bill and Sue Klassen, her loving partner, Rod McCormick, her brother Dale Klassen (Rhian Brynjolson), two sisters Donna Koslowsky (Bob Koslowsky), and Lynn Bergen, and an overwhelming community of loving friends. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Cathedral, 135 Anderson Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba.