It took me some time to respond as I reflected on how someone as kind, vibrant, and full of joy as Brenda could have left us at this moment in time. I’ll always remember the way her eyes lit up whenever she spoke about her beautiful grandchildren, Kirtina and her family, and her beloved husband, Kirt. I’ll miss her warm invitations to share tea in her lovely garden, her stories of growth and change, and her encouraging words that always seemed to come at the right moment.

As I thought about it, I realized that everything Brenda brought into this world, her kindness, her love, and her joy, remains with us. It lives on in the lives she touched and the memories we hold close.

Please know that I am here for you if you ever need anything. Wishing you strength and comfort during this time, and the courage to carry her love and light forward. - Ambriel

Brenda definitely had a deep love for cooking and she made this table of food for only 2 guests. Great presentation and delicious meal. We love you Brenda and you will be missed. ❤️💐

I am so grateful for knowing Brenda.
She was part of the NEC worship hula group called "Heart of Worship" from the very beginning, one of the original members which started back in February of 2024.
I was so blessed she had danced hula many years before and she was so reassuring to me as I had very limited years in hula and leading a group and would look to her for opinion, ideas and correction.
But more than that, her friendship and testimony in loving others and her willingness to stay strong in her health struggles is what stands out to me personally.
She had a down to earth nature and a listening ear and one could talk easily with her in her quiet demeanor.  
She came to as many practices as she could and some just wanting to enjoy the practices or be with the group and ever thankful she could make it.
There will be a sense of loss in our group but of clear remembrance of one of our sisters.

As I close, our prayers and love to Kirt and the family, to the Rasmussen's, relatives and close friends, 
John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."

With love,
Mary Ann & Don Hsieh

We will miss you Auntie Brenda. You have always welcome us to your family and we have always appreciated your kindness. We are so thankful to be able to spend time with you and the rest of the family and make wonderful memories.
With love,
Penny, Jem, and Austin

We will miss you Auntie Brenda.  You have always welcome us to your family and we have always appreciated your kindness. We are so thankful that we were able to spend time with you and the rest of the family and make wonderful memories.
With love,
Penny, Jem, and Austin

Our deepest sympathy for the loss of Brenda. We know that she will be deeply missed by the whole family. 
Blessings, Nancy and Bill Leonard

Brenda and I started at Intertrust the same day. We attended New Employee Orientation together and were friends from them on. It's hard to imagine visiting the office without seeing her bright smile and warm welcome.  We "grew up" together over the past 20+ years. We and our daughters were only a few years apart. We shared challenges during their teenage years, were proud when they finished college, celebrated when they met and married their spouses and delighted in sharing stories about our grandchildren.  When I had a friend considering a stomach reduction surgery, Brenda provided information about pros/cons I could share with her. We shared prayer requests and praises, especially for our families. Brenda was a person I aspired to be like. She was a marvelous Christian in the best possible way.  "What would Jesus do?" Just look at Brenda and you had the answer.  She saw a need, whether emotional or physical, and immediately offered tangible help and support. She actively demonstrated love to everyone she encountered. I have no doubt she was greeted in Heaven with a "Well done true and faithful servant".

I’ve been at Sandra’s for a few days now, and I’m still half expecting you to walk in through the door, giving me a bear hug and sitting down in your favorite chair. How we’re going to adjust to being without you in the present, I don’t know. Now it’s time to cherish all the wonderful memories of the past, and there are so many. We were very lucky to have spent so much time together, firstly thanks to our moms and grandparents, who always included you, your parents, and Sandra in their conversations, despite the distance and regular visits when we were children. Later, thanks to my job as a tour guide, I had the chance to see Kirtina grow up and spend a lot of quality time with you all. We were sisters, you have always made me feel loved and I’m forever grateful for that. You also brought lots of laughter and funny moments into our lives, I’m having a flashback of you Sandra and myself, 1980,  going on a joyride in the hills of San Jose and all of a sudden, the car was airborne a second or two, with us three screeching and giggling at the same time….those driving skills of yours! Your deep sense of humour and the fact that you could also laugh about yourself made us recount the Greenylocks story many times!   The summer holidays at Casa Fanny, all my visits here, your last trip to Spain when you and Kirt had just found out you’d be grandparents next spring. And the last time I saw you, last year in October at Halloween. 
Goodbye, my Dear Sister-Cousin, you’ll stay in my heart forever.

It's hard to fathom we won't be seeing Brenda again.  I knew Brenda as a hard-working colleague and then as a caring friend.  We had some fun adventures, like the company Christmas party and a visit to Roaring Camp.  Falline and I especially enjoyed meeting her family.  Maybe we'll cross paths with Brenda again at the Big Round-Up.

Brenda was my friend. We weren’t typical, what I’d call “situational,” friends. We didn’t live in the same neighborhood, meet as children, work at the same company, have the same hobbies or interests, or basically have much in common. We didn’t even hang out together very often. But what we did share was phenomenal. 

Something deep inside us resonated on the same frequency. She appreciated my quirky pottery and bought one of my favorite vases. It was large and had almost completely collapsed before I fired it. Instead of coming out of the kiln in pieces, it survived, but with obvious scars. Nobody else especially liked it, but we both saw something beautiful in it. We also enjoyed thrift store shopping before thrifting was cool. I think we shared an affinity for discarded things and second chances, for not giving up on things or people despite false starts or setbacks. 

I believe Brenda saw the broken parts of me and took me in anyway. She introduced me to her wonderful family, invited me to family gatherings and more or less adopted me. 

When I was diagnosed with anal cancer, she not only cooked for me herself, but organized a whole crew (including her sister and daughter) to feed and take care of me until I could fend for myself again. I didn’t expect that. She just saw the need and took care of it. 

And I think that was how she lived her life. Whenever she saw a need, be it personal or professional, she stepped in and took care of it. Her sweet disposition along with her generosity and kindness were appreciated by all. She will be sorely missed.

Dear Kirt, kids and grandchildren of Brenda and also Uncle Oot, Sandra and her beloved ones.  We have sweet memories on our trip to the US in November 2019, were we feel so welcome within your families. We wish you all the time to mourn this tremendous loss. Rest in peace dear Brenda ❤️

Dear Oom John, dear Sandra and John, dear Kirt, dear Kirtina, dear Chloe, dear Chauncey and all your loved ones, we offer our deepest and sincerest condolences. 
As you face the loss of our dear cousin Brenda, we join you in mourning with our thoughts and love.

Ronald Keller and  Olga Keller
Emma and Sophie Keller, and their mother Lise Keller-Christiansen

“If you come any closer I’ll scratch your eyes out!” Is the catch phrase I will forever associate with my cousin Brenda. I was young at the time but I distinctly remember being impressed with her driving technique which seemed to involve as many raw skills as it did vociferating and choosing creative trajectories. Hence, I came to understand later, the fair warning sign dangling behind the rear window of her car. She was cool, she was edgy and she had a wicked sense of humor, the kind that you just can’t fake - and I admired her for it! 
Some years later, a thankfully more mature me also learned to appreciate her kind heart and it was clear that no one was ever left wanting in her company. Unfortunately, over the years we did not get many chances to meet, certainly not as often as we would have liked to. But when it did happen, we got along like it'd been yesterday. I can truly say that she was and will always be on my mind and in my heart ; especially when I need to channel her mojo to hone my driving skills up to the next level!

Dear Brenda, rest in peace, I Love you just the way you are, honk if you're feeling it and don’t ever change! 

Ron

We were so lucky to join the gender reveal party of the coming Sophia . Brenda had made delicious food  and everybody was very happy .

I am so glad that we met Brenda in  2019. This was our first  night, having dinner with our beloved family.

I love the memory of this wonderful time with Brenda & Sandra in Las Vegas! We had the best time together, first at the home of Kirt’s dad and after that at The Venetian Hotel! Wonderful time with lots of food… of course. ☺️

Erica and Brenda will soon be together!
May they find peace and comfort in a painless world! 🙏

Surrounded by her dad, her sister and her cousins…. Family has always been so very important to Brenda! ❤️

This picture was taken on a Happy Day! And that is exactly how I want to remember  Brenda: smiling and happy! 😊

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Brenda Joyce Rugebregt-Burns

10 février 1960 – 16 juillet 2025

Willow Glen Funeral Home

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