Brenda Olson Sutherland

Born in Danville, Illinois in 1932 to Dorothy and Neal Olson, and big sister to Dee, who was born with Cerebral Palsy, which required special help from a big sister. This taught Brenda the importance of strength and kindness, traits she embodied for her entire life. When Brenda was a young girl, the family moved to Mt Vernon, Ohio where she enjoyed working in her parent’s Hallmark store and everything that came along with growing up in a small town.

She went to Mt Vernon High where she excelled in friendships and Art. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University, joined Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, briefly studied abroad at Mexico City College, and graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which lead to work as a medical illustrator at Columbus Children’s Hospital. She sometimes brought her work home, occasionally keeping a random human finger or ear in the family fridge while sketching it for a doctor’s presentation. As any good mother would, she warned her boys to be careful when snacking, urging them not to eat anything from a jar with a handwritten label.

Married to Carl Sutherland in 1960, she was a constant supporter of his career at Midland Mutual Life Insurance Co., and the US Navy, rank of Captain.

She attended Liberty Presbyterian Church in Delaware, Ohio, and Spanish Wells Methodist Church in the Bahamas, was active in her communities, a founding member of the Adventure’s Club, worked the polls, and taught English as a Second Language/Citizenship, remaining close with some of her students for many years to follow.

During their spare time, Brenda and Carl enjoyed the island lifestyle. This love for island life began in 1960 when she and Carl built a wooden A-frame cottage together, off-grid, entirely with hand tools on a small island they purchased, even before buying a home of their own in Worthington, Ohio. This risky venture would prove to be one of the best decisions of their lives. In Canada, she would often host evening parties for neighbors who would hop in their boats just before cocktail hour and motor or paddle to Brenda and Carl’s for a drink “on the rocks,” with an unmatched view of the sunset above the water.

In 1992, Brenda and Carl rode-out Hurricane Andrew in the Bahamas, with 145 mph gusts of wind. They lost the entire roof of the home while in it, but emerged without a scratch, feeling deep gratitude for friends in their Spanish Wells community, and a renewed appreciation for family and life in general.

Brenda enjoyed the outdoors, bicycling, gardening, reading, drawing and socializing with friends, including the wild deer who became frequent visitors to her yard in recent years. She always made time for her sons and their many family projects, even later in life, serving as an Executive Producer on her son’s feature documentary.

Brenda is preceded in death by her husband Carl, parents Dorothy and Neal, and little sister Dee. She is survived by her sons Mark, and Scott (Blythe), grandkids Aidan and Calum, grand dogs Clover, Lucy, and a reluctantly social grand-cat, Mr. Fish, who she treated with love and respect, despite the cat’s desire to bite and scratch her for no reason.

Although she battled dementia during the last years of her life, she never lost her positive outlook and continued to inspire those around her. In the final days, nurses and aids remarked on her kindness, strength, and fight to stay with us as long as she could. She will be greatly missed by family, friends, and animals alike.

As per her wishes, there won’t be a funeral, but a celebratory party for family and friends instead. Please reach out to the family for more details.