Brenda Mary Woodford, 72, of Mount Dora, Florida, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2026, in Tavares, Florida.

Born on December 8, 1953, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, Brenda carried her warmth and resilience with her throughout her life. She pursued her love of learning with dedication, earning degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland, McMaster University, and the University of North Texas.

Brenda built a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years with Nortel, followed by 10 years as a Guardian, where she continued her lifelong commitment to service and advocacy.

On April 26, 1975, she married the love of her life, Paul Kennedy. Together they shared 50 wonderful years of marriage grounded in partnership, laughter, and deep devotion to family. Brenda was a proud and loving mother to her daughter, Sara, and her son, Colin.

Family was at the heart of everything Brenda did. She traveled the world—visiting Brazil, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, England, Spain, Singapore, Israel, Egypt, Argentina, Montenegro, Croatia, and Mexico—but no destination meant more to her than wherever her loved ones were gathered. An avid reader with a special love for mystery novels, she found joy in stories, adventure, and lifelong learning.

Brenda had a rare and beautiful gift: she adopted anyone who walked through her front door. She was an “extra mom” to anyone who needed one, generous beyond measure with her time, wisdom, and unwavering love.

She was an active and devoted member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lake County, and volunteered with Kiwanis International and Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship, reflecting her lifelong commitment to community service and compassion.

Brenda is survived by her beloved husband, Paul Kennedy; her daughter, Sara; her son, Colin; her sisters, Ann Marie, Frances, and Maureen; and her brothers, Fabian, Frederick, and Joseph. She was preceded in death by her brother Terry and her parents, Josephine and Joseph.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Cornerstone Hospice House in Tavares for their excellent care of Brenda in her final days. 

A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lake County on Thursday, February 19th at 2:00 p.m.