Brenda Jean Burchfiel

Brenda Jean Burchfiel, age 65 formerly of Hartford, CT passed away at her home in Pittsfield, MA on Monday, December 7, 2020 after a long courageous battle with COPD and congestive heart failure.

Brenda was born in Hartford on March 11, 1955 a daughter of the late Charles Harrison Burchfiel, Jr. and Helen Barbara (Fox) Burchfiel. She was educated in the local schools and then continued on in the school system working as a paraprofessional educator. She worked for over 15 years at the Dr. Michael D. Fox School where she worked with countless kindergartners as well as first and second graders. Ms. Burchfiel adored her students and made sure that each and every one of them had cupcakes for their birthday and a gift to open for Christmas. She truly had a heart of gold and went out of her way to make those kids feel loved.

Brenda was a single mom and she worked tirelessly to provide for her family. She also was a Girl Scout Leader in Hartford for many years and made lifelong connections with many of the girls.

Brenda loved SciFi, especially Godzilla, and enjoyed watching the Food Network. She was always amazed at the talent of the chefs and bakers. Her family tradition even became spending Sundays together watching whatever Holiday Wars were on, while snuggled up with her grandbabies. Anyone who knew Brenda, knew her drink of choice was Coca-Cola. If she didn’t want one, you could know something was seriously wrong.

She was an avid animal lover and gave a home to so many animals over the years. Most recently, with the help of Facebook, she even spent much of her time as an advocate for homeless animals and would share hundreds of furry friends in need every day.

Brenda is survived by her children, Roger Burchfiel of Connecticut, Ericia Burchfiel of Pittsfield, MA, with whom she lived, and Jamie Burchfiel of Connecticut, her grandchildren, who lovingly called her Mum Mum, Aleigh Gancarz, Brendan, Jolissa, Kayla, Delilah and Destiny. She also leaves her great-granddaughters, Lilliany and Meadow, her siblings, Lewis Barnes of NH, Sharon Burchfiel and Robert Burchfiel, both of CT, her nephew Jeffrey Barnes, her niece Natasha Anthony, and many other members of her family to include cousins.

Her family would like to extent a special thanks to the Berkshire County VNA. Brenda could be stubborn, but her Nurse Krista really connected with her over the last few months and made it possible for her to remain at home. To quote her grandson when overhearing a conversation about anyone being moved to a nursing home, “we just don’t do that in this family. We take care of our own.”

SERVICES: Brenda’s family is planning to hold two Celebrations of Life. The first is planned to be in Massachusetts on her birthday, Thursday, March 11, 2021 and the other in Hartford, CT on Sunday, March 14, 2021. Times and locations will be announced at a later date.

In keeping with Brenda’s love of helping animals, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to: Berkshire Humane Society or the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, in care of the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home, 40 Maplewood Ave. Pittsfield, MA 01201