Brenda H. Meehan

BREWER - Brenda H. Meehan passed away quietly and comfortably on March 2nd, 2019 after nearly a decade long struggle with Picks Disease. Brenda was born March 9th, 1953 the daughter of the late Ralph C. Ham and Marguerite (Floyd) Cobb. She was a lifelong resident of Brewer, attended Brewer schools and was a demonstrably proud member of the Brewer High School class of 1971. She was a 1975 graduate of The University of Maine at Orono, and earned a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Maine in 2004.

Brenda spent her entire life in education, teaching at St, John’s and St. Mary’s school in Bangor, at the elementary level on Indian Island and in the Brewer School system 5th and 6th grades for 26 years until her retirement for health reasons in 2012.

Brenda was also a mystery script writer under the pseudonym of Madame Murder, selling and donating scripts as well as hosting who-done-it parties at her home and for local groups in the Bangor area.

She was active for many years in community theater and dance groups, the Jaycess, and the First Congregational church in Brewer, where she taught Sunday School. But her passion was standing in front of the classroom after hours of meticulous preparation of lesson plans, theatrical skits and unique real life exercises crafted into lessons designed to capture students’ interests. She was exceedingly proud to have had the opportunity to work with so many fine young people over the years, and bear witness to their ongoing successes.

Brenda is survived by husband Doug of Brewer, Son Kyle of Bangor, daughter Lauren and favored son-in-law Warren Ard III of Nantucket, MA, siblings Margo Ham and husband Frank Hankey of Jersey City, NJ, Phillip Ham and wife Donna of Norwich, NY, and Michele Brown and husband Mark of Carmel, ME. She is also survived by her “posse”, grandchildren Sydney Mary Ard and Annie Leigh Ard of Nantucket, MA, and Jackson Douglas Meehan of Bangor, ME as well as her “surrogate” daughter Mary “Ard” Doody. She always considered Warren and Mary as her own.

The family will be forever grateful for the heartfelt devotion of close friends, compassionate kindness of neighbors, whose selfless acts and efforts in difficult times have been far too great to detail here. Our thanks as well to the staff and volunteers at Beacon Hospice who became like family and made it possible for her to spend her final days at home .

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-8 p.m., Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor, where a funeral will be held 2 p.m., Friday, March 8, with Rev. Grace Bartlett, officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Brewer, in the spring. All are welcome to an informal gathering at Brenda’s home immediately following the service, Friday. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com