Obituary of Brenda Cole

(nee Briggs)

Peacefully at the Almonte General Hospital on Tuesday evening, July 22, 2025, Brenda passed away one week after her 89^th birthday.

Beloved wife of the late Trevor Cole (2017) for over 55 years.

Loved mother of Gavin Cole (Dominique Anfossi) of Constance Bay and Andrea Jahn (Trevor) of Arnprior.

Brenda was predeceased by her sister Elsie Walker (late Andrew) and her brother Harry Briggs.

Daughter of the late Herbert and Elsie Briggs.

One of the first women to graduate from the prestigious Royal Botanical Gardens Kew in England, Brenda emigrated to Canada in 1967. She was a freelance garden writer who was regularly published in the North Bay Nugget, Canadian Gardening Magazine, Harrowsmith. For nearly 30 years she had a weekly column in the Ottawa Citizen. After retirement, Brenda picked up a paintbrush and was a talented artist in watercolour and coloured pencil.

Private arrangements have been entrusted to the Pilon Family Funeral Home. If you would like to leave a donation in Brenda’s memory, please consider the Almonte General Hospital.