Brenda (Griffith) Tourond

The family of Brenda Ann Tourond (née Griffith) share the sad news that she passed away on July 16, 2025, at the St. Boniface Hospital at the age of 58. While her passing was not foreseen, coming too soon and devastatingly swift, she was at peace and surrounded by her loving family on her passage into the next chapter.

Brenda lived a full life, which started off in The Pas, MB. She was born on January 6, 1967, to parents Joan Jack (née Hester) and Harold Griffith as the baby of the family, joining siblings Debbie, Diane and Boyd. She reminisced very fondly of her childhood in The Pas and of memories at the family cabin on Clearwater Lake. She spent much of her youth at the cabin running around enjoying the beach and company, becoming very good friends with the DeBeers family.

In 1979, Brenda, her parents, and siblings (Diane and Boyd) moved to Winnipeg for her father’s career, residing in Westwood on Bedson Drive. Her late twenties found her moving to British Columbia after her mother passed to be with her father. She worked in BC for 7-Eleven and continued to work for this company upon her return to Winnipeg.

Brenda’s cheeky good-naturedness and friendly face charmed many a customer, of this we’re sure, but especially one named Raymond Tourond, whom she married on October 6, 2000. They soon welcomed a baby boy, her pride and joy, Alexander and bought their home in Elmwood, which housed a great many family dinners, game nights and backyard barbecues. She was an excellent cook who followed recipes exactly to the letter, and despite being teased for being so exacting, yielded fantastic results that spoke for themselves.

Brenda was at her happiest spending time with her family. She had a sense of humour you had to keep an eye on. Like the best people always do, she loved the simple things in life like sharing a meal with those she loved (preferably at the Half-Moon Drive Inn or D Jay’s Restaurant), playing games and having a good laugh. She loved to read and look through photo albums, especially pictures of her cherished parents, and share the stories behind them.

The bond between her and her son Alexander was special in that they not only loved each other; they liked each other too. Watching their relationship from childhood to young adulthood was a privilege and joy to see. She loved him fiercely no matter what – from little Alexander pulling down a big screen TV and nearly being crushed (or worse yet, breaking said TV!), through schooling, the cadets program, graduation and onto becoming a working young man. His wins were her wins.

As Alexander grew older, Brenda decided returned to school at the University of Winnipeg, graduating with her Educational Assistant Diploma in 2011. She went on to work as an educational assistant for the River East Transcona School Division. She enjoyed her work and colleagues and worked there until her health ultimately forced her retirement in May 2022.  

She is predeceased by her mother Joan (1995), father Harold (2018), nephew Jimmy Stevenson (2014), sister Diane Griffith (2024), mother-in-law Adrienne Tourond, numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and her cherished dog, Radar.

Left to mourn are her loving husband of 25 years, Raymond, son Alexander, siblings Boyd (Marisol) Griffith and Debbie (Ted) Stevenson, along with her very large extended family and friends.

Having different roles in our respective lives as a mother, wife, sister, auntie, cousin, friend and colleague, she was more importantly the glue binding the collage and the thread connecting the quilt. We will miss her terribly.

The family would like to sincerely thank Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Services and St. Boniface Hospital ICU Team for their care, dedication and unwavering compassion for our beloved Brenda and our family during the unimaginable.

Brenda will be laid to rest where her story began, alongside her family in the place her heart called home, The Pas, MB.