Brenda E. Lord

Brenda E. (Lyle) Lord, 56, of Westborough passed away on Wednesday, January 15, following a fierce and graceful 3-year battle with glioblastoma. Brenda is survived by H. Richard Lord, her high school sweetheart and loving husband of 34 years and their three children, Bridget Lord and Maielise Lord both of Westborough and Audrey Van Heest and her husband Jack of Boston. The daughter of Dr. Jerry and Marilyn (Mayhew) Lyle of Westborough, Brenda is also survived by brother, Stephen Lyle and his wife, Cindy, of Weymouth; her parents-in-law, Dick and Paula Lord of Coweta, OK, as well as sister-in-law, Kara Lord and two nephews, Reilly P. Piersimoni and Hunzeker J. Piersimoni.

Born in Ft. Defiance, AZ, Brenda was raised on the Navajo Indian Reservation and then in Claremore, OK, graduating from Claremore High School in 1986. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Retail Management from Purdue University. 

While at Purdue, Brenda became a member of Chi Omega Sorority, serving as Rush Chairwoman her senior year. She deeply cherished the friendship and bond with her sister Chi O’s and was so grateful to be able to attend a reunion in Nashville last year. Reconnecting with so many dear friends brought her great joy. Brenda expressed her love of fashion and creativity in a modeling troop while at Purdue, during her year of study at the Fashion institute of Technology in Manhattan, in designing products, and through her wardrobe. 

Throughout her life, Brenda acted on her passion for service and helping others in daily acts of kindness, volunteerism, and summer service trips with the church youth group. She was an active member of The Congregational Church of Westborough, serving on numerous boards and committees. The fellowship and community of the church family has been an ever-present blessing to Brenda and her family for over 30 years. Brenda was a Girl Scout leader for 12 years and loved growing with the girls in her troops through many Sunday meetings and trips. 

Brenda led a career focused on product design and brand development. She earned her MBA from Babson College, with an emphasis on Global Management. At the time of her diagnosis, Brenda was employed as Vice President, Private Brands and Quality Assurance for CVS Health. Prior to that she was an executive with Staples and with Ames Department Stores. During her 7 years at Staples, Brenda served as Co-Chair of Women Who Lead and was on the board of the Staples Share Fund. Both groups speak directly to Brenda’s commitment to helping others and mentoring other women along their professional journey.

Professionally and personally, Brenda was an avid global traveler, with over 50 trips to China among many other countries. Brenda loved to experience new places, try new foods, conquer foreign subway systems, and bring back stories and souvenirs to her family and friends. 

Brenda enjoyed food and cooking, seldom repeating a recipe but always thoroughly enjoying friends in the kitchen. Brenda loved life. She loved to meet people and take on challenges and aimed to go through life with “grit and grace,” a phrase she exemplified through her final moments.

In the face of her brain cancer diagnosis, Brenda only dug deeper into life and held her family and friends close. She constantly expressed her gratitude for life, her work, her healthcare team, and her “village” which took care of her and her family these past 3 years. Even in the most challenging moments, she would take time to tell everyone “I appreciate you.”

Brenda was tenaciously committed to pushing the boundaries of medicine and was treated at Dana Farber through numerous clinical trials, with a particular focus on helping future glioblastoma patients. 

Please omit flowers, the family requests that donations made in her memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where Brenda was so well-cared for by an incredible team. 

Calling hours at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough, are Friday, January 24, from 4:00-7:00 P.M.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 25, at 10:00 A.M. in The Congregational Church of Westborough, 57 West Main St., Westborough with a reception to follow at the church.