Brenda "Sissy" Bruce, age 71 of Defiance, passed peacefully into Heaven on Thursday, March 24, 2022, surrounded by loving family members at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. She was born on September 18, 1950 in Vanceburg, Kentucky to Carl Sr. and Beulah (Scott) Monteith. She retired from GM Powertrain and Sears. On November 6, 1993 she married Gary W. Bruce, who preceded her in death on April 25, 2019.

Brenda was a former Senior Regent for the Women of the Moose in Defiance, of which she was a member of long standing. She enjoyed gardening, time spent with friends, traveling to Kentucky to see family members, and the Hallmark Channel. If you knew Brenda well, you knew she loved her coffee.

She is survived by her daughters, Jerilyn (Kenneth) Relue and Aleesha (Anthony Brown) Bruce, all of Defiance, and sons Steven (Gina) Singleton of Ft. Collins, CO, and Joshua Bruce of Defiance, her grandchildren Octaven (Ron) Craig, Heaven Eaton-Bruce, Jackson and Adam Singleton, and Jordan Leitner, and also her loyal bulldog Shady.

In addition she is survived by eight sisters, Dorothy (Dean) Carver, Annie (Ronnie) Thurman, Donna (Scott) Bennett, Kathy (Mike) Nolen, Mabel (Lovell) Nolen, all of Kentucky, Arta (Joe) Parker of Dayton, Peggy (Tracy) Vaughn of South Carolina, and Sharon (Randy) Creech of Kentucky, three brothers, Noble (Lisa) Monteith, Earl Monteith  all of Kentucky, and Mike (Kathy) Monteith of Ohio and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gary, sister Eva King, and brother Carl Monteith Jr. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 28, 2022 from 9:00 to 11:00 am at Schaffer Funeral Home South, Lawson/Roessner Chapel (1753 S. Clinton St.) in Defiance. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am, with Noble Monteith officiating. Memorials are suggested to the family. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.