PORTLAND — Brenda Jean Dyer, 74, passed away Friday, Sept. 21, at Maine Medical Center, after struggling with her illness for many years, with her loving family by her side.

Born in Norway on Aug. 30, 1944, to Forrest and Virginia McAlister Martin the second of five children. Brenda graduated from Oxford Hills High School in its first class in 1962. She married Burton Bennett and together they raised two beautiful daughters. She later married her childhood friend, Roger Dyer, and together they developed beautiful gardens and lawns, renovated their home, traveled to wonderful places and built precious memories with their family and many friends.

Brenda retired from Community Concepts as human resources director in 2009 after 25 years of service. One of her greatest hobbies, as many people know and truly appreciated, was her passion for cooking, for which she won numerous awards, but mostly her joy was giving to others. Everywhere she went she’d always bring a gift of fresh baked goodies. She baked her famous homemade bread most every day. She loved to sing and had the most beautiful voice. She attended an occasional wedding or church service or two. She enjoyed her cooking shows and especially “The Voice.”

She always thought of others, even when her health was especially poor. She was such a vibrant, special human being, a strong and courageous woman. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She was a wonderful daughter, mum, grandmother, wife, aunt, cousin, sister and friend. Oh, how she cherished her great-grandchildren, Braelynn, Mackenzie (grand-meme’s little healer) and Hunter. Her nickname given to her by Roger was “Chickadee.” We all called her Chickadee on occasion.

She leaves behind her husband, Roger; daughter, Dena, and her husband, Ernie Martin, of Norway; their daughters, Heather Martin and her significant other, Jake Hill, Katie and her husband, Cody Norton, their two children, Mackenzie and Hunter, daughter, Debora Bennett, and her son, Brett Cossar, and Heath Whitman; great-granddaughters, Braelynn Cossar, Mackenzie Marie Norton; and great-grandson, Hunter Norton; stepchildren, Christopher Dyer of Old Orchard, Debbie and Larry Troiano of Rhode Island; step-granddaughter, Jamie, and her husband, Denny Carda, and their children, Bentley, Brooklynn and Brayden; also Brenda’s siblings, Bonnie Lefler of Norway, Ernest F. Martin and his wife, Judy, of Norway, Marla York and her husband, Wayne, of Windsor, and Joel Martin and his wife, Beverly, of North Waterford.

She was predeceased by a stepdaughter, Cheryl Dyer.

We hope there’s a convection oven and a pizza grill waiting for her in heaven and a smiling, beautiful face. We will miss your kind words, hugs and kisses.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.oxfordhillsfuneralservices.com.

As requested by Brenda, there will be no service. Fly high our sweet Chickadee.

Arrangements are under the care of Oxford Hills Funeral Services, 1037 Main St., Oxford.

Brenda J. Dyer