Obituary - Brenda Renae Goodnough Jennings

Brenda Renae Goodnough Jennings, 44, passed away at home September 24, 2018, in Havre, MT.

Brenda "Nae Nae" was born September 15, 1974, in Havre to Gerald Goodnough and Jacky Gerking. She attended schools in Havre and graduated from Montana State University-Northern with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. She was a dialysis registered nurse for most of her nursing career.

She married Christopher Jennings from Havre, December 14, 2002.

She is survived by her husband, Chris; their son, Adam; her parents, Dale and Jacky Gerking of Star, ID, and Gerald Goodnough of Kalispell, MT; brother, Matt (Kristy) Goodnough of Olney, MD; stepsiblings Gina Spiller and Allan Gerking of the Seattle area; in-laws, Mike and DeeDee Jennings of Havre.

It's so hard to accept losing a child, wife and mother. Our grief is intense with the loss of our "sweet Brenda," but she has finally found the peace that she so desperately sought. Her love and laughter were immeasurable for others, but in darkness she cried for relief from her sadness and turmoil. She recently had rededicated her life to the Lord and was baptized, so now her journey is complete with her arrival into Heaven.

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well.

A Celebration of Life will be at a later time. In memory of Brenda and her heart for others, please contribute to Voices of Hope, PO BOX 1788, Great Falls, MT 59403 or at [email protected].