Mary "Brenda" Byrne

Mary Brenda Byrne, age 82, died on Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Pass Christian, MS.

Brenda was born in New Orleans, LA on September 7, 1940, and grew up in New Orleans and Pass Christian, MS.  She graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Bay St. Louis in 1958, and Newcomb College in New Orleans in 1962.

After graduation, she joined The Convent of the Sacred Heart in Albany, New York and became a Catholic Nun.  She later left the convent and attended Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, receiving her PhD in Counseling Psychology.  She was a partner of the psychology practice, Margolis Berman Byrne Health Psychology in Philadelphia from the mid-eighties and retired in 2020. 

Brenda was active in the Pain Society, and past president of the Greater Philadelphia Clinical Hypnosis Society.  She was a member of Old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and served communion to hospitalized patients in the parish.

Brenda was a life-long lover of people, animals, books, and traveling all over the world with her many friends.  She was a kind and loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents, Julien Keller Byrne, Jr. and Alberta Bostick Byrne; and her nephew, R. Legier Kuhner.

She is survived by her siblings, Georgia Byrne Kuhner, Elizabeth Byrne Wittmann, and Julien Keller (Christian) Byrne, III, all of Pass Christian, and Katherine (Allen) Speck of St. Joseph, MO; her nieces, Erin Speck and Debbie Kuhner; her nephews, Keller and Joseph Kuhner, and Stephen and Sam Wittmann.

The family wishes to express its appreciation to the staff of Pass Christian Rehabilitation for its compassionate care.  Also, many thanks to Solace Hospice for their support.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 27, 2023, at St. Paul Chapel, Pass Christian, with a visitation for family and friends from 9:00 AM until the mass.  Burial will follow at Live Oak Cemetery in Pass Christian.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of South Mississippi.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, Long Beach, is serving the family and online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com