Brenda Mcdowell

The service for Brenda Lesly McDowell, 54, will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Cherokee. She will be laid to rest at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery.

Brenda was born April 15, 1962 to James J. McClain, Jr. and Eleanor Ann (Barbour) McClain at Pascack Valley Hospital of Westwood, New Jersey.

She was raised in Bergen County, New Jersey and graduated from Wood-Ridge High School in 1980. Following high school Brenda graduated from cosmetology school and soon realized this was not her calling and instead began working for Ciba Gegi in database administration. She then accepted a position with General Electric Information Services Company. While working she took classes at night and on the weekends to graduate from St. Peters University, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1987. She worked for GE in New Jersey, New York City, and then after her marriage, at the company headquarters in Rockville, Maryland in a career that spanned 30 years. For the last 20 years she managed their International Distributor contractual relationships.

She married Michael Eugene McDowell on May 12, 1990 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They were blessed with 26 wonderful years of marriage while living in Maryland. She passed away to join our Lord on Tuesday, November 22, 2016.

She was a loving wife, aunt, animal lover, gardener and friend to many.

Surviving are her husband, Michael McDowell of Darnestown, Maryland and Cherokee; mother, Eleanor Ann Madison of Moonachie, New Jersey; brother, David L. McClain and his wife, Debra of Missoula, Montana; sister, Carol (McClain) Conlon of Ringwood, New Jersey; niece and namesake, Brenda L McClain; nephew, Jacob P. McClain of Missoula, Montana and nephew, Bradford J. Conlon of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Her father, James J. McClain, Jr. preceded her in death.

Brenda touched many lives while being a dear friend to so many, and her life was touched by them in return. We thank everyone for your time, prayers, well wishes and love.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Women through Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.