Brenda Ann Schwarz

Brenda Ann Schwarz

September 11, 1937 – October 12, 2023

Brenda Ann Jones was born in Watford, England, on September 11, 1937, to Maisie Bagley and Nicholas Jones. Her father served in WWII. Brenda and her two brothers were relocated to northern England for a while; they later joined their mother in Deal.

After the war, her parents divorced and each remarried, with Maisie having three additional children with Arthur Bailes, while Nicholas had two additional sons. Brenda spent her younger years in Deal while living with her mother and stepfather. She worked in a factory making tennis strings, a fireworks factory, and as a window dresser.

She met her first husband, James Johnson, at a dance while he was serving in the US Airforce in Mansfield, England. They married in December 1956. Upon his discharge in 1958 they settled in Iowa with their 9-month-old daughter, Saralyn. Their second daughter, Sandra, was born while they were living on a farm in Afton, Iowa. They relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, in 1960. In 1965 they welcomed their third daughter, Tracy Leigh. Brenda and Jim enjoyed square dancing and loved road trips, visiting most the United States and Canada. She worked part time at a florist shop and enjoyed making flower arrangements. They were married 39 years until Jim’s death in December 1995.

In July 1999 Brenda married Serge Schwarz, whom she had known through the English club she had joined when she first moved to Omaha. Brenda and Serge spent several years living in Peoria, Arizona, before returning to Omaha to be near family. She loved cruising and travelling. Brenda and Serge visited many countries, with her favorite being Paris, France. Brenda was also very creative and enjoyed knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, and card making.  She is known for her elaborate bows that always decorated everyone’s gifts.

Brenda is survived by her husband of 24 years, Serge Schwarz; daughters: Saralyn (Marty) Fisher, Sandra (Mark) Gibson, and Tracy (Daniel) Dougherty; grandchildren: Brianna Fisher-Petersen, Kelley Fisher-Ruff, Justin Gibson, Jaimie Gibson-Scott, Matthew Byrne, Nicole Byrne and Enrique Pantoja; 9 great-grandchildren; brothers: Barry Jones, Tony Bailes, Nicholas Jones and Peter Jones; sister, Jacquelyn Fowler; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Brenda was preceded in death by her first husband, James Johnson; parents, Maisie and Arthur Bailes, and Nicholas and Nina Jones; brothers, Bryan Jones, and Roger Bailes.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Thursday, October 19^th at 11:30am at the West Center Chapel.

To view a live broadcast of the Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.