Brenda L. Williams

Brenda L. Williams, 54, of Robesonia, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at the Reading Hospital, surrounded by her family.  

She married James "Jim" A. Williams, Jr. on September 9, 1995, who survives.

Born in Lebanon on November 12, 1970, she was the daughter of Evelyn "Becky" Barkus, who survives, and the late Eugene Koppenhaver, Sr., as well as her late stepfather, Francis Barkus. In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by her daughter, Alyssa L. Williams (Patrick Scubelek); her son, Alex J. Williams; her brothers, Eugene Koppenhaver, Jr. (Karen), Mike Koppenhaver (Greta), and her twin, Brian Koppenhaver (Gina); her sister, Kim Arnold (Chris); and many beloved nieces and nephews.  

Brenda graduated from Cedar Crest High School in 1989 and earned her Associate's degree in Industrial Engineering and her R.N. degree from Reading Area Community College. She later earned her Bachelor's of Nursing from Alvernia University, where she was recognized for her research, and her Master's of Nursing from the Frank J. Tornetta School of Anesthesia. She worked at UPMC for 10 years before joining Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster. Brenda loved her career as a nurse anesthetist and cared deeply for both her patients and coworkers.  

Brenda and Jim's love story began in 1988 when they met while cruising the Lebanon loop, just a day after Brenda's 18th birthday. Jim later left her a note that read, "Hi there! Call Jim Monday night between 7 and 11 p.m. if you want to go out. Jim in the blue Camaro." Four months later, they were engaged. Their early years were filled with Pizza Hut dates and competitive rounds of miniature golf, where Brenda almost always won. In 1994, they built their first home together in the mountains of Robesonia and later welcomed their children, Alyssa in 1997 and Alex in 2000. 

Brenda loved getting Jim involved in all kinds of shenanigans, often against his will or without his knowledge. At the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede dinner show in 2007, the two were selected for a horse race and were led to believe they would be racing real horses. Instead, they were handed a hobby horse they had to "ride" together around barrels. They finished first and proudly received medals. On the same trip, Brenda volunteered Jim for a puppet version of a Sonny and Cher show, where he had to perform "I Got You Babe" in front of an audience. Through all the fun and laughter, their bond remained unshakable. Just like the song Jim performed, it was clear - no matter what life threw their way, they always had each other, two peas in a pod, as Brenda loved to say.

Brenda's life was full of love, adventure, and an endless supply of rich (and mostly legal) stories. In her younger years, she and her best friend Marci "somehow" found themselves driving through a Boscov's tent sale. On another occasion, while at the beach with Jim, a stranger offered to sell her a Spiderman DVD. The movie was still in theatres, so she was excited to show Jim, not knowing at the time it was a bootleg copy; when the two went to watch the movie, the introductory credits rolled in French. Another time, Brenda earned her alias, Bertha Nelson, after being banned from a bicycle rental shop. When a chain on one of the bikes snapped, she hauled it back herself, grease-stained and frustrated. She managed to get a full refund but was told never to return. Naturally, she went back the next day under the name Bertha Nelson and managed to rent more bikes. Brenda also had a knack for getting out of speeding tickets - most of the time. After visiting a college with Alyssa, she got pulled over and received a ticket, though she claimed she wasn't speeding this time. Furious about the ticket, she folded the check into a tiny square before mailing the ticket payment in. The check was "misplaced," leading to a warrant for her arrest. A quick call to the department resolved the issue, but the incident only added to her rule-bending reputation. Her unofficial motto? "It's only illegal if you get caught."  

On the more legal side of life, Brenda was an avid bingo player, always keeping her stampers in her car just in case. She even floated the idea of opening her own bingo hall with Alyssa one day. She loved purchasing her near daily scratch-off lottery tickets. When asked why she bought so many tickets, she'd simply say, "You can't win if you don't play." This philosophy carried over to the casino, where she loved playing roulette, penny machines, and blackjack - a game Alex taught her at the Hollywood Casino. She and Alex also shared a tradition of placing sports bets on the Philadelphia Phillies, always putting money on her favorite player, #28 Alec Bohm. She loved him so much that she had an Alec Bohm sign made for her and Jim to hold up at a Phillies game they attended for their 28th wedding anniversary. 

Brenda had an adventurous spirit, always ready for a new experience. She loved going on cruises, where she'd jump off wrecked pirate ships, hike through animal preserves, and snorkel in the Caribbean. If you hesitated to join in, Brenda would simply say, "No, you're going," as Becky could attest. Of all the places she traveled, one of her favorites was Splash Magic Campground, especially with her sister Kim and nieces Tina and Erika. Their time there created memories full of laughter - like the infamous line of crumbs and "Can somebody hand me a paper towel?" - and introduced them to what they all considered the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time: Land of the Lost.

Brenda was always up for fun and loved hosting parties for family and friends. She organized games like bingo and LCR, where she'd hand out prizes to the winners. Her Easter egg hunts featured hundreds of eggs, and her legendary Halloween scavenger hunts sent costumed teams on wild adventures around Robesonia, completing challenges like singing in restaurants, collecting hidden pumpkins, and even shaving a stranger's mustache.  

Above all, Brenda had an unwavering devotion to her family and friends. She was the loudest supporter at soccer games, especially cheering on Matt "Matty" Noll, whom she considered a second son. She often delivered home-cooked meals to family and neighbors, ensuring everyone had a place to go for the holidays. Brenda was an amazing baker, especially when it came to her homemade pot pie and apple pie. She enjoyed canning foods such as pickles, salsa, and applesauce. Brenda also had a special place in her heart for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy students at Messiah College, where she frequently provided food to support them through their studies. On National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, she even set up an ice cream stand on campus, making sundaes for Alex's classmates.

Brenda had a deep love for animals, starting with her first dog, Simon, and her current dog, Lacy. One night, as she was leaving for work, she found a stray cat in the driveway and couldn't resist giving it leftover shrimp. That small act of kindness led to the addition of Turnip, Saffron, Tobi, and Basil to her home. Over the years, she also cared for a bunny named Copper, a guinea pig named Ginger, and countless fish. She loved watching deer wander into the backyard and hummingbirds visit the feeder outside her dining room window. One afternoon, while napping in a backyard hammock, she woke up just in time to see a red fox dash past. On a trip to Tennessee, she had an unforgettable wildlife encounter when she spotted a black bear and her cubs. Brenda also had a lifelong love for fishing, a tradition she began with her brother, Mike, and continued with her own family. Fishing trips were never quiet with Brenda, filled with shouts of, "I have activity!" and competitions over who could catch the most fish. She had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and found beauty in all creatures.  

A Celebration of Brenda's Life will be held on May 10, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family will host a fundraiser in her memory to benefit the Humane Society of Lebanon County. Please contact the family for further details.  

Cole Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Robesonia, is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.ColeFH.com.

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