Brenda M. Royer

LEOMINSTER - Brenda M. Royer, 59, of 194 Florence St., Leominster, died Thursday, November 19, 2009 in the Health Alliance Leominster Campus after an illness. She was born in Leominster on June 30, 1950, the daughter of the late Albert and the late Vera (Powell) Royer. Brenda was a lifelong resident of Leominster and graduated from Leominster High School with the class of 1968. She graduated from the Mount Wachusett Community College and earned an Associate degree in General Studies and Liberal Arts. She studied history at the Salem State College, receiving a Bachelor's degree in 1974 and Master's degree in 1977. She was a proud member of the Salem State College Chapter of the Historical Honor Society. Brenda worked as Housing Authority Agent for the Athol Housing Authority in the 1970's, Rural Housing in Winchendon from 1978 to 1983, and the Fitchburg Housing Authority from 1983 to 1987. More recently, she worked for the Executive Office Community Development in Boston from 1987 until March of 2009. Brenda served on several community boards across the state in the 1980's. She was a member of the Friends of the Library group in Gardner and Leominster. Her hobbies included sewing, knitting, crocheting, reading, and planting her beautiful rose and tulip gardens each year. She enjoyed watching baseball games and was a fan of the New York Yankees. She leaves her companion of thirty-four years, James M. Hogan of Leominster; several relatives including her uncles, Wilfred Royer of New Jersey, Raymond Royer of Fitchburg, Ernest Royer of Gardner; her cousin, Wilfred Royer, Jr. of New Jersey; and her dear friend, Beth Jeppson of Beverly, MA. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Cecilia's Church, 180 Mechanic Street, Leominster. Burial will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Shirley. A calling hour will be held Tuesday, November 24, 2009 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the Simard Funeral Home, 14 Walker St., Leominster. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in her memory to American Cancer Society's New England Division Office, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210. $(document).ready(function(){ });