Brenda DeGroff

Brenda Elaine DeGroff, 84, of Summerville, SC, passed away Monday, November 25, 2024.

Brenda was born on June 28,1940, in Syracuse, NY. She was preceded in life by her parents Lyle DeGroff, Ione Lamay Horton and her stepfather John Alson Horton, and her brother John L. DeGroff, Sr.

Brenda was a graduate of Syracuse Central High School in 1958. She worked in the frozen food warehousing and logistics industry as an executive assistant for 42 years. During that time company ownership changed from Empire Freezers to United Refrigerated Services and eventually became Americold Logistics. Brenda was considered the “office oracle” because she not only knew the business history of the company from its very beginning, but also coordinated the company’s office technology evolution from paper files, to its first computer with keypunch cards, to desktop computers.

Brenda enjoyed traveling, especially trips to visit her daughter and son-in-law when they were stationed in Hawaii, Italy, and east coast duty stations with the US Navy. She was a tremendously supportive mother and grandmother during many challenging times that her daughter’s Navy family faced. She was a most beloved “Nana” to her two grandchildren.

Before and after her retirement, Brenda was an avid reader and movie goer. She loved expressing herself by painting and drawing. She enjoyed spending time with her friends going to movies, concerts, plays, art galleries and showings, especially in and around her beloved Syracuse. Brenda was a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, NY, where she volunteered in the gift shop, volunteered her clerical skills to the diocesan archives and participated in a number of ministries. In 2015 she was awarded the Immaculata Award for Service by the Diocese of Syracuse.

Brenda moved to Summerville, SC, in 2016 to be close to her family. In 2021 she moved to The Blake at Carnes Crossroads in Summerville. She passed away at home at the Blake surrounded by the love of her family, friends, and wonderful caregivers.

Brenda is survived by her daughter Michele Fogarty (Brian) of Summerville, SC; granddaughters Katharine Fogarty of Summerville, SC, Laura Fogarty of Ladson, SC and her nephews John L. DeGroff, Jr., Ronald S. DeGroff, and Marc A. DeGroff, all of Oswego, NY.

A Celebration of the Funeral Mass for Brenda will be held at 1pm on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Saint John the Beloved Catholic Church, 28 Sumter Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483.

A Celebration of Life and Interment will be held in Syracuse, NY, at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request that memorial donations may be made in Brenda’s name to Agape Care South Carolina’s Carnation Foundation.

The family has entrusted services to McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 869 St. James Ave, Goose Creek, SC, 29445 (843-553-1511)