Brenda Drake Gilbert passed away peacefully on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Gladwyne,
Pennsylvania. She was 84.

Born in Gladwin, Michigan, on November 24, 1940, and raised in St. Charles, Illinois, Brenda
was the daughter of Robert and Tressie Drake. The youngest of three sisters, she is survived by
her beloved Yvonne Amble (Charles) and preceded in death by her dear Charlene McGuire
(Gordon). While a young woman working in Chicago she met and married the late Dr Robert P.
Gilbert and together they moved to Philadelphia. Even as she acclimated to the unfamiliar
environs of Philadelphia's Main Line, she always maintained her small-town warmth and
Kindness.

Brenda was the devoted mother of Jane Gilbert (Vinnie Camizzi) and Clark Gilbert, as well as
stepmother to Nancy Murphy (Steve), the late Robert P. Gilbert Jr. (Tina), the late Diane Murphy
(Albert), and the late Betsy Gilbert. Her greatest joy came from being "Granny" to her four
beloved grandchildren Olivia Hancock, Mack Hancock, Riley Gilbert, and Dylan Gilbert.

For 20 years, Brenda sold real estate in the Philadelphia suburbs, where her warmth, energy,
and charm turned many clients into lifelong friends. She was an enthusiastic gardener and was
endlessly proud of her work. No one visited her house without enjoying-in fact, it was
compulsory- a tour of her garden. She loved hosting family and friends on her back patio
surrounded by her efforts. She also enjoyed playing bridge and was so pleased with the
wonderful friendships she forged over the bridge table. An inherently friendly and social person
she loved to laugh and always made the people around her feel seen, loved and special. It was
widely known among her family and friends that Brenda's maker failed to provide her with a
sufficient filter, often to the great amusement or horror of those in her company. She was rarely
a woman who disguised her thoughts or opinions.

Brenda's gift for making things look beautiful wasn't reserved solely for her garden. She was
also meticulous about maintaining her house and always knew if something was out of place.
And when she would get ready to go out for the day she always made sure that she was
adorned with the proper "bling". Forever the showstopper.

But her real legacy is how she made people feel: nurtured, included, and very often, smiling.
Brenda leaves behind many friends who adored her, a family that cherished her, and a world
made better by her presence. She was loving, vibrant, energetic, caring, and above all,
unforgettable.

A celebration of Brenda's life will be held in the near future and the family looks forward to
sharing memories with her friends. Memorial donations in memory of Brenda may be made to
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.