Brendan J. Byrne, 59, of Bristol, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, of liver disease. Brendan was born in Leicester, England, on January 16, 1961, the second son of Joseph and Mary Byrne. The family emigrated to Connecticut in 1965, first to West Hartford and then Bristol, where Brendan attended St. Joseph’s School and Bristol Central High School. As a young man, Brendan served in the U.S. Marines and then continued his education at Central Connecticut State University. He worked as a courier for many years. Brendan’s many interests included music and history; he became involved in writers’ workshops and wrote poetry. He enjoyed fishing at local spots in the neighborhood and was a big fan of the San Francisco Giants. Perhaps the happiest time of his life was when he traveled to Ireland to explore his family’s roots. As he grew older, his passion became horseracing, and he developed camaraderie with fellow enthusiasts. In recent years, he became the primary caregiver for his mother, Mary Byrne, who passed away earlier this year after living with Alzheimer’s. Brendan was there for his mother when she needed him most, and he remained close to his brothers and sisters and their families. His mind remained strong even as his health deteriorated. His siblings remember him as funny, sincere, and always willing to help. Friends will remember him as generous with his time and resources, even when he didn’t have much himself. Brendan is survived by his brothers, Stephen Byrne of Reno, NV, and Paul Byrne of Stratford, his sisters, Audrey Fern and Laura Maraj, both of Farmington, and his nephews and nieces, Sean, Derek and Alison Fern, Jillian and Ryan Maraj, and Stella and Gemma Byrne. A private ceremony will be held for family on Wednesday December 23, 2020. The burial will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 28 at St. Joseph Cemetery in Bristol; anyone who is comfortable is welcome at the outdoor burial. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Brendan’s name to Bristol Recovery Club, PO Box 322, Bristol, CT 06786, or to Brian’s Angels https://briansangels.org/donate/. Both are Bristol-based orgs that Brendan would be happy to support. Funk Funeral Home, Bristol CT is honored to serve the family. Please visit Brendan’s memorial web-site at www.FunkFuneralHome.com.
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