Brenda Louise (Bartski) Pintal

Brenda Louise Pintal was born on June 26, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. 

The only daughter of Willis and Treva Bartski, she was a strong woman, independent, intelligent, and adventurous. She was first in a long line of "Bartski" women, with three daughters, seven granddaughters, two great granddaughters, and another great granddaughter on the way. One streak breaking great grandson is expected early next year. 

Brenda was a skilled and passionate nurse, earning her nursing license at the age of 21 from Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing.  That was an event filled year as she met and (quickly) married her husband, William (Bill) Pintal, D.O. at 21, after a six month courtship. 

Life was challenging at many stages, with Bill starting med school after their three girls (Kristin, Monique, and Kelly) were born. Together, they balanced on and off shifts while she worked in multiple hospitals.  After his graduation from medical school and starting private practice, Brenda worked alongside him as the nurse in his office for many years before following him to Michigan State Clinical Center and working in the Emergency Room at St. Lawrence hospital.  In her nursing, she took special interest in helping pregnant moms.

Brenda and Bill's life took a sudden and tragic turn when their 11 year old daughter Kelly passed away, leaving holes that would never fully heal. One of our greatest comforts is knowing she and Kelly are re united again. 

Brenda was so filled with adventure. As her younger self, she enjoyed horseback riding, water skiing, and fishing. There are fond memories of trips white water rafting, scuba diving, snow skiing (with Brenda going backwards downhill). Brenda even had a love of flying, only 6 Hours shy of completing her pilots license. She loved house plants, orchids, parakeets, pink squirrels, and margaritas. She loved to swim. She loved to travel. There were many years that included a winter trip to an island – a different one each year. She enjoyed canoeing the Grand River while she still could and loved watching her birds endlessly from her bedroom window. One of her last adventures was a "jail break" from home, waiting until Bill was enjoying his deck outside, before absconding with the car for a couple hours, after she wasn’t supposed to be driving any longer.  

She was a wonderful cook and baker, canning and freezing the plentiful harvests of a large garden, small fruit orchard, and other bounties from the small farm homestead. She loved video games, from the first release of Pac man to playing candy crush – often with some Bit-O-Honeys or peppermint patties for critical nourishment to keep her going.  

Brenda will be remembered and cherished for her strong will, her independence, and fantastic sense of adventure. Her family will hold dear memories of the various Jello molds at holiday dinners, Christmas outings to Win Schulers, ceramics, making shrinky dinks, slime, window stickers, and trips to the cabin in Pickford. 

She loved making shrimp tempura, sourdough bread and chocolate cakes, babies, fishing, reading romance novels, her girls and attending girls’ lunches, and most of all her Billy, needing to know he was ok, even as she was in hospice and near bed ridden. We'll take care of him for you, Mom. 

Brenda started her newest adventure, reuniting with her Mom and Dad and her daughter Kelly On November 8, 2020.  Just like her daughter Kelly, she loved much and is much loved. We can't wait to see you again, Mom.  

Brenda is survived by her husband, Bill, her daughters Kristin Carlson and Monique (Scott) Carpenter; granddaughters Erica (Jesse) Williams, Jaclyn Allen, Nikola Carlson, Allica (Jared) Beckwith, Morghan (Jay) Rustenholtz, Brindlea Peterson, and Kadyn Reisterer; and great granddaughters Nella and Cora Williams, Baby Beckwith; and the lone boy , great grandson Baby Rustenholtz; brothers David (Karen) and Robert Bartski.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Treva Bartski, and Bill and Brenda's daughter, Kelly. 

A private funeral service will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Lansing. Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

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