Obituary of Brenda Louise Wells-Crowley

Brenda Louise Wells-Crowley of Woburn, 60 years old, passed away peacefully at home after a battle with glioblastoma on Saturday morning, February 21, 2026, surrounded by her family. Raised in Woburn, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Francis Wells and the late Jacquelyn Alice (Barnes) Wells.

Brenda was the fifth of eight siblings, with three brothers and four sisters, and was an integral part of all their lives growing up. She was named after two of her parents’ good friends, Brenda Joyce and Louise Sullivan. Louise Sullivan, known as “Sully,” had a very special place in Brenda’s heart, which was manifested by Brenda’s lifelong kindness, attentiveness and support of Sully. As early on as a toddler, Brenda had a beaming smile. Coupled with her beautiful light brown hair, usually in a long ponytail, and her stunning blue eyes, her mother even entered her in a Buffy of the Family Affair TV show look-alike contest. 

The qualities that made Brenda special were evident from her early years. Her love of animals was fostered during childhood by a menagerie of dogs, cats, rabbits, sheep, and ponies to be found among the bustling Wells household. Brenda's sensitivity to those who needed assistance or a friend was encouraged by her mother, who sent Brenda as a child to check on the neighbor known only as the “Grandmother” every morning. Brenda’s strong work ethic was apparent in her teens when she helped sell newspapers on Sunday mornings beginning at 6 AM regardless of the weather. She had many regular customers who looked forward to chatting with her.

Brenda’s love of new experiences and travel survived the bicentennial cross-country trip crammed into the back of a truck with her seven siblings, where, in between visiting America's landscape, she and the family camped in downtown Las Vegas, as well as on a residential street in a suburb of Los Angeles. When she was in her late teens, she would travel to Europe with her sister Karen where she learned an important lesson: when you invite people to stay at your home, even though they live thousands of miles away, they may take you up on the offer and be in no hurry to leave!

Brenda started her education at Saint Charles School, and then went to Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School to study early childhood education, and served as secretary for her graduating class. Brenda explored many opportunities after high school, deciding eventually to study Education at Framingham State College. The Framingham State College library on campus did not lend itself to study. This led Brenda and a friend to explore studying at nearby Babson College. Instead, they got lost and ended up at the Wellesley College library. When she was lost at Wellesley, someone named Sean Crowley found her. Brenda though was very committed to studying for her finals and a relationship did not start until a simple postcard asked in May 1992 “Brenda, Are your finals over yet? Interested Party.” This sparked a relationship that blossomed into a love story. She graduated from Framingham State and went on to serve a year with AmeriCorps-American Red Cross in Philadelphia. Brenda and Sean married in March 1999.

After her marriage, in her own inimitable style, Brenda remodeled and redecorated the house she grew up in, refashioning it for the next generation of a loving family. Martha Stewart had nothing on Brenda-her culinary creations, decorating skills, or her ability to design something beautiful from things that might be passed over by others. Flowers weren’t just put in vases; they became flower show blue ribbon winner-level arrangements. Discarded furniture became Newbury Street-worthy pieces after Brenda refinished them.

She loved to cook and always studied a cookbook from cover to cover. Her bookcases were filled with Julia Childs, Moosewoods, and more, and she was always happy to pass on a recipe to another. She was an amateur stained glass artist and a crafter, founding the Sewing Bees at the Woburn Public Library. Brenda was always a fabulous host; anyone who has attended an event she knew the magic she made. From making jello mold brains to turning the porch into Hogwarts Express, she had a way of turning a party into a work of art. Most famous of all of course was turning the family house into a live-production haunted house event to collect canned goods for food pantries and as a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of her brother-in-law Bruce.

In 2003 and 2006, Brenda welcomed her two children, whom she was devoted to. From traveling between sporting events, 4H, and numerous other activities that Brenda encouraged her children to pursue, she was always hands-on and supportive. She was a strong advocate for them inside and outside of school, and always encouraged them to follow their passions. Each year, the family would travel to a new state, exploring new and local places. It was also important for Brenda to make a yearly pilgrimage to Salem Willows, which was an important connection between her own and her children's childhood.

Brenda is survived by her loving husband Sean and her two children, Shealagh and Cameron Crowley. She also leaves behind seven siblings: John Wells and his wife Denise, Cathleen and her husband Patrick Rowland, Kenneth Wells and his partner Mark Gelsinger, Jacquelyn Miller and her partner William Frank, Karen Wells and her husband Andrew Canning, Jane and her husband Jerry Murray, and Joseph Wells and his wife Heather. She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law Bruce Miller. Brenda is also survived by her in-laws, Justine and John Crowley, and sisters-in-law Christine Crowley and her husband Gonzalo Abad Gonzalez, Deanna Crowley, and Janelle Crowley. She leaves behind a large extended family, including aunts, uncles, many nieces, nephews, cousins, her special cousins David Edmonds and Kerry Bernier, and numerous friends.

Brenda was particularly committed to the protection and improvement of the environment and to sustainable growth. She frequently would pick up rubbish off the roadside, in parking lots, and on walks. There was always a bag of trash, a recycle container and a grabber in her car as she traveled about, making the world a more beautiful place. Her love for the outside world led her to pick up beekeeping, cementing her namesake as “B.” In honor of this philosophy, Brenda has purposefully requested no flowers. To honor her legacy, she and her family request donations to be made to The Haven Project (https://havenproject.net/) and the Woburn Feral Cat Coalition (https://greatnonprofits.org/org/woburn-feral-cat-coalition).

Brenda and her family had a close relationship with The Woburn Feral Cat Coalition (WFCC), a non-profit no-kill organization of dedicated volunteers committed to controlling the stray and feral cat population through a humane trap, neuter, and return program. Brenda was always caring for any stray cat that came to her door, from daily feedings to making heated beds in the garage. Brenda and her family hosted fundraising events for WFCC, which included creating colorful, attention-grabbing banners.

Brenda worked closely with young adults throughout her career, guiding them towards independence. The Haven Project, based in Lynn, Mass., became an important part of Brenda’s life before her passing. By chance, while exploring Lynn with her husband Sean, she came across a non-profit cafe with an important mission: to provide shelter, crisis housing support, education assistance, career development, jobs, and other services for the vulnerable 17-24-year-old homeless young adult population. Brenda facilitated many connections between her own diverse personal network and The Haven Project, and was a fervent advocate for this organization that serves those often left behind with no voice.

Brenda was a caring wife, proud parent, and devoted, loving mother to her children.

She had a bright, welcoming personality that drew people into her loving orbit and touched so many lives. Through family, work, friends, community engagements, and daily encounters with strangers, she made people feel that they matter, that they're needed, that they're loved.

Brenda was a friend of the Winchester Unitarian Society. A celebration of life will be held for Brenda at the Winchester Unitarian Society, 478 Main Street, Winchester, MA on Saturday, March 28 at 2:30pm.  (Link to livestream: https://venue.streamspot.com/8993d7a4)   Arrangements by the Graham Funeral Home, Woburn. www.grahamfuneral.com