Obituary for Brenda Carmody (Corrigan)
Friends and family have mourned the loss of Brenda Carmody since her death on July 27, 2021,
at age 79.
Born to Ted and Eleanor Corrigan on June 8, 1942, Brenda had the distinction of being a lifelong resident of New Hope. At the time of her death, she resided at 58 Old York Road, a home
that was in the family for approximately seven decades, and where she had cared for her mother
for many years before Eleanor’s death in 2017.
Brenda was a 1960 graduate of New Hope-Solebury High School, and over the years worked in a
variety of positions that ranged from modeling to retail sales to business management for a local
construction firm. Her time working in New Hope’s former “Craft Shop” reflected her lifelong
interest in arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles.
She was not known for political activism, but after high school took a strong interest in local
efforts to preserve the Delaware Canal and its adjacent towpath. At that time the canal was a
primary driver of tourism in New Hope and adjacent communities along the Delaware River.
New Hope’s mule-driven canal barges were iconic attractions.
During her 30 years of marriage to Bradford S. (Bud) Jones III, Brenda was well known for the
size and diversity of the collections they gathered up as a couple. These collections included
glass bottles of all sizes, shapes and colors, as well as telephone pole insulators, which also came
in an endless variety of configurations. All were collected methodically at abandoned
homesteads and areas that were commonly referred to as “dumps,” but which for Brenda and
Bud were treasure troves.
She routinely scoured these same sites with a metal detector, uncovering a huge assortment of
coins, tools, household implements and other rare objects of great curiosity and value to fellow
hobbyists. She was a regular at flea markets throughout Bucks County and for many years sold
antiques and collectibles at Jones Antiques on Route 202 outside New Hope.
Growing up in a household of avid gardeners, she often pedaled her bike to New Hope’s many
restaurants as a child, peddling fresh daffodils for 25 cents a bunch. Later in life she turned this
love of flowers into a related hobby, making dried flower arrangements noted for their
extraordinary colors and textures. She also was skilled at rescuing old, weathered boards and
crafting them into faux-antique frames for mirrors and paintings.
Brenda is remembered for her fun-loving nature and willingness to approach new experiences
with an adventurous spirit. In the fall of 2017, she received tickets for a hot air balloon ride as a
birthday gift. In a case of beginner’s lack-of-luck, the balloon got caught up in wind currents and
crashed on the shore of Merrill Creek Reservoir in New Jersey. The balloon struck trees, brush
and a fence on the way down, but left Brenda and her fellow occupants uninjured. Brenda always
related the details of this close call in her customary easy-going manner, frequently during
matches of her favorite board game: rummikub.
Although suffering from the effects of multiple cancer diagnoses and treatments in the months
preceding her death, she retained a positive outlook and developed a close relationship with her
two favorite caregivers, Irena and Margie. Another prime source of solace was her beloved feline
pet, “Mr. Kitty.”
Brenda is survived by husband James L. Carmody, 84, of Montrose CO.
She is also survived by her sister Patty Corrigan Vancil (Denver) of Morrisville PA and her sister
Bernadette Corrigan Myers (Bud) of Lambertville NJ. Surviving nieces and nephews include
Robyn, Brian and Kimberly Vancil and Amy Myers.
Survivors from her marriage to Bradford Jones include her daughter Bonnie Jones Gray (Trent)
of Brewster MA, and her daughter Jennifer Jones Hollenbaugh (David) of Boston MA. Surviving
grandchildren include Connor, Erin, Andrew and Anna Hollenbaugh.
The family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Bucks County SPCA, 1665
Street Road, New Hope PA 18938, 215-794-7425, (https://buckscountyspca.org)
Since the time of Brenda’s death, arrangements have been handled by the Garefino Funeral
Home, 12 North Franklin Street, Lambertville NJ 08530, 609-397-2763,
(https://www.garefino.com)
A private family memorial is planned for September 25.
at age 79.
Born to Ted and Eleanor Corrigan on June 8, 1942, Brenda had the distinction of being a lifelong resident of New Hope. At the time of her death, she resided at 58 Old York Road, a home
that was in the family for approximately seven decades, and where she had cared for her mother
for many years before Eleanor’s death in 2017.
Brenda was a 1960 graduate of New Hope-Solebury High School, and over the years worked in a
variety of positions that ranged from modeling to retail sales to business management for a local
construction firm. Her time working in New Hope’s former “Craft Shop” reflected her lifelong
interest in arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles.
She was not known for political activism, but after high school took a strong interest in local
efforts to preserve the Delaware Canal and its adjacent towpath. At that time the canal was a
primary driver of tourism in New Hope and adjacent communities along the Delaware River.
New Hope’s mule-driven canal barges were iconic attractions.
During her 30 years of marriage to Bradford S. (Bud) Jones III, Brenda was well known for the
size and diversity of the collections they gathered up as a couple. These collections included
glass bottles of all sizes, shapes and colors, as well as telephone pole insulators, which also came
in an endless variety of configurations. All were collected methodically at abandoned
homesteads and areas that were commonly referred to as “dumps,” but which for Brenda and
Bud were treasure troves.
She routinely scoured these same sites with a metal detector, uncovering a huge assortment of
coins, tools, household implements and other rare objects of great curiosity and value to fellow
hobbyists. She was a regular at flea markets throughout Bucks County and for many years sold
antiques and collectibles at Jones Antiques on Route 202 outside New Hope.
Growing up in a household of avid gardeners, she often pedaled her bike to New Hope’s many
restaurants as a child, peddling fresh daffodils for 25 cents a bunch. Later in life she turned this
love of flowers into a related hobby, making dried flower arrangements noted for their
extraordinary colors and textures. She also was skilled at rescuing old, weathered boards and
crafting them into faux-antique frames for mirrors and paintings.
Brenda is remembered for her fun-loving nature and willingness to approach new experiences
with an adventurous spirit. In the fall of 2017, she received tickets for a hot air balloon ride as a
birthday gift. In a case of beginner’s lack-of-luck, the balloon got caught up in wind currents and
crashed on the shore of Merrill Creek Reservoir in New Jersey. The balloon struck trees, brush
and a fence on the way down, but left Brenda and her fellow occupants uninjured. Brenda always
related the details of this close call in her customary easy-going manner, frequently during
matches of her favorite board game: rummikub.
Although suffering from the effects of multiple cancer diagnoses and treatments in the months
preceding her death, she retained a positive outlook and developed a close relationship with her
two favorite caregivers, Irena and Margie. Another prime source of solace was her beloved feline
pet, “Mr. Kitty.”
Brenda is survived by husband James L. Carmody, 84, of Montrose CO.
She is also survived by her sister Patty Corrigan Vancil (Denver) of Morrisville PA and her sister
Bernadette Corrigan Myers (Bud) of Lambertville NJ. Surviving nieces and nephews include
Robyn, Brian and Kimberly Vancil and Amy Myers.
Survivors from her marriage to Bradford Jones include her daughter Bonnie Jones Gray (Trent)
of Brewster MA, and her daughter Jennifer Jones Hollenbaugh (David) of Boston MA. Surviving
grandchildren include Connor, Erin, Andrew and Anna Hollenbaugh.
The family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Bucks County SPCA, 1665
Street Road, New Hope PA 18938, 215-794-7425, (https://buckscountyspca.org)
Since the time of Brenda’s death, arrangements have been handled by the Garefino Funeral
Home, 12 North Franklin Street, Lambertville NJ 08530, 609-397-2763,
(https://www.garefino.com)
A private family memorial is planned for September 25.