Brenda Joy Blair (nee Downey, later Hansen), beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully after a living celebration of life at her home in Cochrane, AB on January 12, 2026 aged 82 years. She passed away surrounded by family and friends who expressed their love to her and the love, joy and guidance that she had provided to each of them over the years.

Brenda was born on April 11, 1943, in Calgary, AB, the fourth of six children, to Alvah and Florence Downey. She went to school in Calgary, first at the Sunalta School and then graduated from Central High School in 1961. At the age of eighteen, she married Rick Hansen (divorced 1972) in Calgary. After residing in Halifax, NS., attending St. Mary’s University and giving birth to her first child in 1962, she and Rick returned to Calgary where their second child was born in 1964.

Brenda attended the University of Alberta, Calgary, later the University of Calgary (1966), graduating with a baccalaureate degree in 1967. Although she had a declared interest in becoming a psychologist, Brenda became the first woman to be an enrollee in the University of Calgary’s Master’s degree program in Economics. She was the first female graduate in 1971 all while being a single parent to 2 growing children. She went on to be a private consulting energy economist. Among the many energy projects she consulted on, Brenda was an integral participant in the Datametrics Ltd. proposal put forward regarding the MacKenzie Valley pipeline project which was part of the considerations of Mr. Justice Berger’s inquiry and report into the project (1977). During her professional career, Brenda received public recognition for her being a trail blazer for women and her contributions to the petroleum industry and as an alumni and economics professor of the University of Calgary.

In 1982, Brenda married Hugh McLean Blair. They resided at a small acreage northwest of Calgary and south of Cochrane where many boxing day hayrides and summer family gatherings were held. In 2014, Brenda and Hugh moved to Cochrane where Brenda resided until her passing. Brenda was predeceased by her husband Hugh (2018), her parents Alvah (1979) and Florence (2001), her sister Florence Mary Martha McFetridge (1993), brother Frank Downey (2023) and his wife Elaine (2009), their son Neil (2016), brothers-in-law Fred Emms (1982), David Wood (1991) and Gerry Conway (2014), sister-in-law Carole Downey (2018), her nephew David Downey (1994), her niece Alison McFetridge-Naud (2004).

In addition to her siblings Karen Emms, Bruce Downey and Linda Conway, her many cousins, she is also survived by her children Murray Blair (Diana), Michael Hansen, Laura Cuckow (Alan) and David Blair; grandchildren Christopher Cuckow (Brittany), Morgan Blair (Roberto Rojos Soto), Alexandria Allan (Chris) and Clayton Blair (Kathleen); and great-grandchildren Blair Cuckow and Jesse Blair.

Heart felt thanks and appreciation to Boumi 1, Boumi 2, Karissa and Sandra, Brenda’s home care givers, who shared love and laughter with Brenda and helped daughter Laura and brother Bruce attend to Brenda during her fight with cancer.

Brenda lives on in the memories of those who survive her. Hers was a life well lived, well loved and welcoming. She can still be heard in the mind’s ear to say ‘love you more’.

In lieu of flowers, Brenda and her family request that you make a donation to your charity of choice.

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