Obituary: Brenda Campbell was ‘a great fit’ in the hospitality industry

A young couple wanted their dream wedding to be at Michelangelo's Banquet Centre and met with co-owner Brenda Campbell.

They sadly had to bow out because the price was beyond their budget, but Campbell didn't let it end there. A few days later, she called them back and offered a new price within their budget by modifying the menu.

They had their dream wedding here," Cliff Smith, longtime chef at the Upper Ottawa Street landmark, said with a smile.

That was typical of Campbell, who died May 17 at age 65 from cancer. She went out of her way to help those renting the hall, treating everyone like family. This applied to staff too.

There's no words to describe her," said Dana Frewin, who has worked at Michelangelo's for 14 years and is now event manager.

She took a chance on me. She treated me like family. She was like a second mom and a big sister to me."

Frewin recalled the time she mentioned that a neighbour was battling cancer and Campbell suggested she take some food to her.

The next thing I knew I had five meals waiting to go," said Frewin. It was packed up and ready to go."

Members of various organizations told the family about Campbell's ways at her visitation. They spoke about how she tried to make sure their fundraisers were a success. Smith said she often added little extras with no charge, like dressing up a dessert plate.

She was very supportive of the community and causes," said her sister-in-law Mary Lou Ciancone. She went over and above to make sure they raised money that night."

She was just a great fit into the hospitality industry. She was a natural."

Campbell was born Oct. 23, 1956, to Bernard and Cathy Campbell. Her father was a foreman at Dofasco and her mother worked at the Fennell Square Restaurant and then later in the cafeteria at Dofasco.

Campbell attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School and Bishop Ryan High School. She went to work at the Hillcrest Restaurant on Concession Street as a coat checker when she was 15 in 1971, but moved up to become a bus girl. By the end of the decade, she was working in the office. She later took some courses at Mohawk College.

The legendary Hillcrest was run by the Ciancone family, brothers Ron and David. Campbell joined the family when she married David.

The brothers, who had other restaurant interests, sold the Hillcrest in 2006 and it has since been demolished for a drugstore. David and Brenda took over operation of Michelangelo's, while Ron - who died in 2016 at age 74 - took the Old Mill in Ancaster and ran it with Mary Lou.

Campbell's sister Betty Graham called her the best" and someone who was always kind.

She was just so good to people," said the retired Dofasco office worker. She was always easygoing. People just loved her."

She said her sister loved to travel. She had been doing that since she was 18 and had been to places all over the world. She was also a longtime member of the Hamilton Mountain Rotary Club.

Campbell's stepdaughter Stacey Ciancone said her stepmother was a very busy person" but she always made time for her family.

She kept us in the fold," said the Brantford veterinarian. She was just a very loving person."

Sal Farrauto, sales manager of Michelangelo's, said Campbell put everyone ahead of herself.

You don't cross paths with too many people in your lifetime that are as kind, caring and giving and truly genuine as Brenda Campbell," he said. She treated everyone with total respect and dignity. She will be greatly missed in our community."

Campbell is survived by her husband David and stepdaughters Stacey and Robyn. She is also survived by her mother Cathy, sister Betty and two brothers, Bob and Barry. She was predeceased by her brother Bernard.

Daniel Nolan can be reached at dannolanwrites@gmail.com