Brenda Lee Bodenstein

In Loving Memory of Brenda Lee Bodenstein (Nee Luskin), July 27th, 1949 to October 14th, 2026.

Some people leave this world a little brighter simply because they were here. Brenda Lee Bodenstein was one of those people. Brenda, 77, of Niagara Falls, New York, passed away on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026. Born in Niagara Falls, she was the second child of Robert and Eunice Luskin. Her dad nicknamed her “Chief Thunder Cloud” because when she was displeased, her face said it all, a trait she kept even through her illness.

She graduated from Lewiston-Porter High School in ‘67, the only student to receive the Marine Midland Trust Company of Western New York Award for Excellence in General Business Studies, and was known as the fastest typist in the entire school. She attended Niagara County Community College and in 1969 accepted a position with the Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas.

In February 1970, she met Danny Bodenstein at a dance on an airbase and six weeks later, they married on their lunch breaks. They returned to Niagara Falls, planted roots, and raised Jennifer, Beckie, and Chris.

Brenda worked for decades at Hovey and Massaro, and loved every minute of it, only retiring for medical reasons. She loved Bingo as a girl and was always lucky, and learned cards from her dad, something she loved her entire life. Family remembers her doing just that, at the kitchen table with girlfriends and laughter.

She served as secretary for the NFJFC Football Club and made many friends along the way. She rarely had an unkind word and gave freely of herself, always putting others first. Whatever someone she loved cared about, she made it her passion too. She was Grandma and Mema, cherishing those names and the time spent with her grandchildren. Even through her illness, she always made sure she could spend time with her grandkids. Jaden, her oldest grandson gave her more time to be a mom, she especially enjoyed spending weekends with him.

Survived by her three children, Jennifer Bottom (Dave), Beckie Torres (Victor), and Chris Bodenstein (Christi); grandchildren Ashlee Lasecki (fiance Shane Forktus), Tyler Lasecki, Jaden Godwin (fiancee Adriana Torcasio), Roman Torres, and Rocco Torres, Victoria Bodenstein and Conor Bodenstein, Amanda Bottom, David Bottom, and Alexis Bottom. Siblings Robert Luskin (Sharon), Robin Patry (Paul), and Graham Luskin. Father in law Dave Hart, brother in laws Gary(Joy) Bodenstein and Dave(Diane) Hart, along with extended family and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband Danny, her parents Robert and Eunice, mother in law Betty Hart, and father in law Dan Bodenstein.

The family offers heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary nurses, aides, caregivers, and staff at Northgate Healthcare for loving Brenda like their own, giving her comfort when she needed comfort, patience when things were difficult, dignity when she was most vulnerable, and unconditional kindness through every stage of her journey. But above all, they gave her love. Their tenderness brought peace we can never repay, and we will be forever indebted for how they carried Brenda and our family through those years.

She made the world better simply by being in it.

The family will be present to receive friends on Monday, October 19, 2026 from 4-7 PM at the HARDISON FUNERALHOMES, INC., 401 Ridge Street, Lewiston, where Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 10 AM. Friends invited. Interment will follow in Dickersonville Cemetery, Town of Lewiston.

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