Bruce Brillinger
Died: January 23, 2025 | Place: London, Ontario
Obituary
BRILLINGER, Bruce…
Bruce Allan Brillinger died peacefully at his home on January 23, 2025, one month before his 88th birthday. His beloved wife Sandra Jane Mackenzie and his eldest daughter were by his side. He was devoted to Sandra, his wife of 30 years, who called him Bruce Man. Bruce loved to spend time at his cabin near St. Jacobs and in nature. He delighted in his connections with the Old Order Mennonite community in the St. Jacobs area. In his younger years, he took many trips by motorcycle across Canada and into the United States. He is predeceased by his son Joe Brillinger and brother-in-law Henry Edwin (Teddy) Mackenzie, and is survived by daughters Marla, Renata and Laura Brillinger, son-in-law Ian Callbeck, granddaughter Lucy Coleman, brother Reverend Bob Brillinger, sister-in-law Sandy Brillinger, sister-in-law Barbara Mackenzie, and several nieces and nephews. Cremation will take place, and the family will have a private gathering. Donations in Bruce’s memory can be made to the Terry Fox Foundation, 200-250 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 3G8. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
“I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.”
– John O’Donohue
20 Comments
Write a Condolence
Submit A Photo
Photos
Make a Donation in honour of Bruce Brillinger
Family's Preferred Charity: The Terry Fox Foundation
Please mail your donations directly to the charity
OR
Use the link below to complete your donation online.
Please complete the following so the family can acknowledge donations.
Donations
Jackie Potters - The Terry Fox Foundation
Marlene Strachan - The Terry Fox Foundation
Jaime McGrail - Wellspring London and Region
Mary and Harry Huffman - The Terry Fox Foundation
Pamela Dietrich - The Terry Fox Foundation
Roy Cameron and Maaike Asselbergs - The Terry Fox Foundation
Rebecca Woelfle - The Terry Fox Foundation
Burke Flowers
When you order funeral flowers from Burke Flowers, our skilled and compassionate florist will work directly with the funeral home to ensure that your delivery is timely and accurate. Same-day delivery is often available, please call (519) 672-8190 || (800) 303-7413 for a more customized experience.
Sandy, so sorry that Bruce has passed. Wishing you comfort and peace
Sandy & family of Bruce, my heartfelt condolences and deep sadness for your profound loss. Bruce was a great mentor to me on my theological journey and I miss our debates. He was openly welcomed and loved by Mum & Dad. Bruce was a very special man. May God hold you at this time of grief.
Dearest Sandy, I am so so very sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. He was a wonderful man and I know how happy you both were with each other. Nothing I can say will bring you comfort but know you are not alone in your sorrow. All my love, Nancy
Paulette and I are saddened to hear of Bruce’s passing. He was a man of deep emotions and human relationships, yet always struggling with both. He and I have always been very private persons who have carefully unveiled glimpses of our struggles to one another. He will be missed.
We send our condolences and warmest thoughts to Sandy, Renata, Laura and Marla
Paulette and I are saddened to hear of Bruce’s passing. He was a man of deep emotion and human relationships, always struggling with both. His capacity for leadership did not go unnoticed. Whether facilitating a group process or enjoying the wind on the face and the sweet odours of the countryside as he rode across the county, he was at his best. I will miss him.
Our condolences to Sandy, Renata, Laura and Marla.
Oh Sammie, so sorry to hear this news. It is good to know Bruce didn’t suffer and that his daughter was with you two at the end. I believe you were as devoted to him as he was to you and know that you will miss him greatly! I wish I could be with you at this time but right now Mark, Kristy, Franklin and Victor are visiting us for a week from GP. We will have time to talk again soon. Love, Francie and Ed
Dear Sandy,
Tom and I were so sorry to hear from you with such sad news. It has been awhile since we have connected and to learn that you have lost your beloved Bruce was shocking
I can only imagine your grief because I know you loved him with your whole heart
I remember you telling me how happy you were at your wedding and the parties before the big day and your decision to see your mother’s death as a gift and a form of blessing .I am sure it is not possible to view the monumental absence of Bruce with the same sense of grace
But hopefully you will smile at the wonderful memories you made together
I have no doubt Bruce knew how deeply you loved him and was comforted by your incredible strength and care
I will call in a little while and we can catch up.
I am so glad you had thirty wonderful years together.
We send our deepest sympathy.
Love
Heather and Tom
Sandra and family
I am so sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Sandy – Holding you close in my heart. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate the path forward.
Laura, Renata, and Marla – sending big love.
Dear Sandy and family:
I offer heartfelt condolences for the loss of Bruce. It is hard to believe that he is gone. When I think of him I will remember kindness, curiosity, humor, delight in words well written, the cabin, places and people that matter, his expressions of deep love and appreciation for his daughters, for Joe, granddaughter Lucy, and you, Sandy, such a stalwart, deeply loving and caring life partner. Bruce savoured life in all ways. I am grateful to have known him and wish you strength as you mourn him.
With love,
Maaike (and Roy)
Sandy – Sad to hear that Bruce has passed. Our thoughts are with you at this stressful time. I will always remember how thoughtfull you and Bruce were toward Clara. She spoke so fondly of you both as well as Susie, her penpal for so many years. Marylou, Bob and Douglas
Dear Sandy, I am so sorry to learn of Bruce’s passing. I did not know him well, but I do know of your love and dedication to one another. May you gather all the love and support from your family and friends in the months ahead. I will hold you in my heart, Yvonne
Dear Sandy and family we were so sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. We have such wonderful memories of spending time with both of you. Please accept our deepest condolences.
Fred and Pat Ihnatiuk
Sandy, Laura, Marla, Renate and Lucy
My heartfelt condolences. The passing of a husband, father and grandfather leaves a large hole in a life.
I met Bruce when he when he joined the staff of Shalom Counselling Service. I was a Board Member. Bruce brought healing, relief and enrichment to many lives through his professional skills.
Our friendship blossomed quickly. Family was at the heart of his life. He regularly told me how your lives, individually and as a family, were unfolding. He was animated by pride, joy and respect as he described your evolving circumstances, resilience and accomplishments. Losing Joe was devastating; Bruce was deeply grateful for the way you supported him and each other through that ordeal.
I enjoyed Bruce’s sense of humour, including his tales of his sentimental investment in an old tractor that he thought may have once belonged to his father; the fire at his sauna and how this was reported and spread in the local micro-media; and a steady stream of wry observations on every issue, big and small.
We enjoyed creating fun. In one memorably successful experiment, we mailed each other cards with no stamps. We had reversed return and recipient addresses. The cards reached their destinations when the Postal Office sent them back to the “return” address with a note saying postage was required.
Given his lovable quirks, I sometimes saw humour when I’m not sure Bruce actually intended it. For instance, the image of a disassembled motorcycle engine sitting on the fireplace mantle in the early days of his relationship with Sandy was probably funnier to me than to the people directly involved.
We usually met when Bruce came to his beloved cabin. We’d have breakfast at Angie’s in Waterloo. I still can see us sitting across the table from each other drinking coffee, updating each other on our lives, reminiscing and having many laughs.
But my best memories are sitting under the trees at the cabin, overlooking the river, talking about life.
I’m lucky to have had Bruce as my friend.
May we lose no one we love
From the shelter of our hearts
– John O’Donohue
Sandy and Family. So sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. I hadn’t met him many times in the past but anytime I was in his company I was immediately aware of his kindness and compassion. Take Care … Bob and Michele Tiller
Dear,dear Sandy and daughters
I am so shocked and saddened to learn of Bruce’s death.
He was such a fine man and a beautiful soul.
His love for you Sandy and his children was immeasurable.
It was an honour to know him.
I loved our connection with John O’Donohue.
May your loving memories offer balm to your sore hearts.
With love
Jaime McGrail
Dear Sandy: We were saddened to hear of your loss and Bruces’s passing. As new neighbours, we were warmly welcomed and he showed his kindness and compassion when our little kitty escaped to your garden and he helped us rescue her. We were fortunate to have have had a holiday Christmas visit with him and his kindness was evident then also. May he rest in peace….
Bruce was a ‘soul’ friend. He embodied a strong spiritual, humanistic and naturalistic dimension to his being. Perhaps this is why the readings and blessings of John O’Donohue resonated with him. I always admired Bruce’s resilient spirit and quiet strength of character. My heartfelt condolences to Sandy, Renata, Lucy, Marla, Laura, Ian and the rest of Bruce’s family members. His love and our shared memories remain with us. We are all better persons for knowing Bruce.
Blessings and good wishes to Bruce’s family and wider community in this time of mourning and celebration of Bruce’s life. I enjoyed many brief but lovely visits with Bruce and Sandy out in California over the years and will carry the memory of his kind and gentle heart with me into the future.
I am so sorry for your loss. I met Bruce at the YMCA about 20 years ago, and during our many discussions he convinced me to buy a motorcycle. Thanks to Bruce I enjoyed many miles on that bike. He spoke often of how much he enjoyed his time at the cabin. Bruce was a good person – he will be missed.