BYRNES, Brendan John

We are sad to announce that Brendan John Byrnes passed away in Cheltenham, Victoria, on the 1st of May 2025 at almost 99 years of age. Brendan was born in Brighton, VIC on 22 June 1926, where he grew up with three brothers and a sister. Brendan is survived by his wife of 63 years Lerys (Northcott); his children Darren, Stephen (Vicki Gamble), and Andrea (Paul O’Sullivan); his grandchildren Sean, Patrick, and Brigid; his sister-in-law Valerie; and many nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents Margaret (D’Arcy) and Patrick Byrnes; and his brothers James (and wife Daisy), Donal, and John (and wife Judith) and his sister Mary (Moira, and husband Stuart Black).

Brendan lived in Darwin, NT; Vancouver, Canada; and Seattle, USA in the 1950s before returning to Melbourne. He met his future wife Lerys, a primary school teacher, playing badminton at Albert Park. Brendan and Lerys were married at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Bourke St, Melbourne, in April 1962.

Brendan and Lerys lived in the bayside suburb of Mentone in the same house for more than 50 years. They were well looked after at Cheltenham Manor aged care for 3 years, sharing a pleasant couple’s apartment with a real sense of home. Brendan and Lerys made friends spread out across the state, the country, and the world. Brendan filled his retirement with painting, Probus groups, garden maintenance, travel, and family life.