A memorial service was held Dec. 24 in Princeton United Methodist Church, Princeton, for Brenda Farr Engel who died Dec. 21 after a long battle with cancer. She was 59.

Mrs. Engel was a partner with the diocesan law firm, Backes & Hill, which is based in Lawrenceville. She provided legal guidance to any work related to the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools and was also a volunteer member of the diocesan Catholic School Sustainability Commission.

Mrs. Engel was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Arlington and Falls Church, Va. She lived in West Windsor, for 31 years. She was a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. In 1981, after practicing law for the attorney general of Missouri for three years, she joined the law firm now known as Backes & Hill.

Offering words of condolence on behalf of the diocese, Anthony Mingarino, diocesan chancellor, said, that Mrs. Engel was “very accessible and always responsive to any of our staff who called with a legal issue or simply a question.”

“Brenda will be a difficult person to replace and will be missed.  Our prayers are with her family and colleagues with whom she worked for so many years.”

JoAnn Tier, diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, added: “Brenda Engel has been a long-time advocate and attorney guiding and serving members of the Department of Catholic Schools and administrators of Catholic elementary and high schools.”

“Brenda was the consummate professional who provided her expertise with a direct yet always considerate manner,” said Tier. “She was the ‘go to’ person when a problem would arise and she aptly brought resolution to school issues.”

As the chair for the Governance Committee for the Commission for the Sustainability of Catholic Schools, Tier recalled how Mrs. Engel “actively engaged in the meetings and was present for even the most recent December 5 commission meeting even though her health was not optimum.”

“Brenda will be remembered as a sensitive, compassionate, knowledgeable and accomplished individual who gave of herself without reservation.  Brenda will be deeply missed,” Tier said.

 Mrs. Engel was predeceased by her father, Roy Farr. She is survived by her mother, Betty (Hall) Farr of Reston, Va.; her husband of 35 years, Richard Engel of West Windsor, and three children John (Megan) of Washington, D.C., Robert (and fiancé Abigail Kamens) of Boston, Mass., and Libby of New York. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.