Brenda L. Tersine was born June 2, 1948, in Punxsutawney, PA, and died at the age of 73 years old.
Brenda was a life member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, the United States Chess Federation, and very active in her Catholic Faith.
Brenda was a pioneer in the field of funeral service, becoming Punxsutawney’s first woman Funeral Director in 1971.
She was the first woman in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be certified to do eye enucleations for corneal transplants.
She was Oliver H. Bair’s first licensed woman embalmer & funeral director in Philadelphia in 1976.
She was the first woman embalming assistant professor at Hudson Valley Community College in New York on August 22, 1982.
Brenda contributed to the Embalming textbook written by Robert J. Mayer in 1990.
Brenda was married to Bill Goichberg, the Famous Continental Chess Director and Master Chess Player.
Brenda and Bill organized the famous “World Open” chess tournaments in Philadelphia.
Brenda was a 1966 graduate of Punxsutawney H.S.
She was a 1970 graduate of Indiana University of P.A. with a B.S. in Social Science Education.
Brenda was a 1971 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
In 1985 she was a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany with a Master’s degree in Advanced Classroom Teaching.
Brenda is survived by her husband Bill Goichberg, one sister, Sharon Amundson, one brother, Edward Tersine, and nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2022, during the hours of 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc., located at 139 Stage Road, Monroe, NY 10950.
Entombment will follow at Temple of Memories Mausoleum at Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc., Thomas & Brendan Flynn Directors.
Online condolences can be shared by visiting memorials.flynnfh.com.
