“No matter how difficult life was, Brenda always appeared cheerful,” shares Nurse Clinician Mei Zi Rong, a colleague of Ms Brenda Natura at CGH. “Despite her medical condition, she remained dedicated to providing trusted care to her patients.”
Well-loved by those around her, Brenda had worked at CGH as a nurse for more than two decades. When she passed away in March 2023 from medical complications, a few hundred colleagues — from across her years of service — were in attendance at her funeral to send her off in tears. They knew and remembered her for her caring character, and dedication to her calling as a nurse.
A life spent in service
In her youth, Brenda’s interest in healthcare was sparked by a close friend and neighbours who were nurses. With her father experiencing health issues, and with nine siblings to look after, she was inspired to become a nurse so that she could take good care of them as a healthcare professional.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, Brenda joined a public government hospital in the Philippines and worked as a nurse for more than eight years. Her interest in working in Singapore was ignited when a close friend from her hometown moved here to work as a nurse and shared about the good experience she had.
In 2002, Brenda joined CGH and worked at its orthopaedic ward. In 2015, she was part of the care team that established a new cardiology ward in CGH. At the cardiology ward, Brenda cared for patients with various medical conditions who were undergoing surgery, as well as heart attack patients who had undergone stenting (insertion of a tube to keep an artery open to allow better blood flow) or a bypass. As part of her work, Brenda also assessed and identified patients’ needs, implemented and monitored medical plans, and evaluated treatment outcomes.
Both a role model and a friend
For her excellent work, Brenda received numerous compliments from patients and their family members over her years of service. In 2016, she received a Gold Service Award for the excellent care she provided to her patients. In addition to her clinical work, Brenda had a vibrant work life, actively participating in hospital activities such as cooking competitions and the Eastern Community Health Outreach (ECHO) programme, a health screening initiative conducted by CGH for the population in the east of Singapore.
With her wealth of nursing experience, Brenda guided junior nurses and encouraged them to maintain good practices to ensure patient safety. “She was very supportive and was like a big sister to her younger colleagues,” recalls Ms Mei. “Brenda’s warm personality went beyond work — despite the nurses’ busy schedules, she and the team would still find the time to celebrate festivals and birthdays together.”
“Brenda was an affable and caring nurse to her patients, and devoted years of service to the nursing profession in CGH,” says Nursing Deputy Director Wong Wei Yui. “Many of her peers remember her as a compassionate and trustworthy senior who often shared words of encouragement. In recent years, Brenda faced the challenges in her life with great courage. It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of a dear colleague and friend. Fond memories of Brenda will always remain in our hearts.”
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