Brenda Lee Kaya

Brenda Lee Kaya was born in Medford, New York on July 3, 1961 to her parents Adrianne and Harry Mistretta. The second of four siblings, Brenda was little sister to Henry, and big sister to Liz and Dennis.

Growing up on Long Island, Brenda had many friends and was very close with her brothers and sister. They’d ride bikes around the neighborhood and go out dancing. She loved to dance, she and Liz were

Go-go dancers in her brother Henry’s band. Together they always had fun, but sometimes were mischievous pranksters. One time, they had a   food fight with instant mashed potatoes, covering each other in them.

When she was young, she liked sipping from her grandpa’s beer cup and learning to bake from her Nana. This fostered a lifelong love for baking. Always a caretaker, she used to climb into the crib with baby liz, and as a teenager she cut out pictures of babies and hung them on her bedroom wall, dreaming of having her own one day.

Being a big sister was practice for her true calling in life; motherhood. Her dream came true when she gave birth to her daughter Tina Marie , and her son Julio James(aka “jay”). She was a devoted, loving mother who was always there for her children, creating a special, everlasting bond with her warm spirit, big laugh, and when called for…..the eye” was all the discipline she needed.

On march 15,1987, Brenda met the love of her life: Ismail “Miles” Kaya, born two days apart. The two caught each others eyes when miles worked at a gas station- it was meant to be. They went out together, and soon enough were engaged to be married. Miles proposed over dinner at ladakins in Moriches. The loving couple tied the knot on April 26, 1990 and celebrated 33 years of marriage.

Brenda was a Loving Wife, Mother, Sister and grandmother. Now she is reunited with her beloved baby boy Jay in a better place, at peace together with all of her family’s angels, like her brother Dennis. Brenda will forever be loved and missed by all of her family and friends.