Make a Will Month: The Wayne and Brenda Page Fund
Make a Will Month: The Wayne and Brenda Page Fund
“Dad was a simple man who had a great life. If he could play music every day and make people happy through his music, that was enough for him.”
That’s Barb Jones talking about her father, Wayne Page, who, along with his wife Brenda Page, has a donor-designated fund in their memory at London Community Foundation.
“We remember as a family going to local seniors homes every Christmas to sing carols and celebrate the season with the residents and staff. These were things that dad loved, believing that music is good medicine, and he took every opportunity to play for folks wherever he was,” said Barb’s sister, Brenda Rennie.
Wayne was blessed to have two very special women in his life. He and his first wife Lorry were married for 51 years when she passed away in 2013. When Lorry fell ill, she and Wayne took time to discuss with their two daughters what was important to them. They had always been active volunteers with their community and church and had financially supported numerous charitable organizations they were passionate about.
“We were quite fortunate that our parents were willing to have frank conversations about estate planning,” said Brenda. “I wish more families talked about legacies and the options that are available to support causes they are passionate about, even after they have passed on. With mom’s illness and the knowledge that dad would outlive her by a significant number of years, they shared their hearts with us relatively early.”
Barb agrees, “Having these kinds of conversations while everyone is alive is so important. Then you aren't guessing about what is important to them after their death, and you can carry out their wishes with confidence.”
Brenda and Wayne Page
Wayne married his second wife, Brenda Page, in late 2015. As they started their life together, they supported organizations significant to them including the London Salvation Army Food Bank, First Lobo Baptist Church, and the London Regional Cancer Center. “Brenda was the most enthusiastic person I’ve ever met. She loved making others feel welcome and happy,” said Barb.
Sisters Brenda and Barb followed in the footsteps of their parents, becoming active volunteers in their communities in their adult lives. Brenda has a heart for those who’ve experienced domestic abuse and/or homelessness, and both sisters have a heart for those experiencing food insecurity. Barb is very active with her church and with the Hospice Huronia, spending time with patients and helping in the office. Additionally, Barb was involved with the Huronia Community Foundation, where she spent nine years as a volunteer and one year filling in as Executive Director. What she learned from being involved with a Community Foundation helped inform the family of the benefits of creating endowment funds as part of legacy planning.
Wayne decided to update his will and added bequests to the Huronia Community Foundation that would create The Wayne and Lorry Page donor-designated fund and to the London Community Foundation that would create The Wayne and Brenda Page donor-designated fund. Wayne’s will indicated what percentage of his estate was to be used for each, which organizations the funds were to be directed to, and when the endowments were to be created.
While the plan to create the endowment funds was to happen after Wayne’s second wife Brenda passed, the sisters decided to advance the creation of the funds and enhanced both of their value by using some of their inheritance. “We knew this would make dad happy,” said Brenda. “It's a very good feeling knowing we could make dad, Brenda, and our mom’s financial legacy a reality,” said Barb.
Wayne and his family’s approach to their wills is testament to the benefits of being proactive in legacy planning, and to how making a bequest to a Community Foundation is more than leaving a legacy after your passing – it’s a commitment to keep supporting the causes that are important to you now, forever.