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Brian Hildebrand

Image by Nick Andréka

BRIAN MARK HILDEBRAND

November 28, 1977 - March 23, 2024

In the early hours of March 23, 2024, our beloved Brian Mark Hildebrand passed away peacefully surrounded by great love. Brian died six months after a devastating cancer diagnosis. He was 46 years old.


Brian has now been reunited with his daughter, Jenny-Lou Theresa Hildebrand. Brian had a beautiful gift of navigating life as it unfolded. Becoming a father to Jenny-Lou brought out so many of Brian’s attributes and strengths. His kind, gentle, patient and loving ways as a father were his greatest virtues. Brian had to draw on all his resources when he faced Jenny-Lou’s passing, his life’s greatest love.


Left to remember Brian are his life partner, Dayna, her daughters, Olive and Beatrice, sister Joanne, nephew Lucas, parents Tina and Ben Hildebrand and his best friend Mark, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.


Brian knew his calling as a musician from an early age. By the time he was 12 years old he had set up his first garage band. Upside down buckets and suitcases were Brian’s drums and the kitchen spoons were his drumsticks. From his earliest days in the garage, Brian went on to become a prolific musician. Brian played drums with bands around Europe and North America. It didn’t matter where Brian played: the Winter Olympics, a boat in Venice, a stranger’s basement, music was a part of him.


Growing up in Winnipeg, Brian would never shy from a hard day’s work. He was always willing to help out family and friends and give his all to everything.


Brian moved to Montreal in 2003 where he continued to pursue music. He quickly integrated into the music scene which gave him the opportunity to travel and perform for a living. Brian forged many lifelong friendships in Montreal. His close friends were with him as he raised Jenny-Lou and supported him after her death.


With true benevolence to all living things, Brian lived with genuine care for everyone. Brian, you will be missed more than words can ever express.


A private burial has taken place.


A funeral will be held on Saturday, April 20th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church at 160 Ethelbert Street.


Much gratitude for the care received at CancerCare Manitoba and the Palliative Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital.


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Palliative Care at St. Boniface Hospital or The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.


God Saw Him Getting Tired


God saw him getting tired,

And a cure was not to be.

So he put his arm around him

And whispered, “Come with me.”

With tearful eyes we watched him suffer

And saw him fade away.

Although we loved him dearly,

We could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.


Brian’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

Memories, Stories and Condolences

 

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Anonymous

May 10, 2024 at 11:59 AM

My condolences to Brian’s family. He was a great person who was full of life. I’m thinking of all his loved ones during this very difficult time. Beautiful photo video that fits him perfectly.

Carrie-Lee

May 10, 2024 at 11:53 AM

Although I did not know Brian for very long, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know  and spend time with him.  You could not help but but see what a solid, caring guy he was, who always wanted to get to know more about you and help you if he could.  A true gift to so many people and will be missed sadly by all who knew him.

Kim Siemens

May 10, 2024 at 11:51 AM

Thank you so much for creating and sharing this awesome photo tribute.  I cried and I smiled watching it over and over again. The photos and the memories and the faces of all the people Brian loved so much filled me up - but it also reminds me of how much we have all lost with his absence.   His smile is so amazing isn't it ?  It was because there was such love, and energy and life contained in that smile.

Carrie-Lee

May 10, 2024 at 10:21 AM

Although I did not know Brian for very long, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know  and spend time with him.  You could not help but but see what a solid, caring guy he was, who always wanted to get to know more about you and help you if he could.  A true gift to so many people and will be missed sadly by all who knew him.


Donna and Dave Dixon

May 10, 2024 at 10:13 AM

Dave and I are so honoured that we got  to know Brian in our Norwood neighbourhood over the past few years  , Brian  was a compassionate , caring and peaceful young man and an exceptional human being - he inspired me  ,Brian  always had a huge smile and he was so  friendly to everyone , and so devoted to Dayna  and her daughters .  I enjoyed getting to know him - and  I liked learning how he and Dayna met ,

Brians  love for Dayna and her daughters was so heart warming.


His  passion for music and  his smile - wow !


I will miss Brian very much .


I have a special memory of Brian talking at length  to Fred Turner from  the BTO  band -  when we were both at Al Yorke’s  celebration of life  gathering  with family and friends  - Brian’s questions to Fred were so  funny and sweet !


To know Brian  was to love him .

We will miss Brian …💗

Ilona in Montreal

May 10, 2024 at 9:55 AM

This is a heavy loss. Brian was a warm and caring person who had a genuine interest and love for people. I always enjoyed running into him and catching up at local concerts in Montreal.

Rest in peace, Brian. You will be greatly missed by the many people who’s hearts you’ve touched.

My deepest condolences.

Kieran Blake

May 10, 2024 at 9:54 AM

since the beginning of the short time that our paths crossed in Montreal i immediately felt Brian's natural, calm kindness.


playing in bands can be fraught with egos and chaotic energy, but Brian was always the big-hearted and friendly guy cracking jokes or engaging in thoughtful conversion. it seemed to me that Brian didn't have a mean bone in his body, and always made sure everyone was having a good time.


I wish I had the chance to cross paths more with Brian, but whenever I did he always had that same authentic friendliness and spirited interest in living in that moment.


it's an honour to have met him and my deepest condolences go out to his family. 

Gayle

May 10, 2024 at 9:50 AM

This is so incredibly heart-breaking. I am so very sorry for your loss. I remember Brian well from back when I was a kid and have kept updated on his Journey through Joanne. A wonderful man by all accounts, gone far too soon. My hearts go out to all of you through this incredibly difficult time. After already suffering the loss of Jenny-Lou, and then Jason, this is just unfathomable. Your family has been through so much and none of it makes sense. Life is not fair. I am so sorry 😥

Genevieve, Ysael, Romane and Lily-Jeanne xox

May 10, 2024 at 9:49 AM

I met Brian on the evening of 2006, January 26th in Montreal. I remember that day so well. He was so funny, generous, kind and as everybody knows, the best drummer in town. He always had that spark in him that I never saw on anybody else. Following that, we cumulated memories because he was a close friend of Ysael.    


I remember the last time he went to visit us at home in Oka, Quebec, he left to my daughter his clothes because she loved the vintage shirt he was wearing. Thats 100% Brian. Giving all he has to spread joy around him.  


We are devastated by the lost of our friend. 

We will always love you buddy and honoured you. 

But we know that your are in peace where you are with your angel Jenny Lou.  


Our deepest condolences to Dayna and his family. Sending you lot of love.  

Kelly, Montreal

May 9, 2024 at 3:23 PM

I knew Brian for only a short time while he was in Montreal, towards the end of Jenny-Lou's illness, until he left the city. He was a friend of my partner's at the time, but I immediately appropriated him as my own friend.

Brian was gifted with the most wonderful qualities of being kind, warm, funny, and just so damn cool and easy to be around.


He had a unique, quiet, and positively magnetic energy about him. I snapped this photo of him one evening in the summer of 2016. That same night, he patiently put our inconsolable 2 month old to sleep, carrying her around the living room and singing softly. RIP Brian and much love to his friends and family.

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