SALEM — Brenda Elena (Grace) Hayes, 94, formerly of Salem, wife of the late Warren J. Hayes passed away peacefully Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 in her residence at Putnam Farm in Danvers.

A graduate of St. Chretienne's Academy and Salem Hospital School of Nursing, she spent her life caring for others in private duty nursing and maintained her nursing credentials long after her retirement. Mrs. Hayes had been active in civil defense nursing and was a past instructor of Nursing at the Massachusetts Civil Defense Training Academy.

Brenda is survived by her son, Peter J. Hayes and his wife Marie of Naples, Fla.; her daughter, Kathleen M. Moriarty and her husband Robert of Topsfield; and Clare Hayes, widow of her son Stephen D. Hayes, of Salem. Nana was a loving grandmother to eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sisters, Mary Grace and Lois Kane and her brothers, William and Richard Grace, who is survived by his wife Eleanor Grace.

ARRANGEMENTS: Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of the North Shore of Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. As requested by the family, all services are private. Arrangements by the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem, MA 01970. For online guestbook or additional information, please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.