The service for Uncle Bob will be at the Nelson Funeral Home, Eureka Springs AR, Wednesday, and I plan to officiate. Sheila and Kevin ask that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Catholic Charities. Here is the URL for Catholic Charities in St. Louis--you'll find a Donate Now button on the right side of the screen: www.ccstl.org/.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Sad Christmas News
Uncle Bob passed away this morning at about 1:00 Central Time. He had been in the hospital for about two weeks, and a scan showed some kind of mass. He had a stroke a few days ago and this appears to have been the cause of death. Kevin called me last night to let me know that the end was near, then again when Uncle Bob died. I talked to him this morning to express my sympathy, and he told me that funeral arrangments were still being made. Uncle Bob died peacefully in his sleep, apparently with no pain.
Sheila and Kevin prefer that family members not travel to Arkansas for the funeral. They know that Christmas is a busy time and that travel is more expensive. They are planning to have a Memorial Mass like the one we had last year for Aunt Peggy Brennan. I assume that this will be in St. Louis, and I am planning to be available to preside. It will be an opportunity for us to pay our respects to Uncle Bob and to have a calmer family time together.
My memories of Uncle Bob are only fond. He was so knowledgeable and skillful, so interesting to talk to. There wasn't anything he couldn't do. He loved this large extended family, he loved hearing family news, and he was full of stories himself. I picture him always smiling, and that laugh of his was huge. One of my most touching memories of him was when he thanked me for Grandma's funeral, how he stood there smiling and tearing up at the same time. I just said, "God bless you, Uncle Bob," and gave him a big hug.
Towards the end, he had grown weary with the years, and that was sad to see. I wonder if he ever really recovered from that year when he lost Aunt Gen, Uncle Richard, and Neil in quick succession--his wife, his brother, and his son. I remember in particular as Neil's wake was ending, how Uncle Bob knelt at the coffin with his head slightly bowed. I wondered what passes through a father's heart at a time like that. He seemed so humbled and yet so brave. And give him credit for this: he was able to live on his own until two weeks ago. He lived the longest of all the Brennans, to age 88. He was still mobile and in possession of his mind.
He had what every Christian prays for, the opportunity to prepare for death. He received the sacraments in the hospital, and we can have a well-founded hope that he is in a better place now. May he rest in peace.
Good bye, Uncle Bob. We love you. We will always love you.
Sheila and Kevin prefer that family members not travel to Arkansas for the funeral. They know that Christmas is a busy time and that travel is more expensive. They are planning to have a Memorial Mass like the one we had last year for Aunt Peggy Brennan. I assume that this will be in St. Louis, and I am planning to be available to preside. It will be an opportunity for us to pay our respects to Uncle Bob and to have a calmer family time together.
My memories of Uncle Bob are only fond. He was so knowledgeable and skillful, so interesting to talk to. There wasn't anything he couldn't do. He loved this large extended family, he loved hearing family news, and he was full of stories himself. I picture him always smiling, and that laugh of his was huge. One of my most touching memories of him was when he thanked me for Grandma's funeral, how he stood there smiling and tearing up at the same time. I just said, "God bless you, Uncle Bob," and gave him a big hug.
Towards the end, he had grown weary with the years, and that was sad to see. I wonder if he ever really recovered from that year when he lost Aunt Gen, Uncle Richard, and Neil in quick succession--his wife, his brother, and his son. I remember in particular as Neil's wake was ending, how Uncle Bob knelt at the coffin with his head slightly bowed. I wondered what passes through a father's heart at a time like that. He seemed so humbled and yet so brave. And give him credit for this: he was able to live on his own until two weeks ago. He lived the longest of all the Brennans, to age 88. He was still mobile and in possession of his mind.
He had what every Christian prays for, the opportunity to prepare for death. He received the sacraments in the hospital, and we can have a well-founded hope that he is in a better place now. May he rest in peace.
Good bye, Uncle Bob. We love you. We will always love you.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Emsley (Granddaughter of Dennis Brennan)
Hello All! My father (a.k.a. Uncle Denny) wanted me to post a new picture of myself with my husband (Aaron) and daughter (Emsley). Everything is going well up here in Wisconsin. My Dad is doing well and is as sweet as always! Emsley is being baptized on Oct. 24 at St. Benedict Parish in Fontana WI. If anyone would like to come celebrate with us you are more than welcome! We would love to see you and I know my Dad would be especially excited! Love to All!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cousins of Thomas Grant Brennan, Sr.
This photo is courtesy of Kathleen Brennan-Nash. Kathleen is the daughter of Robert G Brennan, the little guy in this picture. These children are the cousins of Thomas Grant Brennan, Sr.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Family History
Following text is from Cathy Froh Burdt, a third cousin. Like the grandchildren of Margaret Agnes Brennan Brennan, Cathy's great great grandparents are Edward J Brennan (the Union soldier from Albany, NY) and Sarah Sreenan:
Our information matches up pretty well--there's some details that you have that I don't, etc. You might be interested in the parents of Edward J. Brennan and Sarah Sreenan. It seems that they both immigrated through either Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island (by the way, there are some Shreenan's on PEI--this seems to be a common variation even in the same family). Edward's parents were named Owen Brennan (born 1803) and Alice ?, born abt. 1814, both in Ireland. On their way down from Nova Scotia/PEI, they seemed to have lived in Alden, NY, near the crossing from Canada near Buffalo.
Sarah's parents were O. Bernard Sreenan (born abt. 1816) and Mary McCabe (born abt. 1826) They both died in Albany, NY. Since Sreenan is an uncommon name, its easier to pinpoint the area they may have come from, County Monaghan, up in the north of Ireland. Sarah had two siblings that I could find (small for a good Irish Catholic family!), John H, and Bernard. O. Bernard's parents were John and Mary. Mary McCabe's parents were Alexander and Mary (I calculate Alexander and Mary as my 4th-great grand parents, so they are somewhere around that for you as well).
The Irish version of Sreenan is O Sraitheain. (but please don't ask me to pronounce it!)
Edward J. Brennan was a "molder" in Albany in 1874, worked at Sing Sing in 1877 and listed as a molder in Norwich (New London) CT in 1880. I have him in St. Louis in 1890, and have 3 addresses for him. For some reason he died in Nashville, TN in
1892.
Our information matches up pretty well--there's some details that you have that I don't, etc. You might be interested in the parents of Edward J. Brennan and Sarah Sreenan. It seems that they both immigrated through either Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island (by the way, there are some Shreenan's on PEI--this seems to be a common variation even in the same family). Edward's parents were named Owen Brennan (born 1803) and Alice ?, born abt. 1814, both in Ireland. On their way down from Nova Scotia/PEI, they seemed to have lived in Alden, NY, near the crossing from Canada near Buffalo.
Sarah's parents were O. Bernard Sreenan (born abt. 1816) and Mary McCabe (born abt. 1826) They both died in Albany, NY. Since Sreenan is an uncommon name, its easier to pinpoint the area they may have come from, County Monaghan, up in the north of Ireland. Sarah had two siblings that I could find (small for a good Irish Catholic family!), John H, and Bernard. O. Bernard's parents were John and Mary. Mary McCabe's parents were Alexander and Mary (I calculate Alexander and Mary as my 4th-great grand parents, so they are somewhere around that for you as well).
The Irish version of Sreenan is O Sraitheain. (but please don't ask me to pronounce it!)
Edward J. Brennan was a "molder" in Albany in 1874, worked at Sing Sing in 1877 and listed as a molder in Norwich (New London) CT in 1880. I have him in St. Louis in 1890, and have 3 addresses for him. For some reason he died in Nashville, TN in
1892.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Brennan Family Reunion July 24-25
Dear Brennan Family members,
Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Sis, Peggy Phillips asked me to send this email to invite you down to her place in beautiful Crawford County, MO for a Brennan Family Gathering on Saturday July 24 and/or Sunday July 25, as your schedule may permit. We apologize for the short notice. She plans to call Uncle Tom to be sure that he can attend. Peggy asked that, if you think you can make it, to let her know. You can respond to me via email at
dgp0422@sbcglobal.net, or if you have a few minutes, I know she would be delighted to hear from you if you wish to call her at 573-885-2276. I know I do not have everyone's email address, so please be sure to share this invitation with your immediate family members.
Thanks,
Nephew, Cousin, Brother Dan.
P.S. Peggy Kuehner's son Mark was admitted to St John's Mercy Hospital yesterday. He is taking IV and oral antibiotics for a staph infection in his elbow. As you may know, staph can become very serious. So far, Mark feels fine except for the tenderness in his elbow. He has no fever and his blood work is good. Hopefully, he will be out in a couple of days. Peggy welcomes your prayers for Mark's speedy recovery. Mark asks that you pray for the doctors who have to
attend to him (and nurses too, I suspect)!
Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Sis, Peggy Phillips asked me to send this email to invite you down to her place in beautiful Crawford County, MO for a Brennan Family Gathering on Saturday July 24 and/or Sunday July 25, as your schedule may permit. We apologize for the short notice. She plans to call Uncle Tom to be sure that he can attend. Peggy asked that, if you think you can make it, to let her know. You can respond to me via email at
dgp0422@sbcglobal.net, or if you have a few minutes, I know she would be delighted to hear from you if you wish to call her at 573-885-2276. I know I do not have everyone's email address, so please be sure to share this invitation with your immediate family members.
Thanks,
Nephew, Cousin, Brother Dan.
P.S. Peggy Kuehner's son Mark was admitted to St John's Mercy Hospital yesterday. He is taking IV and oral antibiotics for a staph infection in his elbow. As you may know, staph can become very serious. So far, Mark feels fine except for the tenderness in his elbow. He has no fever and his blood work is good. Hopefully, he will be out in a couple of days. Peggy welcomes your prayers for Mark's speedy recovery. Mark asks that you pray for the doctors who have to
attend to him (and nurses too, I suspect)!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sheila in Ireland
Hi Everyone. I'm a virgin blogger so bear with me as we set out on another adventure. If this works, you'll be able to watch Sheila walk across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge on the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland. The rope bridge is 65 feet across and 90 feet above the crashing Atlantic. Sheila's the one wearing a pink jacket. Isn't she brave?!!
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