Submitted by: Dan Rich

Lois Rita Brennan

Oct. 7, 1917 - Feb. 17, 2008

South Bend Tribune 2/19/2008
SOUTH BEND - Lois Rita Brennan, 90, of South Bend, Indiana, died February 17, 2008. She was born in Gary, Indiana, on October 7, 1917, to Thomas R. Hannan and Mary L. (Dunne) Hannan. She spent her childhood life in Lima, Ohio.

Prior to her marriage on May 25th, 1940, to Richard P. Brennan Sr. in Lima, Ohio, she had held a position with the Department of Agriculture in Columbus, Ohio. The couple moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they lived until 1960 at which time they became residents of South Bend, Indiana. Lois was employed at Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center for 23 years as an administrative secretary, retiring in 1983.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Brennan; her son, Terrance Michael Brennan; her sister, Helen Cullison; and her brother, James J. Hannan. She is survived by her children, Richard P. (Nancy) Brennan Jr. of Billings, Montana, Mary (Michael) Otolski of South Bend, Indiana, Elizabeth (Stephan) Kurkul of North Royalton, Ohio; a brother, Thomas Hannan Jr.; nine grandchildren, Laura Brennan of Las Vegas, Nevada, Lisa Thomas of Great Falls, Montana, Meghan (Darin) Bigelow, Maureen (Michael) Schlatterbeck and Matthew (Jinny) Otolski of South Bend, Indiana, Mitchell Otolski of San Francisco, California, Emily (David) Riepenhoff of Columbus, Ohio, John (Kandace) Cotton of Aliso Viejo, California, and Jeffrey (Jayne) Kurkul of Medina, Ohio; and great-grandchildren, Emily Otolski, Alyssa, Holly and J. Joseph Kurkul, Ethan Riepenhoff, Tucker and Hadley Thomas. She had been a longtime parishioner of Corpus Christi Catholic Church where she was involved in many of the parish activities including Eucharistic Adoration and The Legion of Mary. She had been a member of the Secular Order of Carmelites since 1955.

Visitation will be from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, February 21, 2008, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, where a Rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, February 22, 2008, in St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend, with Father Michael Heintz officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Matthew's Cathedral or to the charity of your choice.