Ruth E. Brennan

May 9, 1916 - March 20, 1997

Ruth E. Brennan, 80, of South Bend, Ind., died following an illness at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, in her residence.

Mrs. Brennan was a registered nurse and had been employed at Memorial Hospital, and retired from the St. Joseph County Health Department.

She was born on May 9, 1916, in Miller, S.D., and had lived in South Bend since 1946, coming from Miller. On Oct. 4, 1946, in South Bend, as Ruth Gaudig, she married Patrick Brennan, who survives.

She is also survived by two sons, Dennis M. Brennan of New Carlisle, Ind., and Timothy S. Brennan of L'Anse, Mich.; three grandchildren, Erin, Mary Kate and Kelsey Brennan of L'Anse; and three sisters, Mildred Reichert of Sturgis, S.D., Ethel Palmer of Rapid City, S.D., and Elaine Huiseman of Miller, S.D.

A son, John Patrick Brennan, preceded her in death on Dec. 5, 1995.

Mrs. Brennan was a graduate of Miller High School, a 1939 graduate of St. John's School of Nursing, and a 1951 graduate of St. Mary's College. She served as a nurse during World War II on Mobile Hospital 6, seeing duty in New Zealand, the New Hebrides Islands, the Solomon Islands and Efate Island.

Mrs. Brennan raised appaloosa horses in New Carlisle, Mich., and celebrated her 80th birthday by riding a Tennessee Walking Horse.

She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Bendix Aviation Post 284 of the American Legion, Waves National, Women of the Moose, the Circle of Mercy, St. Mary's Club, and AARP.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with Rev. Charles Lavely, CSC, officiating. Cremation will follow, with burial at Evergreen Cemetery in L'Anse.

Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday in Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, where a Rosary will be recited at 5 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County or to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.