Ann C. Brennan

WASHINGTON D.C. - On February 25, 2024, Ann C. Brennan passed away peacefully in Washington, DC, surrounded by her family. She was 80 years old.

Ann grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts attending the Academy of the Assumption through high school. Summers were spent with her four sisters and friends at Camp Fernwood in the Berkshire Mountains. She went on to Newton College of the Sacred Heart where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1964 and met her future husband, Marty, who attended nearby Boston College. After Newton, she taught elementary school. Following a grand Boston wedding in 1965, Ann moved to Marty’s hometown of Waterbury, CT where the two lived for a decade as their family grew to include Marty III and Sheila.  After moving to Southbury, Ann served as a member of the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission and led a major study to prevent further pollution of Southbury’s water system. As an active member of Sacred Heart Parish, Ann co-chaired the building committee that oversaw the design and construction of a beautiful new church. She went on to work for nearly 20 years as a title searcher with Lawlor Title Company and later retired from Connecticut’s Office of the Probate Court Administrator.  Ann was an avid gardener and spent hours designing and tending to vast perennial flower and vegetable gardens outdoors, while caring for dozens of colorful orchids, African violets, and other plants indoors. Ann loved sports, cheering on her beloved Red Sox and was a proud UConn women’s basketball season ticket holder. She also enjoyed traveling, dining out, shopping, and spending time with her family. Sparked by curiosity to learn more about her father’s immigration from Scotland, she capitalized on her knowledge of historical records from title searching to become the family genealogist. These efforts led to trips far and wide, from Ellis Island and the National Archives to church rectories and graveyards throughout Scotland and Ireland, capturing records, sharing personal stories, and deepening family ties. After 45 years in Southbury, Ann moved to Washington, DC in 2020 to join her children. At the Residences of Thomas Circle, she found a new community of friends and embraced city life.  She soon became a social coordinator, scheduling happy hours and leading restaurant outings to some of DC’s highly regarded restaurants. She always wanted to treat out-of-town visitors to her favorite pear martini. Even as her COPD progressed, Ann lived independently until the end.  She is survived by her children Martin J Brennan III (Jada Breegle) McLean, VA and Sheila A Brennan (Ian Bird), Arlington, VA; her sisters Ina C Boyd of Mashpee, MA and Mary Rondeau-Kiley (Jerry Kiley) of Onset, MA; brother-in-law Sherm Brown of Franklin, MA; nieces and nephews F. Keats Boyd, III (Wendy), J. Christopher Boyd (Kristen), Edward Skane (Joan), Michael Brown (Laurie), Debbie Egan, Richard Brown (Patty), Andy Rondeau (Tiffany), David Rondeau, Robert Kiley (Michelle), Stephen Kiley (Rebecca), Todd Kiley (Sarah); many grandnieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband and love of her life, Martin J Brennan, Jr, son Patrick J, parents James C and Marguerite (Tighe) Creagh, parental in-laws, Martin J Sr and Elizabeth (McGrath) Brennan, sisters Rita M Creagh and Terry C Brown (Sherm), brother-in-law F. Keats Boyd, Jr; and nieces Bonnie J Skane (Edward) and Annmarie O’Shea Rondeau.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 9:00 -11:00 am on Friday March 15, followed by a Catholic service at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main St S, Southbury, CT 06488.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to one of Ann’s favorite charities, World Central Kitchen at wck.org/donate, or to the American Lung Association at www.lung.org in honor of her.  

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