Dorothy C. Brennan, 87, loving wife of the late Edward; beloved mother of Michael (Margaret), Ann, Kathleen (the late Glenn) Eul, Paula (Todd) Bausman, Cynthia, Edward (Donna), Mark, and Nancy Jo (Robb) Pomis; cherished grandmother of Mary, Eric (Katie) Eul, Paula (Dan) Reder, Molly (Cody) Stratman, Timothy (Anna), Michelle (Mark) Peart, Ashlyn Pomis, Neve Pomis, and Caden Pomis; devoted great-grandmother of Benjamin, Dylan, Easton, Emma, Oliver, James, and Sophia.

Visitation Thursday, February 25, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Kolbus – John V. May Funeral Home, 6857 W. Higgins Ave., Chicago. Prayers Friday, February 26, at 9:30 a.m. from the funeral home to St. Monica Church for Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Maryhill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Catholic Charities in Dorothy's memory . For info 773-774-3232 or www.kolbusmayfh.com .

Catholic Charities

721 N. LaSalle St.

Chicago, IL 60654

*Due to current health mandates, everyone is asked to be patient and abide by the number of visitors allowed inside the funeral home. Only 50 guests are allowed in the funeral home at a time. Everyone is welcomed, but we ask that you keep your visit short so that all who wish to pay their respects will be able to do so. The coffee lounge is closed; no food or drink is permissible.  Please note that all visitors are required to wear face masks to enter the funeral home.*

Dorothy was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, much loved by her extended family and wide circle of friends. She was the youngest of five, born during the Great Depression. Her father Michael came from Nowy Sącz, Poland, and her mother Cecelia was born in the Pennsylvania mining country near Pottsville. They bought a home in Chicago in 1927 where Dorothy grew up. She attended St. Constance Grammar School and Cardinal Stritch High School. She lost her mom to cancer at the age of 16 and took up many of the household tasks for her family.

She loved her sister Mary and brothers Matt, Ted and Eugene, and their spouses John, Bernice, Lorraine and Gloria. She was devoted to her nieces and nephews – she was the "fun aunt," close in age to many of them, with whom she formed lifelong bonds. Nephew Tom Tokarz described her as a "great lady." She cherished her nieces and nephews and kept in touch with them through the years.

Dorothy met Eddie Brennan when they worked at Zenith. They were married at St. Constance Church on August 13, 1955. In the early years of their marriage, they lived with Grandpa Tokarz on Melvina in the house where Mom grew up. Michael, Ann, Kathy, Paula and Cynthia were born between 1957 and 1964, necessitating a move to the house on Farragut, where Eddie, Mark and Nancy were born. Together they raised this large family, caring for them in every way and providing them with a Catholic education and a good foundation in life. It was a house filled with laughter and constant activity. There were summer vacations to Pistakee Bay and Lake Delavan, Wisconsin, renting cottages along with our Brennan, Gavin and Mitchell cousins.

Dorothy was Eddie's devoted wife until his untimely death on October 13, 1981. She was 47, with five children still living at home. She met the challenges of providing for her family, taking a job working as a full-time school secretary at Trumbull Elementary School in Chicago. She also worked summers at Amundsen High School until her retirement, and stayed in touch with many of her coworkers, who became good friends.

Throughout her 87 years, she was dedicated to nurturing and serving and keeping her family together, to welcoming her daughters-in-law and sons-in-law into the family, and greeting her grandchildren with joy. Her bonds of friendship extended back to girlfriends from "The Club" of her youth to the ladies she bowled with up until a few years ago. She kept up with her neighbors and longtime friends from St. Monica's with whom she had been a Cub Scout den mother or a member of the Women's Club or sung with in the choir. Dorothy was truly the center of her family's life, and enjoyed hosting her growing brood for holidays and special events, especially every Christmas. In retirement, she remained active and engaged in life.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling with her children to Florida and many other places. There were visits with her cousins in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She made a trip overseas with son Michael in 1988 to attend a relative's wedding in Poland, and traveled to England and France with son Mark and daughter Paula in the 1990's.

In her final illness, she was able to remain at home, as she wished, with her children dedicated to her care day and night over the course of some 18 months, with assistance from caregivers and Rainbow Hospice. In the face of this final adversity, she was courageous and fortified by her faith.

There was always a lot of laughter, smiling and joy around Dorothy, and countless funny stories. She was described by several folks as "the matriarch of a great family." She brought great happiness to all of us and we will always cherish her.