Helen M. Brennan

Helen M. (nee Wood) Brennan age 73 on May 29, 2016. Beloved wife of Joseph P. Loving mother of Joe (Lauren), Dennis (Laurie) and Greg (Andrea). Loving grandmother of Brian, Natalie, Reilly, Megan, Bria, Bode and Avery. Sister of Suzanne (Ben) Podurgiel, Ginny (George) Johnston, Bonnie (Jim) Cairns, Jeanine (Brian) McGee and the late Bill. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Friday June 3rd 10 am to 11:15 am St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2400 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063. Funeral Mass 11:30 am. Interment at future date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106 would be appreciated. Following service a luncheon will be held at Springfield Country Club, 400 W. Sproul Road (19064) from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm for those who can join family. Helen Brennan ... a quiet and gentle woman but always up for some fun. Born on April 20th, 1943, Helen was the second child of Herb and Helen Wood, who had a family of six children; one boy and five girls. Growing up in southwest Philadelphia, Helen attended St. Barnabas Parish School and is an honors graduate of West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School. During high school years, Helen's main extra activity was the Glee Club. To this day, Helen can still sing parts of a section of the opera, Madame Butterfly. Following high school, Helen was employed by the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania and worked there for 6 years until she was married. Starting as a service rep in the office, she was promoted to become Receptionist for the company president and then moved to the engineering department. In 1966 while still working for the telephone company, Helen formally met her future husband at the Drexelbrook Club Dance on a Sunday evening in June. Joe had just been released from active duty in the United States Marine Corps after serving 3 years. Following 2 years of dating and courtship, Helen and Joe were married at St. Barnabas Parish Church on June 1, 1968 and immediately moved to Maine where Joe was transferred as an employee of Scott Paper. In the first year of marriage, Helen gave birth to Joe Jr. in Maine and almost immediately they moved to Mobile, Alabama as a result of a job transfer. Only three months later, they moved again to Massachusetts where they had two more sons, Dennis and Gregory. Through those early childhood raising years, Helen and Joe had many good friends in Massachusetts. But in the summer of 1978 a call came again to move to Atlanta, GA. This time the stay was short with Joe having an opportunity to be back in the Delaware Valley in 1979. This move took them to Malvern where they spent 24 years with the children maturing and going to Conestoga High School. After the boys were of age, Helen began to explore hobby and employment opportunities again. Skiing and tennis became regular pastimes with local friends and family. Part time employment to help with college tuition was in order, so Helen took a part time job at an accounting company and then proceeded to move to several other local companies as an administrative assistant. If one were to ask Helen her most proud accomplishment it would be, without question, the successful raising and counseling of three great boys who she is very close to. Finally, as retirement years approached, Joe and Helen decided to sell the property in Malvern and move to a 55+ active adult community in Kennett Square, PA. They both took on a volunteer assignment at Longwood Gardens and after three years were asked to work year-round part time. Through those years, they traveled extensively to Australia, Poland, Czech Republic, Ireland, England, Western U.S., and Canada. We are truly blessed to have made good friends along life's journey and we have much support from our local and long distance family, as well as our seven grandchildren.