Paulette Marie Brennan of Wilmington, DE, passed peacefully into our Lord’s welcoming arms on August 24, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born on June 5, 1938, to Jeannette (Grenier) and Paul Thereault in Lowell, MA.
Paulette graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1955. It was in high school that she met and fell in love with Eddie, an “Irish boy” from the other side of town. After high school she studied Nursing at Catherine Labouré School of Nursing. She and Eddie were married in 1958 prior to his deployment to Texas as an officer in the US Air Force. Following Eddie’s service, he and Paulette settled in Wilmington, DE, where they raised their nine children. Their home was a welcome place and like a second home to many of their children’s friends.
Paulette had a love of community and was an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) parish. She enjoyed volunteering to help others, especially when it allowed her to use her artistic ability and love for gardening by making plant arrangements and decorations for donation to the annual IHM Christmas bazaar. When her children were older, she pursued a career at Garden Valley Nursery where she had an expert knowledge of perennials. She and Eddie cherished time at the beach with family and experienced many joyful moments on Long Beach, MA and Bethany Beach, DE.
A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Paulette is survived by her husband Edward Joseph Brennan; her children, Mary Anna (Robert Costa), Ellen (John Spoehr), Joseph (Amy Eyberger), Jonathan, Martina (Rich Hanrahan), Bridget (Rich Moon), Kathleen, Alicia (Eddie Swiatek), and Eddie; as well as her grandchildren, Luke and Emma Spoehr; Nicholas, Lily, and Anna Moon; Isabella Hanrahan; William and Ainsley Swiatek; and Peter Brennan.
Paulette is survived also by her brother, John Thereault; her sisters-in-law, Maureen Thereault, Eleana Brennan, Patricia Dartley and Suzanne Brennan; her nieces and nephews, Maura Dartley-Rocco, Michelle Carr, Suzanne Dawn, John Thereault, Francine Bliss, Gregory Thereault, and MaryBeth Lagasse, as well as many grand-nieces and nephews. She cherished her long friendship with Marijon and Gene Donnelly.
Paulette was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Thomas and Anna Brennan; her son, Christopher Brennan; her brother, Robert Thereault; her brothers-in-law; Walter Dartley and Thomas Brennan; and her sister-in-law, Mary Thereault.
The family would like to thank Paulette’s many doctors, nurses, therapists, and caregivers over the years. We thank you for your kindness while providing her with dignified, compassionate care. A fighter at heart, she surmounted many obstacles, which she overcame with great humor and the support of her loving husband, Eddie.
Visitation is on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 10 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4701 Weldin Rd., Wilmington, DE. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow promptly at 11 am. Burial will be at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church Cemetery, Greenville, DE.
In remembrance of Paulette, please consider planting or tending a garden.
