Emma B Brennan

Emma Bulger Brennan passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, one day after reaching her ninety-first birthday. Emma was born on March 3, 1923, in Rumford, Maine, to Joseph Bulger and Lilla Durant Bulger. She was the fifth of seven siblings, and was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers. Emma is survived by sisters Mary VanNest, of Ventura, and Druscilla Breton, of Rumford, Maine.

After graduating from high school, Emma moved to Meriden, CT, to attend nursing school at the Meriden Hospital School of Nursing. She was introduced to Jim Brennan by a very good friend, and they were married on June 16, 1945. They raised six children in Meriden, before retiring and following three of those children to California in 1983.

Emma and Jim enjoyed the California lifestyle while walking together on the beaches, golfing, bowling, traveling the 101 North and South, and enjoying their growing family.

Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in 2001 and son, Peter in 2009. She is survived by daughters, Merrily Corcoran (Bob) in Massachusetts; Janet Ellis and Patricia Dumont (Earl) of Ventura; and Polly Gehr (Dave) of Oak View; and son, James (Ellen) of Arkansas. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren, with one on the way, as well as five grand-dogs and numerous relatives in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Maine.

Mom was a strong independent woman and instilled in all of us a love of family, adventure, travel, creating hand-made family treasures, and making do with what you had. Her 1942 sewing machine was in use until 2001. She was also a great knitter and we will remember mom every time we put on a fisherman’s knit sweater, wrap up in an afghan or quilt, and hang stockings at Christmas. Grandchildren will always remember “cocktail hour” with a glass of ginger ale and left-over pie crust baked with jam, known as “memories” made from “scratch”. Grandma and Grandpa had theirs with a whiskey sour!

A private memorial service for Jim and Emma will be held on June 16, 2014, which would have been their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary. Their ashes will be scattered at sea.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, please make donations in Emma’s name to CASA of Ventura County, PO Box 1135, Camarillo, CA 93011-1135 or the Homestretch Greyhound Rescue, PO Box 1079, Fillmore, CA. 93016

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.