Elsie Ida was born to Richard and Meta (Glaesmann) Lorenz was born April 20, 1919 in Phillipsburg, Texas. She was baptized in Phillipsburg in July 1919. She attended school in Berlin and Gay Hill, with three sisters and two brothers. On April 14, 1935 Elsie was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Zionsville, Texas.
When Elsie turned 18, she moved to Brenham and began working at the Candy Kitchen. In 1938 Edward Nicholas Brennan entered the Candy Kitchen. Elsie’s boss convinced her to break a date with one boy and go to the Easter dance with Edward. On April 8, 1939, Ed and Elsie were married.
Elsie enjoyed telling the story of how Ed learned about the long-time tradition of the area called Chivry. Family and friends would make a lot of noise around the bride and groom’s new home on their wedding night, and the couple would feed those gathered as the wedding celebration continued. Ed was quite alarmed when the ruckus started outside.
Elsie was a talented seamstress, and she made clothes and costumes for her children and other family members. In her latter years, Elsie was most well-known for being a skilled gardener. She especially loved her day lilies, which were a hot commodity she sold just about anywhere she went. After her husband Edward died, Elsie tended the area around his grave so nicely that Woodlawn Cemetery hired her to supervise the grounds crew.
Elsie was proud of her roots in the Brenham country side, and her family was very important to her. She maintained regular and frequent contact with her brothers and sisters, her children and her grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters Marchel M. Brennan and Frances Johnson; sons Edward Brennan, Jr. and his wife Florence and Charles Brennan and his wife Joan; sister Ella Niemann; grandchildren Allen Johnson and wife Kristin, Karl Johnson, Christopher Brennan and wife Mimi, Jeffrey Brennan and wife Darby, Scott Brennan, Edward Brennan, III and Catherine Brennan; great-grandchildren Lauren Johnson, Erica Johnson, Kristi Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Molly Brennan, Jill Brennan, and Emily Brennan.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Edward Brennan; parents Richard and Meta Lorenz; sisters Erna Winkleman, LeViola Maass; brothers Alvin Lorenz, Melvin Lorenz, Richard (died in infancy); and son-in-law Darryl Johnson.
A visitation for Elsie will be held Tuesday, May 14, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, Houston, Texas 77008. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 3606 Beauchamp St., Houston, Texas 77009. A committal service will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1101 Antoine Dr., Houston, Texas 77055.
The family would like to thank Memorial Herman Hospice and The Heights of North Houston Nursing Home for their care and a special loving thanks to Estella Garza for her loving care of "Ms. Elsie"
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Brennan family.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Brennan family.
