Obituary of Winnifred Brennan

On Tuesday, July 21 Winnifred Brennan, late of Regina, passed away peacefully at the Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home at the age of 99 years. Born in Sheffield, England in 1909, Winnie (Elliott) came to Canada with her mother and father in 1911. She grew up in North Battleford, and earned her BA and teaching qualifications at the University of Saskatchewan in 1931. While at university, she met her future husband, Bill Brennan, a transplanted Prince Edward Islander. Winnie taught at her old high school, North Battleford Collegiate Institute, until they were finally able to marry in 1938. Following service with the RCAF, he worked as a provincial school superintendent in North Battleford and then Regina. After leaving her teaching career when she married, Winnie was a full-time homemaker and mother. But she was a lifelong learner with a passion for reading, and so jumped at the chance to start a second career in 1965 at the Regina Public Library, where she worked full-time and then part-time until 1981. Thereafter she was active in volunteer work, in particular with the University of Regina Seniors Education Centre where she served in various capacities including President. Winnie had many hobbies, but her passion was gardening. A warm, cheerful and fiercely independent lady, Winnie lived in her own house until she was well into her 90s. Predeceased by her parents, husband and brother (Harvey), Winnie is survived by her sons Bill (and Judy) of Regina and Patrick (and Clare) of Calgary; her grandsons, Shaun of Toronto and Ryan (and Deanna) of Airdrie, Alberta; her great-grandchildren, Emma and Jaden; her sister-in-law Helen Elliott of Vernon, British Columbia; her nieces and nephews, Rosalyn, Donna, Jim and Patricia. There will be no funeral service, but an online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com. Friends wishing to do so may make a donation in Winnies memory to the University of Regina Seniors Education Centre.