Margaret Mary Brennan née Corbett passed away Dec. 15, 2022, after a months-long battle with cancer. She was 84 years old.
Margaret was born Nov. 28, 1938, on Staten Island, the youngest child of Michael J. and Mary D. (née Walsh) Corbett. Margaret was raised on Staten Island as a member of Sacred Heart parish and graduated from St. Peter’s High School for Girls in 1956. She worked as a secretary for the S.N. Eben Corporation, a Manhattan insurance brokerage, until her marriage to Edward T. Brennan May 14, 1960. The couple had four children and resided in the Westerleigh section of Staten Island in St. Teresa’s parish for over 25 years.
Margaret returned to the workforce after her children were grown and worked for the Society of St. Paul Alba House on Staten Island for several years, before moving to New Jersey to be closer to her grandchildren. She moved to Shadow Lake Village in Red Bank in October 2001 and joined St. Leo the Great’s parish in Lincroft.
Margaret’s greatest joy was spending time with her family; in addition to being a devoted mother and beloved “Nanee” to her grandchildren, she greatly enjoyed attending the periodic Walsh family reunions and reconnecting with her many cousins. She was proud of her Irish heritage and loved to listen to Irish music; visiting Ireland was one of the highlights of her retirement years.
She loved dogs and was a longtime member of the SLV Pet Club. She also served the Shadow Lake community as part of the Sunshine Club, Meals on Wheels, and by delivering the SLV “Chatterbox” newsletter to her neighbors.
Margaret is survived by her four children: Edward T. Brennan Jr., Mary E. (Thomas) DeCataldo, Michael J. (Diane) Brennan, and Theresa A. (Michael) Parker, as well as her nine grandchildren: Thomas J. (Cara) DeCataldo Jr., Elizabeth A. (Brian) Kopnicki, Daniel J. DeCataldo, Kathryn C. DeCataldo, Michael C. Brennan, Riley M. Brennan, Bridget R. Brennan, John M. Parker and Marie C. Parker. She has four great-grandchildren: Lana, Wesley and Luke DeCataldo, and Lila Rose Kopnicki. She is also survived by her cousin, Mary Yoder née Hynes, and her sister-in-law, Marie Corbett née Farley. Margaret was predeceased by her two older brothers, James M. Corbett and John T. Corbett.
Visitation was Dec. 19 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 20 at St. Leo the Great Church, Lincroft. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at cff.org.
The article originally appeared in the December 22 – 28, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
