Barbara Brennan

Barbara S. Brennan, born July 15, 1940 to Bruce and Rosie Saler, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2020 at home surrounded by family, in Aurora, Colorado.

Barbara was an incredibly loving and outgoing woman, with a sassy wit and a passion for family, friends, reading, and traveling the world with Tom, her husband of 58 years.  Barbara was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later graduated from Summit High School, New Jersey.  In 1962, she earned a B.A. in Special Education from Syracuse University.  It was also at Syracuse where she joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, a point of pride and fond memories throughout her life.  It was also at Syracuse where she met her future husband, Tom.  They were married in September 1962 in Norfolk, Virginia where Tom was stationed as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and Barbara was teaching.  Their first daughter, Karen, was born in 1965, and, after relocating to Scotch Plains, New Jersey, their second daughter, Susan, was born in 1968.  Barbara, Tom and their daughters moved to Aurora, Colorado in 1979.

Throughout her life, Barbara was always active and social, most recently in the Heritage Eagle Bend community where she and Tom have lived since 2003.  Among her many friends, she was always at the center of dinner parties and bridge groups, showcasing her culinary talents and engaging everyone with her warmth and sparkle.

It was to her family, though, that Barbara was most dedicated.  Barbara and Tom’s wonderful marriage was the incredible foundation on which their family thrived.  Barbara was the loving mother who took care of everything – from helping with homework, preparing family dinners each night, to offering sage advice.  To her grandsons, she was their beloved Gramma Barbie, whose hugs and kisses they could never get enough of.  She was a supportive and loving friend to her sister, Nancy, and niece, Ashley.   Barbara loved nothing more than family birthday parties and holiday gatherings, especially Christmas, when she would delight in decorating her home, preparing amazing meals, and watching the smiles on her grandsons’ faces when they opened special gifts from her and Papa Tom.

Barbara will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to:

National Jewish Health

https://donate.nationaljewish.org/page/22508/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=DM2009R13IWT&r=iwantt o

The Wild Animal Sanctuary, Colorado

https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org /