NEW BEDFORD — Jeannette Marie Alice (Violette) Brenneke, 76, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 19, 2016. She was the beloved wife of David Charles Brenneke for 49 years. She was born Jeannette Marie Alice Violette on June 24, 1939 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She was the fourth of six children and the second daughter of the late Leon E. Violette and Mary Rose Angers.
Jeannette attended New Bedford High School, Class of 1957. She met David C. Brenneke while both sang in the Stetsonaires Choral Ensemble and married on February 11, 1967 with the ceremony at the Unitaritan Memorial Church in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, where they attended regularly. Together they traveled extensively. After raising her two children, she was employed in several established pharmacy and manufacturing companies as an administrative assistant. She had a love of gardening, playing scrabble, and of spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, and friends.
Survivors include her husband, David C. Brenneke; her son, Jeffrey Brenneke and his wife Teresa Brenneke of Cottage Grove, MN; her daughter, Susan Marie Hunter Revell and her husband Andrew J. Revell of Rochester, MA; four brothers, Paul Violette and wife Bertha Violette of New Ipswich, NH; Maurice Violette and his wife Barbara Violette of Acushnet, MA; Robert Violette and his wife Lucille Violette of New Bedford, MA; and Roland Violette of New Bedford, MA; five grandchildren, Katie Brenneke, Madie Brenneke, Luke Brenneke, Galen H. Revell, and Toby A. Revell; and many nieces and nephews. Jeannette was the sister of the late Teresa Fournier.
Friends and family may call from 4:00-7:00pm Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at the Wilson Chapel, 479 County St., New Bedford, MA, with the memorial service at 11:00am on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at the Unitarian Memorial Church, Fairhaven, MA. The family wishes to thank the staff of Brandon Woods, South Dartmouth, MA for the loving care she received.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her name to Unitarian Memorial Church, 102 Green St., Fairhaven, MA, c/o The Jeannette Brenneke Memorial Fund (to provide scholarships for college-bound students) or to support the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472 (http://act.alz.org/goto/Jeannette_Brenneke).