Brennan, Elizabeth C. (Rose)
Age 95, of Natick, MA, formerly of Pittsburgh and Whitehall, PA, passed away surrounded by family on September 27, 2016, from complications from a fall. She moved to the Boston area in 2010 to be near her family. She was married to the late Edwin F. Brennan, former mayor of Whitehall, PA, for 61 years. She is survived by her daughter Victoria R. Brennan and husband Robert Pratt of Wayland, MA, daughter Carla F. Brennan of Santa Cruz, CA and granddaughter Eliza R. Brennan-Pratt of Somerville, MA. She is also survived by her brother Donald L. Rose and wife Nancy Jean of Valencia, PA, sister Charmaine L. Rose of Concord, NH, sister-in-law Evelyn B. Keenan of Wexford, PA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Betty grew up in Penn Hills and Oakland, the oldest of 7 children, and graduated from Schenley High School in 1938. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Penn State University (B.A. ’42) she worked as a service bureau manager for IBM for 5 years. In preparation for becoming an empty nester, Betty earned an M.S. from Duquesne U in 1966 and became a reading specialist/elementary librarian for the Baldwin-Whitehall Schools for 15 years. Betty was active in the founding of the Whitehall Public Library and was a Friend of the Library for many years. As a member of the Whitehall United Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, she served as a deacon and elder.
Betty, along with husband Ed, took joy in traveling the entire United States and much of the world. They toured Europe, the Soviet Union twice, Latin America, China, Cuba, Australia, the Galapagos, just to name a few places visited. Although Betty wasn't prone to risky behavior, she confessed when turning 80 that she had a secret fantasy of hang gliding over the Grand Canyon. This fantasy remained unfulfilled, but she did realize her dream to sail on the coast of Maine just 3 weeks ago. She remained curious and active until the end of her life, reading National Geographic; taking classes; going to movies, museums, plays, and musical performances; and out for ice cream.
A memorial service in her memory will be held in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Museum of Natural History on Sunday, December 4, 2016 form 2-4 PM in the Founder's Room. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Whitehall Public Library or Planned Parenthood.