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Kathleen Brennan Obituary

Kathleen “Kate” Brennan, 55, of Dallas, died Friday evening at her home after a brief illness.
Born June 19, 1953, in Wayne, she was a daughter of Joseph P. Brennan of Trucksville and the late Gloria J. Davis Brennan.
Kate was a member of the Class of 1971 of Dallas High School and was a magna cum laude graduate of College Misericordia, earning her BA in English in 1975. She was accorded the honor of being named Outstanding Graduate Student in Humanities upon receiving her Master of Arts in English from the University of Scranton in 1986.
Kate began her teaching career in 1975 as a seventh-grade teacher for the Lake-Lehman School District. In 1980, she joined the English Department of College Misericordia, where she was a writing instructor for many years. In 1986, Kate embarked on 22-year career with Penn State University at Wilkes-Barre, where she was a senior instructor of English, literature and writing.
Kate will be remembered by countless students as the best teacher they ever had. Her many friends and colleagues will remember her in much the same way. Kate’s dedication and innovation resulted in the implementation of many programs supportive of student needs and she leaves many in her debt.
In the words of a colleague, Kate had an empathetic passion that enabled her to see and feel the beauty in art, the pain in those who were troubled and hurt, love for her family and friends, a free spirit for life’s pleasures and compassion for others above all else.
Her husband, Peter G. Schneeman, Ph.D., professor of English at Penn State, died April 3, 2007.
Surviving, in addition to her father, are her children, Blake and her husband, Ryan Sult, Dallas; and Bruce Justin Nagle, Dallas; three grandchildren who dearly loved her, Mikayla Engler, Ethan and Mia Sult; sisters Patricia and her husband, Joshua Bryant, Dallas, and Terri Brennan, Paris, France; brothers Robert Brennan, Fairfax, Calif., and Dr. Timothy and his wife, Gerri Brennan, Annville; step-daughters Andrea Spooner, New York City, and Kristen Schneeman, Washington, D.C.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. in Saint Therese’s Church, Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hanover Township.
Friends may call Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at M.J. McLaughlin Company, 142 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Scholarship Fund in Memory of Kate Brennan, c/o Development Office, P.O. Box PSU, Lehman, PA 18627-02

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Times Leader on Oct. 21, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Kathleen Brennan

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Michelle Wood (Porter)

November 1, 2008

My deepest sympathy to all those who loved her. Miss Brennan was a wonderful person, teacher and mentor. She was my favorite teacher through all of my school years-elementary through college. My prayers are with you.

Marion Spencer

October 27, 2008

To family and friends of Kate;
With those memories we share of Kate, she will never be forgotten.

Wayne Williams

October 23, 2008

Dear Blake and Family,
Your mom was such a wonderful person. I've known her since high school and always admired her. I know where you get your great personality from. Know that she touched so many lives and that she will be greatly missed and remembered so fondly by all.

Sarah Scoble

October 22, 2008

Dear Blake,
My most sincere sympathies to you and your family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Krista Slusark

October 21, 2008

I'm sorry to hear of Kate's passing. Kate was a teacher who didn't just teach you about literature or the English language, she taught life lessons that I still carry with me today. I always enjoyed Kate's free spirit and how she said exactly what was on her mind. I'll always remember the classes out in the gazebo on the Hayfield Lawn and all the good talks we had throughout the years. She was a wonderful person who will truly be missed but many, many people.

Matt Pawlowski

October 21, 2008

My deepest sympathies. Kate was a one of a kind person. Her dedication to her students and her work was unbelieveable and remarkable. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

maria stuppino

October 21, 2008

Dear Blake & justin & Family:
I am going to miss your mom so much and all our little talks everyday at Penn State. We always shared a story or two about our children. She adorned her family. Always managed a smile no matter how her day was going. Keep her memories close to your heart> God bless you and I will keep her in my prayers. Mrs. Maria Stuppino

Barbara Brazon

October 21, 2008

She was a fighter on the behalf of her students and basic injustices that had been wrought on the unprotected.

I will truly will miss her smile and her laugh. She had a light that engulfed all that knew her and you were a better person for just knowing that she cared.

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