Mary Sally (Soults) Brennan

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Mary Sally (Soults) Brennan, formerly of Carthage, New York, passed away at her home in Lowville, New York under the care of hospice at the age of 94. Sally was born in Watertown, New York, on August 4, 1931, to Dr. E. Clifford Soults and Geraldine Brady Soults.

A 1948 graduate of Carthage High School, she graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a BA degree in Fine Arts in 1952.

Sally married Harvey Farrington (Gary) Young in 1952, settled in Lowville and together had six children. They separated in 1969 and divorced in 1970. As the sole parent and support of her family Sally then began a teaching career at Beaver River Central School, teaching English, and took on an additional part-time job working weekends in the ticket office at Snow Ridge, allowing her children the opportunity to ski. With the help of her next-door neighbors, Rick and Ellen Bush, who provided childcare and other support, she was able to return to college to obtain her Masters in Education from SUNY Potsdam in 1973. Her career at Beaver River spanned 21 years. She was always known as a demanding, but fair, teacher and after she retired many of her former students would comment on how they had come to appreciate her lessons.

Her passion for education was impressed on her children as she ensured they all graduated from high school and went on to college. The opportunities for, and success of, her children meant everything to her.

Sally met the love of her life, Stephen Brennan, whom she married on May 17, 1986. They enjoyed every minute together, whether a quiet dinner after a long day of work or traveling to distant places. Stephen passed away in July 2002.

She was a devout Catholic, who deeply valued her faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Sally was a communicant of St. Peter’s Church in Lowville and St. Hedwig’s in Houseville.

Her life was also filled with community service, including being a member of the St. Theresa’s Guild and Loaves and Fishes, as well as an RCA teacher, and a volunteer with Literacy of Northern New York, where she spent countless hours teaching English as a second language to those new to this country.

Among her other life passions were tending to her birds-humming birds, cardinals, and yellow chickadees from her backyard feeders, her gardens, flowers, clipping news articles to share, reading the Wall Street Journal daily, and annual trips with her brother and sister-in-law, especially to Stratford.

Sally is predeceased by her daughter, Karen Koster (Sheldon), brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Frank Soults (Kathleen), and grandson, Jesse Koster. She is survived by her five children and their families, Michael F. Young (Kae), Amy E. Upham, Fredrick S. Young (Petra), Clifford (Tony) A. Young (Juanita), and Timothy J. Young (Teresa), three stepchildren, Stephan Brennan, Jim Brennan, and Maureen Kelly, 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be said on Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:00 am, at St. Peter's Church, 5457 Shady Avenue, Lowville, New York, with Rev. John Ojuok, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in the name of Sally Brennan may be made to Literacy of Northern New York, 200 Washington Street, Suite 303, Watertown, New York 13601, or Loaves and Fishes, c/o St. Peter's Church, 5457 Shady Avenue, Lowville, NY 13367.