Brother James F. Brennan

BRENNAN - Brother James F., FSC, 79, of the Christian Brothers Community, Oakdale, NY, died on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 in Brooklyn. Brother James was born in Baldwin, Long Island on July 5, 1928, son of the late James F. and Rose (Tully) Brennan. He was the brother of the late Joseph Brennan. He leaves two brothers, Gerard Brennan of Danbury, CT and Martin Brennan of Hendersonville, NC, and four sisters Ellen Rahilly of Beacon, NY, Mary Kohli of Elkhorn, WI, Ann Walczky of Stanley, WI and Sister Rosemarie Brennan of the Visitation Monastery, Brooklyn, NY. Brother entered the Juniorate of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Barrytown, NY, in 1943 and the Novitiate in 1947. He pronounced his final vows in Troy, NY, in 1953. Brother James received a Bachelor of Science degree in History from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, in 1952. He earned two Masters degrees from Manhattan College: one in History in 1958 and one in Religious Education in 1975. Brother James began his teaching career in the New York Catholic Elementary Schools at St. Thomas the Apostle, Holy Name and Incarnation between 1952 and 1958. From there he taught at La Salle Military Academy, Oakdale, NY until 1963. From then until 1970 he ministered in Kenya, Africa. His other assignments were as Development Director and Moderator of the Familiaris of the Long Island-New England District from 1980-1989 and as Pastoral Care Coordinator and Hospital Chaplain in Brooklyn, NY, until his retirement in 2000 at Scalabrini Brothers Residence, North Kingstown, RI. Visiting hours will be held at the Raynor and D'Andrea Funeral Services Inc., 245 Montauk Highway, West Sayville, NY, on Friday January 25, 2008 from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 26 at 9:00 AM at St. John Nepomucene Church, 1140 Locus Avenue, Bohemia, NY. Burial will be on Saturday, January 26 at 4:00 PM in Christian Brothers Cemetery, Narragansett, RI. Arrangements by Avery-Storti Funeral Home.