Tamara Anne Brennan

BRENNAN – Tamara Anne (Swenson), age 69, beloved wife of Bernard Brennan, passed away at her home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. She was born January 13th, 1942 in St. Paul, MN where she met and married her husband, Bernie, on June 26th 1965. After residing in St. Paul for 3 years, where they began their family, they moved to Clarendon Hills, IL. Subsequently, they spent a period of time in Jacksonville, FL, and returned to the Chicago area, Winnetka, in 1982.

A graduate of St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Tamie’s compassion for people inspired her to become both an elementary school teacher and an active member of her community. Organizations in which she was involved included The League of Women Voters, Leadership Jacksonville, and the ASPCA. She was also engaged with the ChildReach organization, sponsoring several children over many years helping to better their lives. Tamie founded The Brennan Distinguished Visiting Scholar Fund at St. Catherine University in 1998. The mission of this fund is to foster the spiritual and intellectual potential of the students, and includes sponsoring lectures by well-known educators in this field. Together, she and Bernie were among the Founders of the Minneapolis campus of The University of St. Thomas.

A fresco of the two of them stands in Founders Hall and depicts wisdom, understanding and spirituality, all of which Tamie encompassed. Tamie was an avid reader and writer and had a passion for interior decorating. She was the most caring and compassionate wife, mother and friend. Her priority was her family and she worked tirelessly to insure that they were happy and healthy. Tamie’s strength centered around her ability to always place others needs before her own. She was preceded in death by her parents Arnold and Lucille Swenson.

She is survived by her husband, Bernie; daughters Liz, Kate (Rob) Newman and Sarah (Donny) Shope; sister Sandra Murphy; and her five grandchildren, Henry, Elizabeth, Olivia, Andrew and Annika. Her beautiful spirit will be missed tremendously by all those who knew her. Services will be held on Saturday at 9:00 AM at Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 W. Adams Street, Chicago. Reception to follow in downtown Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The National Lung Cancer Partnership. (http://www.nationallungcancerpartnership.org). Arrangements under the direction of Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens, Jacksonville Beach, FL.