Helen Theresa Brennan
August 10, 1928 - July 20, 2023
Obituary
(Sister Dympna)
Sister Helen Theresa Brennan (Sister Dympna), age 94, a Sister of Providence for 73 years, died July 20 2023 at St. Joseph Residence in West Seattle, Washington. All are invited to the Funeral Mass on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 7000 35th Ave SW, Seattle. All are also welcomed to the Rite of Committal on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Mother Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 1401 E 29th St, Vancouver, Washington at 12:00 pm. Bonney Watson Funeral Home is overseeing arrangements.
Sister Helen was born on August 10, 1928 in Jerome, Arizona, the fourth of five children to Joseph Patrick and Marie Elsie (née Applegate) Brennan. She had two brothers and two sisters. When she was eight years old the family moved to Camas, Washington (1936), where she first encountered the Sisters of Providence in catechism class.
Her parents were models of peace and justice for the family. Sister Helen’s father owned a plumbing and sheet metal business where she said he believed in being “honest and fair with the work he performed, the prices he charged and the wages he paid.” In 1943, the family moved to Vancouver where her father worked in the shipyards. Sister Mary Claver sparked her interest in religious life and reinforced her commitment to social justice when Sister Helen attended Providence Academy in Vancouver, Washington. She graduated from there in 1947 and went to work in a Portland, Oregon, bank for two years before joining the Sisters of Providence in 1949.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education (1962) from the College of Great Falls (now University of Providence) and a master’s in religious education from Seattle University (1974).
After making her First Profession in 1951, she taught third grade at Holy Family School and kindergarten at St. Catherine’s, both in Seattle. She spent three years at Providence Academy (1954-57) before being assigned to Immaculate Conception Grade School in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she taught for eight years (1957-65). She then undertook a series of administrative positions including principal at Holy Rosary Grade School in Sun Valley, California (1965-68), Director of Religious Education back at St. Catherine’s (1968-71), religious education duties in Fairbanks (1971-78) and in various in youth ministry positions in Yakima, Washington as well as Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese (1978-91).
The commitment to justice instilled in Sr. Helen by her parents was lived out in her volunteering with several service-and justice-oriented groups such as Habitat for Humanity in Seattle, Call to Action, the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC), sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, Catherine Place, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. While in Yakima, she initiated a Diocesan Peace and Justice office. Sr. Helen was strongly committed to non-violence and reconciliation in daily life.
She is preceded in death by her parents and all four of her siblings: William, Elsie (Repman), Carl and Elinor (Fern).
To view Sister Helen’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.
I remember Sister Dympna from Immaculate Conception School in Fairbanks, Ak. She was never my classroom teacher but I remember her so well. I called my friend, Cookie, who now lives in Texas, and she remembers her too. She kept saying, “She was so kind. She was so kind.” We probably only ever saw her in the hallways before and after school and outdoors during recess but we remember she seemed very tall and was always smiling and seemed to think we were just delightful. Even after we moved to high school in the adjoining building, we were always tickled when we got to see Sister Dympna. We loved her. It is amazing to me that someone I really spent very little time with could leave such a lasting impression. I can see her face, in her coif, very clearly. And she’s smiling. What a blessing to have her touch our lives. Thank you, Sister!
I love Sister Helen’s passion for justice, including full equality for women, including women priests, married priests, and full leadership by lay people. When we said “Amen”, she would say “A-women!” She made us Jesuit Volunteers in Yakima 1985-85 feel very welcome.
I was honored to call Sr. Helen my friend; I will miss her very much.
I knew her because she chauffeured my aunt Sr. Therese Kohles to her doc appointments when she was Dx with cancer. She was amazing, so likable, so passionate about the issues of the day & pushing for progress in the church & in her community.
When the Seattle Art Museum had a special celebration for the “GREAT” women in your life, I immediately thought of her and submitted her name. She loved it!
We were 20 years apart in age, both Leo’s and always looked forward to celebrating our BD’s. I will miss celebrating this milestone with her, but I know she rests in peace now, well-deserved Sr. Helen.
In our hearts forever. Your greatness will always be remembered. “A-women!”
Ahh Sr Helen❣️ We worked together for several years in our region, and had such fun along with work. One time when Sr Helen was in Yakima, we had our meeting in Alaska and met her friends in Fairbanks and Juneau. She was an amazing woman! I loved hearing stories of her humor, kindness, and Justice in all she did. Rest in peace dear one💕
She was a delight to be with and gave her whole self to her ministry she was a great introduction to Alaska for me in 1977 when I first went to serve at sacred heart cathedral with Father Bill dibb.
All I can think to say is that Helen was wonderful, from the time I met her in 1967 through speaking with her by phone earlier this month. As others have commented, her smile, her enthusiasm and her dedication to the Church she loved were phenomenal. In my mind she is the image of one putting her hand to the plow and never looking back. I live in Ohio and have only visited Seattle a few times in my life, the first time with Helen. Last fall I happened to be there briefly to change planes. My phone rang, and it was Helen calling, though we had not spoken in months, maybe a year, and she had no possible way to know that I would be very temporarily in Seattle. How did she do that? She will be missed.
Sister Dympna was such a sweet woman and friend I meet her when she was visiting my grandparents (Hugh and Sandy Connelly) in Fairbanks. I was a student at Monroe and had recently been confirmed with Dynphna as well as Catherine. She kept in touch writing me for years. I will always cherish her kindness.
Sister Dympna was my third grade teacher at Immaculate Conception School in Fairbanks Alaska. She always had a smile on her face and was very patient. Almost daily we would ask her if she had hair under her habit.She would always tell us yes and it was polka dot color.She was always my favorite teacher as I went through Monroe High School. I have many wonderful memories of being in her third grade class.
When I think of Sr. Helen a smile automatically lights up my face. She always seemed to bring joy, good cheer, and a sense of fun wherever she went. It was my honor and pleasure to get to know her in the 1990’s when I worked at the System Office of the Sisters of Providence Health System. My husband and I particularly enjoyed her unabashed immersion in her Irish heritage, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations she planned at employee events and the March 17th parties in her home. She’d turn up at the office in a green dress and green everything else, including tights with shamrocks, and wish Irish blessings on everyone. On a more serious note, her heart was filled with compassion for those who were suffering, and we all knew it. To me she was a lovely lady and wonderful Sister of Providence. May she enjoy her eternal reward!
Maureen Niland
Maureen Niland
Sr. Helen was a caring and kind person who championed women in the Catholic Church. Helen is a great loss for us and is a gift to heaven. I have given live trees in her honor