Marian Brennan Nelson

Friday, Aug. 14, 2020

May 7, 1945 ~ July 20, 2020

Marian Brennan Nelson passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of July 20, 2020 with family at her side. 

Born May 7, 1945 to parents Iolanda (Rinetti) Brennan and Andrew John Brennan in Vallejo, California, Marian was the oldest sister of a trio of characters including her brothers (“Mandrew”) Andrew and (“I’m adopted”) Matthew.  

Marian grew up in Salt Lake City, where she attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School. Later, she majored in elementary education at the University of Utah while also a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After graduating, she married her “sweetie” Tony Nelson and moved to Rochester, New York, and started a career as an elementary school teacher.  

Marian and Tony were blessed with two children. She became a fulltime stay-at-home mom to her sons Peter and Patrick.  When the family moved to Nashua, New Hampshire, Marian began working at Immaculate Conception Parish. As Tony’s employment shifted from state to state, she worked for the Church and with the pastoral teams at Holy Family Parish in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and then St. Thomas More in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She would eventually earn a master’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago in pastoral studies.  

When her husband of almost 49 years Tony and others were tragically killed by an intoxicated motorist while cycling shortly after her cancer had returned with a Stage 4 diagnosis, Marian continued living life and loving others. Even as chemo and cancer wreaked havoc on her body, she continued to volunteer and help others during this time.

Marian is survived by her sons Peter (Jackie Low) and their children: Ripley and Tess Nelson-Low; and Patrick (Cathy) and their children: Ruth and Cora. She is also survived by her two beloved brothers Andrew and Matthew, her sister-in-law Mindy (Nelson) MacDougal, and extended family. 

The family would like to extend its deepest gratitude for all the love and care she received from the staff, doctors and workers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Huntsman at Home and the CNS Hospice Nursing team, the Western Michigan Cancer Center, the University of Utah Hospital ER & Rehabilitation Teams and the caregivers from Danville Support Services who made her final days comfortable.  

A funeral Mass and celebration of life will be held post-pandemic, time and date to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Peace House in Kalamazoo and Trauma Recovery Associates.