Barbara Brennan

Barbara Jane (nee DeFrank) Brennan, 85, of Plantation, FL, passed away peacefully on July
14th, 2023. Born on September 13th, 1937, she was the daughter of first-generation Italian
Americans, the late Anthony and Edith (nee Petrucelli) DeFrank; sister of Audrey Patricia Baker;
loving wife of the late James (“Jim”) F. Brennan, Jr.; devoted mother of the late Kathleen, as well
as James (Mary) Brennan, Terrance (Michelle) Brennan, Megan (James) White, and Michael
(Diane) Brennan; cherished grandmother of James, Peter, Victoria, Thomas, Christopher,
Kathleen, Maura (Andrew), Nicholas, Alyssa, Jared, and Natalie; proud great grandmother of
Brigid and Patrick.
Barbara grew up in West Haven, CT, and graduated from Southern Connecticut State College,
where she first met her husband-to-be for nearly 51 years. Barbara and Jim, a career Special
Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, moved from Connecticut to Wisconsin to, within a
year’s time, Virginia, where they, together with their children, from 1967 until 1980. It is in
Virginia where “Bob” forged lifelong friendships and endeared herself, as “Mrs. B,” to countless
kindergarten students she educated. Together with her longtime aide, Josephine Lokie, Barbara
taught one of the first ESL programs in Fairfax County.
Upon Jim’s appointment to the FBI’s Fort Lauderdale branch, the family relocated to South
Florida, where Barbara remained for the rest of her life. With her children starting families of
their own, Barbara held dearly her new role as “Grammy” to her 11 grandchildren and 2 great
grandchildren. Memories of Christmases in Florida and her famous spaghetti and meatballs will
always be remembered. Though the last few years of her life were difficult, Barbara never lost
the glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Arrangements by T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 7001 NW 4 Street Plantation, FL 33317