Joan T. (Cooney) Brenner

Shrewsbury – In a book gifted to Joan she was encouraged to look back on her life…and in her own handwriting she wrote when asked the question about what dream she has for her children and grandchildren. And her answer was simple and from her heart…’that they always stay close to God and have faith in Jesus!’ These words came easy because it’s how Joan lived her own life throughout her eighty-nine years.

Joan died peacefully with her family at her side on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 after a short illness. She was 89.

Joan T. Cooney was born July 29, 1935, at home on Norcross Street in Worcester a daughter of the late John J. ‘Jack’ and Helen R. (O’Loughlin) Cooney. Raised in Worcester she was a graduate of Saint Stephen’s High School. Through the introduction of a mutual friend, she was introduced to Worcester native Norman E. Brenner, and they later married on June 9, 1956, in St. John’s Church on Temple Street in Worcester. They moved to Shrewsbury in 1966 and their home on Gates Road was a busy place in which love, and faith were present as they raised their ten children. Joan loved when the house was filled with family for holidays and other occasions as well as time soaking up the sun by the pool in the backyard. Many sought seats around the table when word was out that her sought after lasagna was being served! Prior to marriage she worked as a telephone operator at New England Telephone then stayed at home to raise the kids. After the kids were of age and back in school, she took a job in retail at the former Cherry & Webb Store, but her children quickly share how she spent more than she made. But many were recipients of nice clothes and hand me downs.

Joan’s faith remained at the center of her life. She was a longtime member of Saint Mary’s Parish where she was a daily communicant. She sat quietly and prayed in the cry room by choice as this became her recognizable bench. She was a member of its Respect Life Ministry, Daughters of Isabella and a devoted attendee to Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday evenings. One never to sit still she loved travelling in spite of never having obtained her driver’s license. Trips to Ireland, York, Maine or Hampton Beach, South Carolina and many other places Joan loved exploring and enjoying all life had to offer. And in later years as a widow she loved accompanying her daughter, Kim on many of these outings.

She enjoyed friendships from both the Red Hat Society and Garden Club in town and kept active each week as she gabbed it up with her gal pals in Connie Bartelson’s ‘Senior Sweats’ exercise group at Saint Mary’s.

In addition to her husband of 59 years, Norm (†February 13, 2014) she was predeceased by their son, Kevin M. Brenner; infant daughter, Maria Brenner; son-in-law, Thomas M. Harvey; great-granddaughter, Bella Bradley and siblings, John J. ‘Jack’ Cooney and Elizabeth Keane (late Francis).

She leaves her children, Patricia A. Bombard (Robert) of Charlton, Kurt T. Brenner (Mary) of Shrewsbury, Kristopher B. Brenner (Maryellen) of Oxford, Kerry L. Brenner (Jodi) of Onset, Karen K. Harvey of Conway, South Carolina, Kim M. Brenner of Shrewsbury, Kyle J. Brenner (Laurie) of Sutton, Karl P. Brenner (Charlene) of Holden and Kathleen J. Daige (Andrew) of N. Brookfield; her daughter-in-law, Maureen Brenner of Attleborough; her grandchildren, Jason and Jonathan Moore, Kelsey Brenner (Ben Starek), Shayne and Reilly Brenner, Luke Brenner, Maria Ferreira (Dan), Emma Spurr (Jack), Erin Bradley (Matt), Kaitlyn Brenner, Patrick Brenner (Hannah Rockefeller), Krystal O’Leary (Kevin), Hanna Morris (Ryan), Kyle Brenner (Dara), Sara Brenner, Ashley Harvey (Jeremy Tuomisto), Brendan Harvey (Kelly Quinn), Lily Brenner, Casey Brenner (Hailey Flamand), Jamie, Devyn and Hayden Brenner, Shannon, Kelly, Daniel and Joseph Daige; her great-grandchildren, Finley, Austin, Lucy, Isla, Oliver, Henry, Addie, Calum, Eleanor, Lola, Louisa, Madden, Jack, Maeve, Teagan and Alexandria; in-laws, Donald Orell of Millbury and Susan Cooney of Littleton; nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Joan's life by gathering for an Evening Wake from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1st in Eastern Shores Club, 206 South Quinsigamond Avenue, Shrewsbury. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, June 2nd in Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main Street at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury

Memorials in Joan's name may be made to Saint Mary's Parish, 18 Summer Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or https://www.stmarysparish.org/giving or Saint John’s Food for the Poor, 20 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604 or https://www.stjohnsfoodforthepoor.org/donations.

Arrangements by James & John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.