Mary Therese (Kleber) Brehany, 92, of Beaver, passed away quietly on December 28th, 2024 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. “Therese” as she was called by those who knew her, was the devoted wife of the late James (Jim) Brehany for 50 years, until his passing in 2005, as well as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and inspiration to many.
She was born on October 6th, 1932, a daughter of the late Antonia Kanthak and Joseph Kleber. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Joseph (Fr. Cecil), John, and Raymond Kleber and husband Jim Brehany. She is survived by her loving children, Jim Brehany (Christine) of Holden, Massachusetts, Chris Brehany (Lynda) of Clifton, Virginia, Diane Van Buskirk of Indianapolis, Indiana, John Brehany (Marybeth) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Dennis Brehany in New Brighton, grandchildren Joseph Brehany (Dana), Lara Van Buskirk, Michael Brehany, Natalie O’Reilly, Patrick Brehany (Sydney), Caroline Van Buskirk, Karol Brehany, John Brehany (Monica), Lena McGovern (Tim), Liam Brehany, Andrew Brehany, Emma Brehany, Kateri Brehany, Adrien Brehany, Elisabeth Brehany, Giles Brehany, and Thomas Brehany; as well as nine great-grandchildren. She grew up in Aliquippa, graduating from Mount Gallitzin Academy. She then earned her RN Nursing Degree and practiced as a nurse at Providence Hospital in Beaver Falls. A chance meeting with Aliquippa friend Jim Brehany at a dance in early July 1955, led to him proposing that same evening, and the two married on July 16th, 1955. They initially moved to Los Angeles where Jim was working, and then back to Beaver in 1957 where they lived and raised five children: Jim, Chris, Diane, John and Dennis.
Mary supported Jim in his career at Met Life, so that he could excel. The award trips that Jim earned became part of their annual travels through which they had dear friends. In addition to juggling child transportation to music and sporting events, and “stretching a dollar” feeding the family (son Jim quipped ‘we wouldn’t eat if food was not on sale’), She volunteered at Boy and Girl Scout events, and become an excellent local tennis player, both in singles and doubles with Jim, earning many trophies. She developed her skills as a cook and baker, and the home regularly smelled of fresh-baked bread. As the children got older, she began taking an annual fishing trip with her three brothers to the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.
Mary was a person of deep faith. A Catholic, Christian, she lived her faith with Jim at her side, attending Saints Peter and Paul Church, and passed it on to her children.
Therese found her true calling in the 1970’s serving in the Pro-Life Movement, a calling that would earn her and Jim (posthumously) the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. She founded the Lifeline of Southwest PA Office in Beaver in 1979 and served women in crisis pregnancies for over twenty years. She also developed a Human Life Development slide presentation which she took to most of the Beaver County high schools. Her love of children was very evident as each grandchild (17) was born. As “Grammy”, she cleared her schedule to help the family after birth, and attend graduations, birthdays and sporting events.
She moved to St Martha’s Villa in Downingtown, Pennsylvania near son John and family in 2013. She later transferred to St Martha Manor, where she lived her final years, wheelchair-bound. She always had a smile for visiting family, staff and residents of St Martha’s, and continued to love God, music, and her expanding family throughout her life.
There will be a Visitation at Noll Funeral Home, 333 3rd St, Beaver, on Friday, January 10th, 2025 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 200 3rd St, Beaver, on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 10:15 a.m. followed by Internment at Beaver Cemetery on Buffalo Street, Beaver. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pennsylvanians for Human Life, https://paforhumanlife.org/
