Coral Audrey Arlene Brannen

With profound sadness, we share that our extraordinary mother passed away peacefully on May 30, 2023, surrounded by her family at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

Our sweet Mom is with our dad (Robert “Bob” Brannen) now, whose passing fourteen years ago brought her great sorrow. They shared a timeless love for 43 years, beginning as pen pals, forever best friends. Reunited walking hand in hand along the streets of gold.

Family was always mom’s top priority. Daughters, Cyndi, and Anjali; grandsons, TJ, Aidan, and Milo were the delights of her life. With her limitless love, she welcomed many others into her family, including Elaine Orr, her children Matthew, Jena, and Jackson, and granddaughter Ivy. Mom was a second mother and grandmother figure to so many. Much loved sister, friend, and travelling companion, Margo. With open arms mom welcomed her large paternal family into her life in 2021: these sisters and brothers were a blessing, bringing even more love into our family. Mom lived a full life, full of wonderful people, places, and things, and, of course, the many fur babies that found their way into her heart. Her current fur babies, Storm, Willow, and Max, miss her so much.

Mom was predeceased in death by her mother (Netta Kenny) and (Charles Richard), as well as her “parents of the heart” Valerie and Emery Nickerson. Brother, Jimmy. Paternal siblings, Marilyn, and Donald. Beloved friend, Cindy Trask. As well as many family members and friends.

She showed us how to be courageous and optimistic no matter how deep the heartbreak. She taught us to be hopeful, forgiving, merciful, and tenacious. She raised us to follow our own inner compass, safe in the knowledge that she would always be there loving and supporting us. With a fearless spirit she was always ready for an adventure, whether a day trip or travelling to distant locations. Mom loved to travel with her family and had many adventures with Heidi and Margo on Nancy’s bus tours.  Mom loved shopping and sightseeing, and unexpected activities such as riding extreme roller coasters and Broadway musicals. Our mom never said no to our crazy extreme vacation suggestions. Mom spent her final Mother’s Day with Anjali and Elaine on an outing that included seafood from Ozzie’s and a blueberry muffin from McKays.

 Mom spent the last three decades of her career as an office manager at Thera-Ped, being the centre point of her “work family,” until 2021. Mom’s work family became our family and Lesleigh and Thomas will forever be her adopted grandchildren. She started working when she was 16 and very reluctantly retired due to her health.  It was still unusual for a mother to have a career so young, she showed us all how to be an amazing mom and work with boundless energy and growth mindset. Mom never stopped being curious or learning new things, from accounting practices to her beloved iPad and MacBook.

If you knew mom, you know she was an avid collector of teddy bears, purses, jewelry, figurines, and memories. Her home was a testament to these passions, with a happy mixture of these things and so many photos of her beloveds, where everyone was welcome and there was always a special treat. She will be greatly missed but her spirit lives on in all who knew and loved her.

A special thank you to Dr. Mackin, Dr. Gaudet, and the wonderful nurses of Palliative Care. The support and care you showed our mom and family was a blessing during a difficult time.

Mom requested no fuss over her passing, so a private interment will occur. At her request donations can be made to Bobby’s Hospice. A personal request for nightdress donation to Palliative Care at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Mom loved the nightdresses the nurses chose for her every morning.

Mom wanted to share this scripture as a final piece of advice for those she loved.

“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ,”(Ephesians 4:32).