Obituary of Pauline M. Brannen

Pauline M. "Paula" Brannen, a resident of Wappingers Falls, entered into rest Thursday, July 24, 2014 at her home. She was 88. Daughter of the late Ernest A. and Mary C. Kenney Schwind, she was born July 2, 1926 in Brooklyn. She was a graduate of Norwich High School and went on to attend Hartwick College in Oneonta, completing the Nursing Program. She was a member of the Cadet Nurse Corps. Paula married George B. Brannen on December 27, 1947 at St. Joseph's Church in New Paltz. Mr. Brannen preceded her in death on June 13, 2014. Prior to her retirement, Paula worked as a nurse at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie. She was a member of the New Hackensack Home Bureau for fifty years. As her children were growing up, she was a 4-H leader for 18 years and area coordinator for Dutchess County. She volunteered at the Town of Wappinger Senior Center and later in life enjoyed many of their activities. Paula was also an elections inspector for Dutchess County for 25 years. She was a parishioner of St. Martin de Porres Church in Poughkeepsie. In her spare time, she enjoyed music, crafts and painting. She is survived by her children, Bruce G. Brannen and his wife, Rita of Beacon, Marjane B. Selleck and her husband, Marty of Delanson, NY, Stephen P. Brannen of Stanfordville, Denise E. Brescia and her husband, Nick of Pasadena, MD, Donna M. Rose and her husband, Michael of Poughkeepsie and Thomas E. Brannen of Wappingers Falls; her brothers, Richard Schwind and wife, Jane of Central Square, NY, David Schwind and wife, Sue of Berthoud, CO and William Schwind of VA; her sisters-in-law, Peggy Schwind-Buono and Bernice White and husband, Monte; her fifteen grandchildren, Colin, Kevin, Megan, Melissa, Allison, David, Sean, Patrick, Katherine, Andrew, Matthew, Sarah, Shane, Tyler and Stefan; five great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Maddox, Liam, Savannah and Walter; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Ernest Schwind, Jr. and sister, Dorothy Dopp. Family will receive friends on Sunday, July 27, 2014 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 28 at St. Martin de Porres Church, Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie. Interment will follow in Fishkill Rural Cemetery, Route 9, Fishkill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Paula's name to Hudson Valley Hospice, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7106. To send a personal condolence or for directions, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.