San Benito County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....BREEN, Leah Margaret November 24 1920 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Susan Cherry-Boyer SueBdoo4me@netscape.net December 19, 2004, 9:14 am San Juan Mission News San Juan Mission News Saturday November 27, 1920 Mrs. Breen Is Called To Rest After Long Illness San Juan and San Benito county people are mourning the passing of one of the pioneer women of this vicinity and the state, Mrs. Leah Margaret Breen, widow of the late John Breen. The deceased, who had been ailing for several months, passed away at the family home on Wednesday, November 24th, the day before Thanksgiving, at the age of 85 years, her birthday falling on September 28. Mrs. Breen was a native of Ulster county, New York, and came to San Juan when a child with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Smith. Her father was an attorney at law and was the first San Juan postmaster, away back in 1848, before the great gold excitement of the year following. She has resided here continuously since that time. In 1852 she was married to John Breen, a member of the well known Breen family, which has been one of the potent factors of developing the state of California. Her husband was called to his reward several years ago and since that time has lived with some of the children at the old family residence here. During her declining years and through her last illness she has been tenderly cared for by her children to whom she is deeply attached. Not only was she a devoted mother, but was a consistent Christian and an ardent worker for everything tending toward the betterment of her home and the community in general, and in her death San Juan and the entire county loses a faithful friend and counsellor and her children a devoted mother. The funeral took place Friday (yesterday) morning at 10 o'clock, Rev. Father O'Reilly conducting the last solemn services at the Old Mission Catholic church and said a High Mass for the repose of her soul. Hundreds of the friends and former associates of the deceased were in tendance from all parts of the county and state to offer a last tribute of respect and to follow the remains to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery where interment was had. The following children survive her: E.P. Breen, of the Topo section; Frank Breen, of San Juan; Mrs. Thomas Murray, of San Francisco; Mrs. Thos. Nyland, of San Juan; Mrs. M. O'Benchain, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Eileen, Gertrude and Adelaide Breen, who reside in the family home here. The sorrow of the family over the passing of this noble character who has accomplished so much for the welfare and betterment of the entire community is shared by San Juan and San Benito county. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sanbenito/obits/gob3826breen.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/caobfiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb