Madeline Brenner

Madeline Brenner (nee Canestri), age 91, of Wayne passed away peacefully on January 1, 2021 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Madeline was born and raised in Newark and was the youngest of seven children to Carlo and Grace Canestri.  Madeline and her family lived in Newark and then Hillside, NJ. She then went to work at a young age to help support her family.  Madeline found employment quickly doing assembly line work and packaging for the Ronson Company in Newark.   She worked there for some time and also helped work for her family in Long Branch where they owned a boarding home and rented rooms to the general public.  One day, while at the beach in Long Branch, Madeline and her sister Connie were approached by some boys in a car offering the two girls a ride home.  Madeline declined the offer, however, Connie was glad to accept.  One of the boys was a handsome young man named Gus “Augie” Brenner.  After Gus asked Madeline out on a date, Gus was invited over to the house to meet Madeline and her large Italian family.  The couple started dating and as fate would have it they fell in love.  While they were dating, Gus enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict.  After being honorably discharged from the Navy, five years after they first met, Madeline and Gus were married in May of 1955 and honeymooned in Florida.

The couple settled in Hillside, NJ where they welcomed the first of their three children.  Madeline then decided that she would become a full time homemaker, devoting her life to nurturing and caring for her children.  As Madeline’s family grew larger, they moved to Pines Lake in Wayne in 1965, where she lived for the rest of her life.  Later in life, Madeline accepted a position as a Teacher’s Aid for children with special needs.  She had a particular passion for caring for children with Down Syndrome. Thereafter, she was employed as a bookkeeper at UA Columbia Cable Company in Oakland.  

While living in the Pines Lake section of Wayne, Madeline and Gus were members of the Pines Lake Sailing Club where Gus was also the “Commodore.”  Madeline treasured spending time at the beach, especially at the Jersey Shore and particularly at Long Branch.  She loved packing up her little red suitcase and taking the train to Long Branch and spending the weekend with her family.

Madeline’s greatest passion was for her family, nothing in the world meant more to her than providing for and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was not only dedicated to her family but also to her Catholic Faith.  She and her family were parishioners of St. Mary’s RC Church in Pompton Lakes for many years.  Madeline and Gus cherished thirty-four years of loving and loyal marriage until Gus’ passing in 1989.  Madeline was a soft spoken and kind woman who loved her family and people in general.  She was compassionate, selfless, and brave.  Madeline was a truly special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Madeline is survived by her three children. Linda Bracaglia and her husband David of Herndon, VA; Gary Brenner of Wayne, NJ; and Donna Klein and her husband Dr. James Klein of Englewood, NJ. In addition, she is survived by three grandchildren; Laurie Bracaglia Manning and her husband Daniel of Hamden, CT; Katie Bracaglia and her fiancé Chris Baxter of Reston, VA; and Jill Bracaglia of Charlottesville, VA, as well as many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband August “Gus” Brenner in 1989.  She was also predeceased by her siblings; Jenny Palmucci, Luke Canestri, Beatrice Palma, Mary Leonardis, Connie DiLeo, and Casey Canestri.

Those wishing to make a donation in Madeline’s name are asked to consider Englewood Health Foundation, 350 Engle Street, Englewood, NJ 07631 http://www.support.englewoodhospitalfoundation.org/