Retired furniture store owner and representative Leopold Breen

LEOPOLD “LEE” BREEN, a former owner of Breen Furniture and a retired manufacturer’s representative, died Tuesday, October 8, following a long illness. A native and lifelong resident of New Orleans, he was 93.

Breen had recently been living at Lambeth House, an assisted living facility following the effects of a stroke he suffered six years ago.

He graduated from Alcee Fortier High School and during the Second World War enlisted in the U.S. Army. He became a member of the Army Air Corps and rose to the rank of major before returning home to New Orleans to begin to raise a family and to start his first career as a furniture store owner. Breen had started the store in the back of town area with a cousin, but the cousin pulled out of the enterprise within the first year leaving him to run the store on him own. After 30 years, he retired and then began to work as a manufacturer’s representative, a career he excelled in, matching up manufacturer’s with potential retail outlets. He retired from that job when he was 80.

Breen married his wife Lillian N. Breen, whom he had met when he was just 16 and she was 12. They were married in 1944 and enjoyed 69 years of married life together.

Breen was a longtime member of Chevra Thillim and Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation.

He is survived by his wife and daughters Linda Wiener (Sander), Janet Task (Harold) and Carole Chackers (Ken), eight grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

He was a longtime member of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation.

Graveside services were held today, Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 2:30 PM in Chevra Thilim Memorial Park, New Orleans. Rabbi Ethan Linden officiated.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the American Cancer Society.Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.