Ivy Brennan Ivy Joan Brennan ( née Nelson ; previously Tilsley ) was a Coronation Street resident from 1979 to 1994 , wife of Bert Tilsley and later Don Brennan , mother of Brian Tilsley and grandmother of Nick Tilsley and Sarah Platt . Prior to living in the Street , Ivy had worked at the Mark Brittain Warehouse and factory Baldwin ' s Casuals , where she served as shop steward and supervisor . She was never afraid to speak her mind and was used to standing up to the management on behalf of her fellow machinists , including Ida Clough and her closest friend , Vera Duckworth . Ivy moved to the Street in 1979 when she , Bert and Brian moved into No . 5 . That same year , Brian married Gail Potter and the newlyweds moved into their own house in 1980 , shortly before the birth of their son Nick . Ivy and Bert were a strong couple but Bert spent most of their time in the Street out of work and died from a stroke in a psychiatric hospital in 1984 . Ivy ' s attentions were transferred to Brian and Gail ' s marriage and she often interfered , particularly where Nicky was concerned . A staunch Catholic , Ivy fought for Brian and Gail to work through their differences , which was no easy task as they both had affairs and later divorced . When Brian died in 1989 , and Gail married Martin Platt in 1991 , Ivy continued to be a presence in Gail ' s life , interfering under cover of protecting Brian ' s memory . Ivy herself got married again , to taxi driver Don Brennan in 1988 . In the 1990s , Ivy worked at Bettabuy , the factory having been demolished . She turned to drink when Don left her after having an affair with Julie Dewhurst , but Don returned to her to help her through her problems . Ivy left the Street in 1994 to live at a religious retreat and died there after suffering a stroke the following year . Character biography . Early years . Ivy initially worked at the Mark Brittain warehouse . She and fellow worker Edna Gee spread rumours that new supervisor Elsie Tanner was having an affair with personnel manager Dennis Maxwell . In spite of this incident , Elsie and husband Alan Howard allowed Ivy to stay in their home in 1972 , when Ivy ' s husband cheated on her . Ivy began a relationship with storeman George Harrop , and was the subject of her own set of rumours when Edna told people that Ivy was infatuated with Alan . The Howards were relieved when Ivy returned home . In 1975 , the warehouse burned to the ground , costing Edna Gee her life , and Ivy her job . Ivy soon began working for Mike Baldwin at Baldwin ' s Casuals . Ivy ' s family troubles . In 1979 , Ivy began to focus more on the love life of her son , Brian , who soon married Gail Potter . There was always tension between Ivy , a devout Roman Catholic , and her daughter - in - law Gail , as Gail initially did not want to convert to the Tilsley family religion , and Ivy felt Gail did not respect the close relationship between mother and son . Matters were made worse when Ivy ' s husband Bert , who was a calming influence , was institutionalized and died . She did not approve of Gail returning to work and placing her children with a child - minder . Ivy tried to accept Gail , and when Brian tired of married life and separated from Gail , Ivy took her daughter - in - law ' s side and ordered Brian to return to his wife . However later Gail had an affair with Brennan cousin Ian Latimer and fell pregnant , Ivy never forgave her . Even when the baby was proven to be Brian ' s , Ivy still harboured some doubts as to the child ' s paternity . Due to this doubt ( in spite of a DNA test ) , Ivy never fully accepted Sarah - Louise as her granddaughter and most of her affections went to Nicky . Relationship with George Wardle . In 1985 , Ivy began dating George Wardle , the new van driver at Baldwin ' s . They both went to the same church , where George coached a junior league rugby team . Ivy used her master key to drive the work van to the match , which ended in violence , with graffiti on the van and a black eye on Ivy . Mike took the repair costs out of their pay packets . After a trip to the Isle of Man , George proposed to Ivy , but she eventually turned him down when he said as a divorcee , he could not marry in the church . A month later , she changed her mind , and begged him to take her back . This caused her son Brian to label her a " slut . " In spite of her pleas , George began dating another woman . Ivy ' s pain nearly caused her to leave the church . Marriage to Don Brennan . In 1987 , Ivy met Don Brennan one night when he drove her home in his taxi . Like Ivy , Don was catholic and a widower , and the couple settled into a marriage of friendship , if not passion . They had a double wedding with Brian and Gail . Brian ' s murder . In 1989 , Ivy ' s life changed forever when her son Brian was murdered . Ivy turned more and more to religion , and spent more time interfering in Nicky ' s life , thus causing tension with Gail . Ivy also began to obsess over preserving the memories of both Bert and Brian , which resulted in Don feeling left out . Further upheaval occurred when Mike Baldwin ' s factory was demolished . Ivy began working at the Bettabuy grocery chain . Ivy was scandalised when Gail married Martin Platt , who was many years her junior . She was also bitter that Gail changed Nick and Sarah - Louise ' s surname from Tilsley to Platt . After a confrontation with Martin at the football pitch ( where Ivy had gotten Nicky a position on the team in exchange for Nicky becoming an alter boy at her church ) , Ivy reported Martin and Gail to Social Services . Don forced Ivy to apologise . Marital collapse . In 1992 , Don began an affair with a barmaid , Julie Dewhurst . When Julie broke up with him , Don crashed his car in a suicide bid and had to have his lower left leg amputated . Ivy was devastated by his adultery and began drinking heavily , losing her job at Bettabuy . Don reconciled with her , but insisted he stay in a separate bedroom . Eventually , Don could take no more of Ivy and left her . Exit and death . In early 1994 , after the final collapse of her marriage , Ivy went on a long - term retreat in a convent , where she had a stroke and died . Her grandson Nick blamed Don , as Don had gone to ask her for a divorce three weeks before her death . Ivy ' s will also caused a lot of trouble in the family , as she had left Don and Sarah - Louise nothing while leaving Nick her house under the condition that he changed his surname from Platt back to Tilsley . Nick agreed , and the name change went through although he allowed Don to remain in the house on the condition he paid rent . Quotes . " I didn ' t . " ( First line , when asked by Elsie Howard if she had passed a garment when going through checking at the Mark Brittain Warehouse ) . " Hello " ( Final line , to Martin Platt ) .