Breese died in Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, on June 27, 1878, survived for more than a decade by his widow, as well as several children and grandchildren.
His remains were returned for burial in the Carlyle Cemetery in Carlyle, Clinton County, Illinois.

A philanthropist who gave his earnings to every church denomination and many worthy causes, Breese accumulated little personal wealth.
He was later also remembered for inflexible justice which prevented corruption from ever reaching the court he sat on.
Breese encouraged young people studying law, and was noted as being a man who has "a tear for pity, and a hand open as day to melting charity".
The Illinois State Historical Society has "The Sidney Breese Papers", which consist of the letters and papers belonging to Breese, including personal letters from U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. President Martin Van Buren, Lincoln's Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Illinois Governor John Reynolds, U.S. Ambassador to Spain Gustav Körner, and U.S. Secretary of State Lewis Cass, among many others.

The town of Breese, Illinois, is named in his honor.
Breese died in Pinckneyville, Perry County, Illinois, on June 27, 1878, survived for more than a decade by his widow, as well as several children and grandchildren. His remains were returned for burial in the Carlyle Cemetery in Carlyle, Clinton County, Illinois.
A philanthropist who gave his earnings to every church denomination and many worthy causes, Breese accumulated little personal wealth. He was later also remembered for inflexible justice which prevented corruption from ever reaching the court he sat on. Breese encouraged young people studying law, and was noted as being a man who has "a tear for pity, and a hand open as day to melting charity". The Illinois State Historical Society has "The Sidney Breese Papers", which consist of the letters and papers belonging to Breese, including personal letters from U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. President Martin Van Buren, Lincoln's Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Illinois Governor John Reynolds, U.S. Ambassador to Spain Gustav Körner, and U.S. Secretary of State Lewis Cass, among many others.
The town of Breese, Illinois, is named in his honor.
Sidney Breese