Daniel Brady
My mother was remarkable. She was able to achieve her independence as a teenage child to escape a difficult home life. This was very unusual in the 1930's, which was when I though it happened. She found work as a telephone operator and rose through the ranks to the point where she was training the new hires, men, who then became the supervisors of her and those other women blocked by the glass ceiling. She married just as World War Two was ending and she and my father created a beautiful marriage and had seven children. When my dad died, suddenly of a heart attack in November of 1959, she was determined to keep the family together. To do that she moved, with the help of the couple, whom we called Uncle Babe and Aunt Florence, who were the adults that helped her out of the difficult home life she was in. She then raised all seven of us. She worked full time, went back to school, became an LVN and more. She was a physical therapist at Agnew State Hospital for many years. She saw us all through the tumultuous times and suffered when my older brother Tom died in Vietnam, endured the trials of the times and was always there for anyone who needed someone to talk to. In that she was legendary, a mountain of supportive love. Her capacity to work, win through struggles, succeed where many wouldn't have dared to attempt any effort - was amazing. We were the original Brady Bunch, we, with her, used to sing songs as we drove from place to place, we had our favorites and, often times, thought it would be great if we had our own television show. She was my mom; I love her dearly. Thank you mom for everything you did for me, my brothers, sisters, grandchildren, in-laws as well as our friends and those who came to your for comfort. Absolutely amazing!