In Loving Memory of Virginia Evelyn Brady
October 21, 1923 – January 12, 2022
Virginia Evelyn “Doll” Brady made her final journey home on January 12th, 2022. She was born on October 21, 1923, at her parent’s house in Leadville, Colorado. She was the first child of Elizabeth “Liz” Helen Wicklund (Damjanovich) and Edwald “Eddie” Eric Wicklund. She was the oldest of their two children.
As a child, mom loved the Rocky Mountain autumns. She loved to watch the beautiful aspen trees turn from green to bright yellows, oranges, and reds. But she did not like the cold Colorado winters! She dreamed of moving to a warm place like Southern California someday.
She attended Leadville High School where she excelled as a student. But her passion was the theatre. She participated in every school play and received a special award for a performance in her senior year. She wanted to become an actress, but when she was in high school, her father who was a supervisor at the Pyrenees Mine, died of Silicosis. She and her brother needed to help their mother. So, mom found work as a telephone operator after high school to help with the family finances.
In the early 1940’s she married James Green and they had two children. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in tragedy and mom became a widow. Like her mother, she found herself responsible for raising two children alone. She always said that she may not have remarried but thought that her son needed a good father figure.
Then when mom saw dad for the first time, she felt an immediate attraction. It was mutual because it was not long before they were getting married and moving to California.
As a homemaker, mom was a bit of a tyrant when it came to keeping a clean house. She always said that she learned from the master, her mother. A clean house was a priority for mom.
Mom was a good listener. Her friends valued her ability to listen and offer counsel while keeping their conversations confidential. She was always approachable if any of her children had a problem. She was not one who shied away from dealing with difficulties. She believed a good talk could help remedy about any issue.
She worked in clerical positions at Moorpark and Santa Paula School districts in the nineteen fifties and sixties. But she found her niche when she and dad bought a music store in Ventura. She was the manager at JB Penny Music in historic downtown Ventura in the nineteen seventies and eighties. She was a pro at ordering records and sheet music, and she especially enjoyed the challenge of tracking down unusual requests for the professional musicians and teachers who frequented the store.
Mom was a very direct, no-nonsense person. You always knew where she stood on any issue. She was a feminist and had a strong dislike for unfair treatment of others. Mom would not be silent if her children were treated unfairly. If there was a problem at school, she was the first one to ask the important questions to find out what was really going on.
Mom had an incredible memory. When she met someone for the first time, she always remembered their name. The next time she encountered them (It did not seem to matter how long it had been that she had seen them) she just remembered. She made quite the impression on others with her unique ability. She could spell any word you threw at her! Her spelling ability was especially useful for her children completing assignments for school, especially before we had the Internet.
She was a religious woman who was a devout Catholic. We had an altar in our house during Lent and when our brother was in Vietnam. We prayed for him every night. I know he believed those prayers made a difference in bringing him home safely.
Dad was the dreamer, a free spirit. Mom was the anchor! She was a pro at organizing a budget, she was good with money. Dad knew he needed someone like that. He did confess that he fell for her because she was a great dancer, but also from a practical side, she had special abilities that dad deeply appreciated. They became an effective team and raised five children and pursued many adventures together. There was a genuine love between them that lasted for 68 years. We lost dad in 2020, right before Christmas. Mom missed him terribly. She knew her life would never be the same without him. She was looking forward to seeing dad again. Hopefully, they are now both together. Through the grace of God, may they both rest in peace.
Mom is survived by her children Laurence Brady, Catherine Krushell (David), Nancy Garate (Randy), and Barbara Summers. Her grandchildren include Karl Jasko, David Garate (Alisa), Matthew Rader, and Haley Jump (Daniel). Her great grandchildren are Jordan Garate, Alex Garate, and Corbin Garate. She leaves behind three nieces Janet Kay Trout, Bonnie Lea Smith (James), and Lori Ann Bentley (Jeff). Cousins Edward Slifka, Robert Damjanovich (Margye), Martha Hren, and Emily Janine Weitzel (James).
Virginia is preceded in death by her husband, David L. Brady, mother, Elizabeth Wicklund, her father, Edwald Wicklund, brother, Charles E. Wicklund (Stella), her daughter, Elizabeth “Joy” Jasko (Karci), and numerous aunts and uncles. Fredrick Slifka and Louise Clune are among her many cousins who have preceded her in death.
There will be a Rosary followed by a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The Rosary will start at 9:30 am followed by the Mass at 10:00 am. The services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 10800 Henderson Rd. Ventura, California. The interment will follow the service. There will be a light lunch served at 1:00 pm at the Ventura Country Estates Mobile Home Park Club House 10685 Blackburn Rd. Ventura, California.
Arrangements are under the direction of JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or a charity of your choice.