Mary C. Brady Obituary
We are sad to announce that on October 4, 2020, at the age of 93, Mary C. Brady (Newport Beach/Irvine, California) passed away. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.
Mary was born on May 15, 1927, to Agnes K. and William T. Coop in Quincy, Mass. Sadly, William died when she was a baby so her mother had to raise Mary and her three sisters on her own. No doubt she inherited strength and tenacity from her hard-working mother. She met the love of her life, John, when she was a secretary at MIT. She married John on May 1, 1954, and they quickly started a family that would ultimately include six children (the original Brady Bunch). During those early days, she enjoyed entertaining at home, dancing the jitter-bug with John, and bargain shopping at Filene’s Basement and Marshalls (pronounced MAHSHALLS). Tragedy struck in 1965, when they lost their beloved daughter, Maureen. Never to dwell on loss for long and relying on her strong faith, Mary viewed Maureen’s death as “God calling her home”.
Mary had always dreamed of pursuing a formal education. So, when John was transferred to Seattle in 1966, Mary enrolled in a local community college and ultimately received a BA from the University of Washington. When they moved to Newport Beach in 1973, she then obtained an MA in Linguistics from Long Beach State as well as a teaching certificate in ESL. She then taught foreign students in community college for many years. Mary considered her students an extension of her family and treated them with respect and kindness.
Throughout her life, Mary always valued people over things. In a household with six kids, inevitably some seemingly precious keepsake came crashing to the floor on a regular basis. Mary was always first to ask: “Is everyone alright?” and then whip out the Elmer’s glue to put the head or arm back on a Hummel or the like.
Mary was also a “tiger mom” before that phrase was even invented. She insisted that her children reach their highest potentials. While she could be strong and demanding, she also had empathy for others less fortunate. To that end, it was not uncommon at a holiday dinner to share the meal with some new “friend” that Mary had met at Mass that morning.
Mary also loved hats. The kookier the better. So much so, on her birthday, the ladies in her bible study surprised her when they all donned silly hats to celebrate. Mary laughed hysterically as she described one of Newport Beach’s prim and proper ladies donning a baseball cap with a fake mullet.
John went to heaven in 2013 so Mary packed up her hats and moved to Regents Point in Irvine. She continued to express enthusiasm for life and spread cheer to everyone around her until her last breath.
Mary is survived by five children, Peter Brady, John Brady, Madeleine Brady-Romero, Dennis Brady, Mary Finlay and fourteen grandchildren. She will be missed by many.
Because of COVID, services will be held at a later date at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach.
