Rosemary Elizabeth “Betty” Braden, 101, passed away March 21, 2019. Born September 5, 1917, in Cambridge, Ohio. Everyone who knew her loved her. A lifelong Roman Catholic, she was always kind, generous and grateful for any help or kindness that she received. Her faith not only in God, but in everyone she knew was strong.
During her career she was a secretary, floral assistant and finally for many years a media specialist at East Junior High in Warren, Ohio. Betty delivered Mobile Meals for 20 years in Warren. Upon retirement she enjoyed traveling, especially to visit family around the country.
She made lifelong friends everywhere she went. Her Christmas card list includes 60 names. At 85 she moved from Warren, Ohio to Sugar Land, TX, and at age 95 from there to Jacksonville and finally Ponte Vedra, FL.
Betty was a long-time golfer and sports enthusiast. Her favorite college football teams were Ohio State and Penn State and in college basketball she especially loved Duke University. March Madness will never be the same again. She spent many hours watching professional sports, including golf, tennis, the Cleveland Cavs and San Antonio Spurs. The product of a one room school and small Catholic high school, Betty none the less was always interested in acquiring knowledge. She read the newspaper daily, enthusiastically completing the Jumble and crossword. Growing up in rural southeastern Ohio with few neighbors her age, she often described books as the friends she never had. She and Charles shared their mutual love of reading with their children, at one time having a lending library in their basement for friends and neighbors to enjoy.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Olive Martha Laughman; husband of 40 years, Charles William Braden; son, Charles William “Bill” Braden Jr; and daughter Susan Braden Fisher. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Doug Heinlein; daughter-in-law, Belinda Braden; grandchildren Leigh Braden Gallishaw and husband John; Timothy Braden and wife Karen; Susan Penksa and husband Vernon Schabert; Heidi Heinlein DeNoi and husband Vince; Heather Heinlein Johnson and husband Steve; great grandchildren Anthony and Douglas DeNoi; Jacob and Hope Johnson; Samantha Braden; Grayson and Justin Schabert; Kristen Wolff and Julia Wolff Hatmaker; and great-great-granddaughter Harper Hatmaker. She is also survived by a sister in law, nieces and nephews and many friends.
A funeral mass will be at St John Paul II Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra, FL, on March 29 at 11:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life at Starling at Nocatee on March 30 from 2-4 PM. Final internment will be at Mt Calvary Cemetery in Cambridge, OH at a later date. Arrangements are being made by Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers https://maryknollsociety.org/, and Covenant House of Texas, https://www.covenanthousetx.org/.
The family wants to thank the staffs of Starling at Nocatee and Vitas Hospice for their care and support.
